Welcome Address

Dear Colleagues and Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We invite you to join us in Paris, France on April 30 – May 3, 2011 at the IV WORLD ASTHMA & COPD FORUM. The lectures and discussions during this Congress will cover every aspect of basic research in the field of asthma, COPD and respiratory allergy, and will also bring forth the latest innovations in treatment. The prevalence of asthma and COPD around the world, their severity and mortality rates allow us to consider them as the most socially significant diseases of today and the nearest future. Our invitation especially addresses specialists in allergology, immunology, pulmonology, pediatrics, dermatology, critical care medicine etc. The Congress Program will cover a wide variety of areas—from mechanisms and genetic aspects of asthma and COPD to new advances in diagnostics, treatment and prophylaxis. We intend to organize the World Asthma & COPD Day on May 2, 2011.

During the Congress, we will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Immunotherapy whose history goes back into 1911 to Drs Leonard Noon's and John Freeman's first successful immunization against grass pollen "toxin" for hay fever. 

To encourage young specialists to participate in the IV World Asthma & COPD Forum, 30 travel grants will be provided for the best abstracts submitted as poster presentation application.

Paris represents a city of romance, for others, the French capital is a sparkling mix of writers and artists. The city's people are stylish and flirtatious, its architecture seductive, its restaurants and nightlife devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and its streets are scattered with dreams. On all levels – historical, architectural, and cultural – this is a fascinating city full of surprises.

WELCOME TO PARIS—one of the world's most exciting travel destinations! A stay in Paris should at least include a visit to the Louvre, one of the most impressive and well known museums in the world; a climb of the Eiffel Tower; and a climb to the top of Notre Dame Cathedral. You should also climb the steps to the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre, stroll around the Place du Tertre in front of it, visit the saucy Pigalle district, walk around the Latin Quarter and feel the atmosphere of the street performers outside the Centre Pompidou.

We welcome guests from all continents of the world. Our special greetings to the speakers of the Forum, the leading scientists who represent the World Immunopathology Organization (WIPO), World Allergy Organization (WAO), European Academy of Allergology & Clinical Immunology (EAACI), European Respiratory Society (ERS), International Association of Asthmology (INTERASMA), American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), Asia Pacific Association of Allergology, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (APAACI), Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR), Latin American Thoracic Association (LATA) and some other international organizations.

We would like invite to inquisitive-minded scientists from all over the world to come to Paris - a city that has everything a traveler could possibly wish for…

WALTER CANONICA
WAO Past-President
Program Committee
Co-Chairman

ALLEN KAPLAN
Program Committee
Co-Chairman

REVAZ SEPIASHVILI
WIPO President
Program Committee
Co-Chairman

WORLD IMMUNOPATHOLOGY ORGANIZATION
E-mail: info@wipocis.org