2005 Prague - European Society of Human Genetics

Welcoming Address
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to cordially welcome you to the 37th European Human Genetics Conference (EHGC) in Prague. This
meeting will continue the successful tradition of excellent conferences that comprehensively cover the latest developments
in the fields of human genetics and genomics, both for clinicians and research scientists.
Prague, with one of the oldest European universities, has for centuries been one of the most important cultural and
scientific centres in Central Europe. Since the Velvet Revolution in 1989 this city has gradually regained its former
prominence. Setting EHGC in a city famous for its architecture, gastronomy and splendid surroundings is generally
considered a winning formula for a successful meeting.
In 2005 we celebrate the 140th anniversary of the definition of Mendel’s laws, which established the foundation for
the study of heredity and genetic variability. Mendel’s pioneering work was performed in Brno, the vibrant capital of
Moravia, where a Historical Workshop will be dedicated to the history and future of human genetics. We have also
arranged a separate attractive post congress tour to the newly refurbished Mendel Museum.
The Scientific Programme Committee was successful in inviting a number of outstanding international and local
speakers in order to offer you a very attractive scientific programme. The highest ever number of submitted abstracts
made it necessary to increase the number of concurrent sessions to a total of 13. The poster exhibition also promises
to be at a very high level.
We sincerely hope that this meeting will not only meet your expectations from the scientific, but also from the social
point of view.
Vítejte v Praze!
Milan Macek, Jr.
Local Host EHGC 2005
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