IPNA 2007 August 30, 2007

Dear Colleagues,

The IPNA 2007 Congress is hosted by the International Pediatric Nephrology Association in cooperation with the European Society for Pediatric Nephrology (ESPN), and with the Hungarian Association of Pediatric Nephrology. It is supported by the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), Hungarian Society of Nephrology, Hungarian Society of Pediatrics, and Hungarian Society of Hypertension. The Congress takes place in Budapest, a beautiful city, the Pearl of Danube with charming hospitality. The congress venue is situated in the Palace of Arts, which is a place where tradition and avant-garde can coexist and interact fruitfully in all branches of the arts. The building is part of the new developing cultural centre of Budapest. The imposing structure of the building covers a ground area of 10.000 square meters on the Pest side, next to the National Theatre with a beautiful panorama to the Danube and the whole city.

It has already been a tradition, that IPNA congresses represent high standard of knowledge transfer with a very friendly atmosphere. The 14th IPNA Congress will also provide up-to-date information among others on basic and clinical nephrology, developmental nephrology, renal physiology, genetics, hypertension, bone disease, growth and development, transplantation, immunology of renal disease. All these topics are presented in state-of-the-art lectures, symposia, free communications and posters. Each free communications session will start with a mini-lecture given by an expert of the specific scientific field. Satellite Symposia comprise the traditional Renal Development Workshop, the Pediatric Hypertension Meeting; moreover, it is combined with the Nephrological Summer School under the auspices of ISN and a special one-day dialysis course attached to the Nephrology Summer School organised by IPNA experts. The early morning Continouing Medical Education sessions will provide an excellent possibility to introduce and discuss interesting themes of clinical nephrology. To encourage participation of young pediatric nephrologists at IPNA 2007, we provide traveling grants including free registration for delegates from Developing Countries.

Why IPNA 2007 Congress is of importance?
There are many efforts in organising one’s participation on congresses: you should prepare abstracts, send it in due time, make your flight and hotel reservation. All that costs a lot of work and a lot of money. Why are congresses still attractive in our modern ages, when knowledge and information transfer are so easy? Because IPNA 2007 Congress will provide a unique opportunity to encourage personal contacts, face-to-face meetings, knowing each other, exchange ideas. These are the important elements which can not be provided even by the most modern techniques. These are human features which give life so unique and wonderful characteristics and make research a breathtaking play.

And of course Budapest and Hungary is worthwhile to visit and we help you with the organised pre- and post-congress tours to know them. You will make a perfect decision to come to my country, to come to my city, and experience the ideal place and atmosphere of the IPNA 2007 Congress in Budapest.

We are looking forward to hosting you in Budapest in August 2007,

Tulassay, Tivadar
congress president