Message From Program Chair

Emil A. Tanghetti, M.D.

New Things are Going to Happen at the 28th ASLMS Annual Conference

Our Society is blessed with a great deal of interest and activity in basic science and clinical research. This can present a major challenge when we must decide what information will be shared at our Annual Conference. We have made many changes in this year's conference program in order to expand our ability to share more new and late breaking developments.

In the past we have had a limited number of abstracts presented as part of the sessions, with the majority being presented as posters. In past years both physical space and program time limited to some extent our ability to share all of the quality information we received. Recognizing this as a limitation in the past, and having received more than 525 abstract submissions for this year’s conference, we have endeavored to expand the number of papers accepted for presentation and posters at this year's conference. A major factor in our ability to expand our information sharing is our transition of all posters to an electronic format (ePosters). This year the Annual Conference will include the presentation of more than 125 ePosters which conference attendees can view and peruse on 24 inch plasma screens in a designated area of the exhibit hall. Consistent with the Society’s commitment to share new information, these ePosters will also be available for viewing by ASLMS members on the ASLMS Web site after the Annual Conference. Using an ePoster approach has enabled the Society to accept more abstracts as posters than ever before.

Another change in the program will be the inclusion of an expanded number of abstracts in the breakout sessions. More than 225 abstracts will be included during the conference. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear a wider variety of presentations on a broader set of topics than ever before. Topics will range from basic science to very practical clinical research. Conference attendees will have excellent access to topics they are most interested in at the conference. ASLMS members will be able to further research their interests after the conference through convenient access to major conference presentations which will be made available through video streaming on the ASLMS Web site.

These changes will enable our Society to communicate the latest developments in our rapidly changing field in a peer reviewed manner. We anticipate that in the future we will provide additional interactive components to a web based spectrum of educational programs. The revised approach assures me that all timely and credible material will have a place at our conference. This is just the beginning of our changes, and the Society will continue to enhance the value of its Annual Conference, and membership in ASLMS.

Advanced registration for the Annual Conference is up 25% from last year. The increased submission of abstracts, transition to ePosters, the addition of the "Fundamentals" pre-conference course, inclusion of the largest number of exhibitors ever at the conference are all evidence this will be the best ASLMS conference.

You still have time to register for the 28th Annual ASLMS Conference. Visit www.aslms.org, click on the Annual Conference icon, review the many educational offerings listed in our Preliminary Program, and then register as soon as possible for this important conference which has become the premier laser gathering of the planet. Online registrations will be accepted until March 21st. After that date, you are still able to register on-site.