Welcome Letter

Dear Colleagues,

Your ICPE 2000 Scientific and Local Program Committees are in the process of finalizing the program for ICPE 2000 in Barcelona (20-23 August 2000). Visit the ISPE website for current meeting information.

We thank you very much for your 407 submissions* from 33 countries, and especially for your quick response to the new on-line abstract submission and review system.

This year's ICPE will be an exceptional meeting! From the first Plenary Session on Monday morning, with the Keynote Address by Patrick Waller on his experience and views on "Pharmacoepidemiology: A Tool for Safeguarding Public Health" and the ISPE Presidential Address by Elizabeth Andrews, to the final conference session on Wednesday afternoon, a Hot Topic session chaired by Alexander Walker and Bert Leufkens on Cisapride, a story to explore methods and policy aspects of event detection and evaluation, and monitoring of the impact of labeling decisions.

It will be a non-stop program of Poster Sessions, Podium Presentations and Workshops. We will have our usual strong representation of contributions concerning epidemiological methodology, including a Special Methods Lecture by Ken Rothman on "Evaluation of Dose Response Trends" as well as a wide range of substantive topics from nervous system drugs to vaccines. We are also will be highlighting timely and important areas such as natural history of disease and burden of illness. A series of workshops will focus on the specifics of conducting collaborative research on drug safety. Also, among the highlights is a workshop and presentations on safe use of drugs during pregnancy. On Monday, we will hold the joint Eurodurg-ISPE sessions emphasizing health care and drug utilization.

We have reserved the last part of Monday afternoon for ISPE Council Meetings (Academic, Regulatory and Industry), and for the first time, the newly formed ISPE Student Council will convene (during lunch).

The Welcome Reception will be held on Sunday evening. The Local Host Committee is coordinating social events for Monday and Tuesday evenings. Join us for two interesting, social evening in a relaxing setting where you will visit with old friends and new ones, and learn about the city of Barcelona and the Mediterranean culture.

Register for the 16th ICPE today! Register by 5 July to receive the special EARLY BIRD rate. You will find registration materials on the ISPE Website or contact directly the ISPE Office [Phone: 301-718-6500; Fax: 301-656-0989; Email: ispe@paimgmt.com].

Looking forward to seeing you in Barcelona,

Your Scientific Program and Local Committees