On behalf of the Organizing and Scientific Committees, we welcome you to the 13th International Symposium on Viral Hepatitis and Liver Disease (13th ISVHLD).

Continuing the tradition of the recent landmark meetings held in Paris, Sydney, Atlanta, Rome, and Tokyo, the 13th ISVHLD will commemorate progress made in the global fight against viral hepatitis and liver disease and focus the field's attention on the key future challenges. Each day will begin with plenary lectures by world class leaders who will review the most important advances in their fields. In the afternoons, the latest new information will be presented in sessions moderated by outstanding scientists and public health officials who will provide perspective for each series of talks. Robust poster sessions and special symposia will be featured throughout the meeting, and as always, there will be ample time for stimulating conversations and informal, social scientific exchange.

The scope of the meeting is massive. The virology, immunology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of each hepatitis virus will be covered along with cross cutting series on hepatocellular cancer, cirrhosis, HIV coinfection, and liver transplantation. No other meeting so comprehensively addresses the issues of viral hepatitis and liver disease.

We have an outstanding venue for the 13th ISVHLD. The meeting will be held at the beautiful Wardman Park Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC. As the nation's capital, Washington boasts outstanding museums, historic monuments, restaurants, and other cultural features that compliment the scientific program, especially for our international guests. With ample meeting rooms and an ideal location near a major international airport and Washington's cultural attractions, the Wardman promises to be a memorable site for this meeting.

There are many key partners who will make this meeting outstanding. We are thrilled to have the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) as the primary sponsor. They have donated their impressive administrative offices and vast experience running The Liver Meeting to ensure the successful implementation of this affair. Participating speakers will come from around the globe and many representatives from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Special thanks to our financial and corporate supporters without whom this meeting would not be possible.

Once every 3 years we meet to learn all there is to know about viral hepatitis and liver disease, sharing what we can from our discipline and learning from each other. Given the pace of discovery and the outstanding speakers from all over the world who have committed to attend, this meeting is clearly one you will not want to miss. We look forward to seeing you there.

Yours truly,

Jay Hoofnagle, MD

David Thomas, MD

For the Organizing and Scientific Committees

For more information about the meeting, see http://www.isvhld2009.org.