Invitation

Duomo

Alla Scala Theatre

Castello Sforzesco

Invitation from the President of The WCN2009

Invitation from the ERA-EDTA President

Invitation from the ISN President

Invitation from the President of The WCN2009

It is my great pleasure to invite you to Milan in May 2009 to participate in the World Congress of Nephrology 2009. After the extremely successful WCN 2003, ERA-EDTA and ISN have decided to once again join forces to produce a meeting of outstanding scientific quality combined with an extremely rich cultural experience.

The venue of the meeting, the Milano Convention Centre, has been totally renovated and provides state-of-the art facilities for a large congress but at the same time is located in the heart of the city, which in these days is actually an exception to the rule.

The Scientific Programme Committee is already working in order to ensure a wide choice of lectures and symposia covering the various aspects of basic and clinical Nephrology as well as the most recent researches in the field.

CNE sessions will be offered in eight different languages (English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish and Turkish). Travel grants for young nephrologists will be available.

Milan is one of the most vibrant and modern Italian cities, with outstanding cultural and historic landmarks, it is also well known as the capital of world fashion: you will not want to miss the Duomo which is the most impressive example of Italian gothic architecture, a visit to Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" or a stroll along the most famous Via Montenapoleone, Via Spiga and surroundings where all world renown Italian designer shops are located. Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit the many museums that the city offers, among them the "Pinacoteca Brera" that holds an incredible collection of over 600 masterpieces, among which, works of Raffaello, Piero della Francesca, Caravaggio, Bellini, Mantegna and Tintoretto - just to mention a few! In the city center you will also find the magnificent "Castello Sforzesco" built along the medieval city walls between 1360-1370 and the world famous opera house "Teatro alla Scala".

Milan is also just a few hours away from some of the most wonderful cities in Italy - Venice; Florence; Rome, but also smaller cities and beautiful locations, like Verona and the lakes of Northern Italy (Lake Como with its incredible villas and towns - like Bellagio and Cernobbio; or lake Garda with the medieval town of Sirmione or the Roman villa known as "Grotte di Catullo" as well as Lake Maggiore with its unique islands) - do not miss this opportunity to link this incredible scientific event with your holiday!

I am looking forward to welcoming you in Milan in 2009.

Francesco Locatelli
Congress President

Invitation from the ERA-EDTA President

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the ERA-EDTA Council and myself, I am pleased to invite you to attend the World Congress of Nephrology, jointly organized by ERA-EDTA and ISN, which is to take place 22–26 May 2009 in Milan, Italy. This meeting is the second WCN to be held in Europe, and it promises to be an outstanding scientific event.Indeed, the Scientific Programme Committee, chaired by Prof Kai-Uwe Eckardt and Prof Pierre Ronco, has achieved an agenda that will cover the expanding list of topics related to all major areas of basic, translational and clinical sciences relevant to nephrology, and also several fundamental aspects of biological sciences. Every day will be highlighted by a plenary lecture given by an internationally recognized scientist.

The Scientific Programme Committee has developed an outstanding array of morning sessions and thematic symposia which includes several Special Lectures covering inter-disciplinary aspects of renal physiology and pathology relevant to various complications observed in kidney diseases.

Since the first ERA-EDTA and ISN joint meeting in 2003 in Berlin, the ERA-EDTA continued to devote more funds to expand and increase its scientific and educational impact. The high scientific level of the ERA-EDTA Congresses attracts an increasing number of participants with almost 7000 delegates in Stockholm in 2008. During these years our Association’s educational activities have grown remarkably with an increasing number of CME courses, held throughout Europe, covering a large spectrum of kidney diseases and basic sciences.

In addition to these educational activities, the ERA-EDTA launched very successful Long- and Short-term fellowships programmes, and is preparing the launch of the “ERA-EDTA Research and Formation Programme”. Furthermore the ERA-EDTA is also increasing the number of free initiatives aimed at the distribution of the most up-dated knowledge in the fields of interest of the Association:
NDT-Educational is just one example, the very large number of grants distributed to young doctors is another. With this remarkable increase in the ERA-EDTA activities and impact on the development of Nephrology, we are certain that the joint meeting with ISN will make the WCN 2009 an outstanding scientific event.

Finally, the local Organizing Committee has devised a terrific Social Programme, including an evening at Teatro Alla Scala and several cultural events that will enable the participants to discover this dynamic and lively city.

I hope you will have the chance to participate in the WCN 2009.

Best wishes

Gérard London

President
European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association

Invitation from the ISN President

Dear Colleagues,

It is with great pleasure to invite you – also on behalf of the International Society of Nephrology – to attend the World Congress 2009 in Milan, Italy. Partnering again with our friends and colleagues of the ERA-EDTA we expect not only to meet but even surpass the success of our first joint meeting in 2003 in Berlin, Germany – both with respect to quality of science and number of delegates. Our Scientific Programme Committee has put together an outstanding programme. We look forward to see this complemented by your many and scientifically valuable free communications and poster presentations.

It is fitting that this meeting, which brings together the best of basic and clinical science, will be held in the city of Leonardo da Vinci, one of history’s most famous contributors to the advancement of science.

WCN 2009 will indeed be a true “world congress” of nephrology. It will not only provide a world-class scientific programme, but will also reflect the spirit of the ISN and ERA-EDTA to connect renal professionals from around the world in order to share insights, to create new approaches to research and therapy and to advance global nephrology altogether. The latter point highlights the unique role of the International Society of Nephrology in its efforts to advance diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney diseases in both the developed and the developing world.

By connecting nephrologists from around the world, we hope that our efforts will contribute greatly to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney diseases and their associated conditions in all parts of the globe. To achieve this goal we maintain our strong commitment to basic and clinical science, continue our relentless efforts to educate and train renal professionals even in the most disadvantaged parts of the world, and raise – through such initiatives as World Kidney Day - public awareness of the importance of early recognition and treatment of kidney diseases worldwide. We are certain that our joint meeting can advance all these aims and make WCN 2009 the largest and foremost platform for the exchange of renal science, knowledge of renal disease and improvement of renal care – but this will only be possible through your participation as presenters and attendees.

On behalf of the ISN, I thank you in advance for planning to attend WCN 2009.
This will give you the opportunity to actively participate in our efforts to advance nephrology worldwide.

We look forward to seeing you in Milan.

Best wishes
 
Eberhard Ritz
President
International Society of Nephrology