Welcome address

It was regrettable that we had an official postponement of the joint Meeting of the XVIIth International Symposium on Gnotobiology (ISG) and the XXXIVth Congress of the Society for Microbial Ecology and Disease (SOMED) due to East Japan Great Disaster with Fukushima Nuclear Accident.

Fortunately, the situations in the disaster-stricken areas such as Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, are improving in these days. We hope that Japan will recover completely from the great disaster soon.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, we are very pleased and honored to organize the Joint Meeting of the XVIIth International Symposium on Gnotobiology (ISG) and the XXXIVth Congress of the Society for Microbial Ecology and Disease (SOMED) in Yokohama on 20th to 23rd November 2011 at the Navios Yokohama.

It is our hope that the joint meeting delivers the opportunity to develop our understanding of the complexity of microbial ecology and diseases, and to expand the knowledge from the bench to the clinics for accurate diagnosis and better treatment.

Our four days of symposia, seminars and free papers will cover recent developments in basic microbiological research and clinical studies mainly in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). As a new program, Special Program “Nuclear Accident and HSCT” will be added. In addition, Round Table Discussion “Regulation of Probiotics” will be scheduled. It provides a unique opportunity for each of us to exchange information, enter into dialogue and become better connected with other people across the world and the different fields of science.

Yokohama is not only a beautiful port city with many tourist spots, historical atmosphere and international flavor, but also represents the foundation of the modern Japanese culture in the 19th century.

Navios Yokohama, the venue of the meeting, is located at the Minato Mirai area facing to the Yokohama Bay to the south. China Town, Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse (Aka-renga Soko), Yokohama Landmark Tower and Yokohama Bay Bridge are all within walking distance.

We are looking forwards to welcoming you to Yokohama in November 2011 for the ISG/SOMED joint meeting.

 

Shunichi Kato, MD, PhD	Shigeru Kamiya, MD, PhD
Cell Transplantation & Regenerative Medicine	Department of Infectious Diseases
Tokai University School of Medicine	Kyorin university School of Medicine
ISG Congress President	SOMED Congress President