Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF) will hold its 8th Conference in Wroclaw, Poland. It will be a great honour for us to guest outstanding clinicians and researches not only from European counties, but from all over the world. On behalf of the Organizing Committee I would like to invite you to take part in this event, that will promote all aspects of ihidradenitis suppurativa research.
Wroclaw, lying on both banks of the Odra river, is a unique city with 12 islands and 112 bridges. As the main city of Lower Silesia it is the region’s economic, cultural and scientific capital. Wroclaw has been a place where various nationalities and numerous cultures meet. Nowadays it combines rich thousand-year history with modern life. Guests may see valuable architectural monuments, magic places, such as the Town Hall, Ostrów Tumski with the St. John Baptist Cathedral and Racławice Panorama – an extraordinary exhibition of the famous monumental painting of the battle. Moreover, visitors can find dozens of restaurants, cafes and pubs set in the historical beautiful center. In 2016 Wroclaw was the European Capital of Culture.
The 8th EHSF Conference in Wroclaw will welcome every contribution from those devoted to the progres of hidradenitis suppurativa research. It is our goal to have an international interdisciplinary meeting addressing physicians and scientists especially in dermatology and all other fields of related experimental medicine. I believe Wroclaw’s warm hospitality, pleasant atmosphere will make our city the ideal place for this purpose. I do hope that besides the outstanding scientific program, participants will have opportunity to visit our city, enjoy social events and make new friendships.
Wroclaw is honoured to welcome you in February 2019
On behalf of the Organizing Committee
Prof. Jacek C. Szepietowski, M.D. Ph.D.
Conference President
Dear Colleagues,
Hidradenitis suppurativa / acne inversa (HS) has been until recently an orphan disease. A current publication om 517 patients from 24 countries around the globe reported a delay of diagnosis of 7.2 years, a mostly critical period of time, which can lead to the known debilitating clinical picture. Moreover, HS is the skin disease with the highest reduction of life quality at the most productive age.
These facts were relevant reasons for a small group of physicians and patients to inaugurate the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, Inc. in 2005 and the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation e.V. in 2012 and organize international thematic conferences, in Dessau, Germany (2006), San Francisco, IL, USA (2009), Brussels, Belgium (2014 and 2015), Berlin, Germany (2016), Copenhagen, Denmark (2017) and Rotterdam, The Netherlands (2018). The so-called Dessau definition of the disease and the HSF 2006 Outstanding Investigator Award presented to Prof. Gregor B. Jemec for his innovative long-standing contribution to the disease were the milestones of the 1st conference. Since these legentary, pioneer days many things have changed to the better. The interest to the disease and the scientific work performed by increasing numbers of clinician and scientists have grown exponentially. HS has found its home in dermatology. Patients have been organized in several national self-aid groups. A first compound for medical treatment has been registered with more currently being into clinical studies. At last, the European Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation (EHSF) e.V. has grown up, providing significant contributions in the field through valuable cooperative works of its members in establishing diagnostic and classification criteria as well as guidelines for the treatment of the disease.
In 2019, the EHSF e.V. is going to visit the traditional university city of Wroclaw, Poland, where our local hosts Profs. Jacek C. Szepietowski and Łukasz Matusiak are going to organize the 8th International Conference in February 6-8. It is a great opportunity to celebrate 13 years of common fascinating and productive work but also to summarize HS research and the clinical activities, which are ongoing around the globe. The huge developments, which occurred in understanding HS pathophysiology and the needs of medical and psychological care of HS patients but also the targets for the years to come will be the central subjects of this scientific event. Parallelly, EHSF e.V. opens its doors to invite all caring physicians and scientists, independently of their specialization, to participate, since the emerging comorbidity of HS requires an interdisciplinary approach.
As EHSF e.V. president, I am fascinated for what we have reached together. However, there is a general consensus that the growing level of knowledge makes it difficult to follow the rapid development in the field, even for experts. Therefore, I am honoured and pleased to invite you to the 8th International Conference of the EHSF e.V. Our purpose is to construct a scientific programme of high impact providing current information on research and clinical relevance on HS. The speakers will be chosen among those of you, who will submit abstracts, attracting both experts in the field and motivating upcoming specialists to participate, but also young scientists and students working or wishing to work in this fascinating field in the future and the partners of the pharmaceutical industry, who are active in the field. Participants will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and perspectives and to gain a better insight in HS. We have no doubt that your journey to Wroclaw will be an interesting experience and we will make our best efforts that your scientific expectations and networking wishes will be fulfilled.
I look forward to address you a friendly welcome to Wroclaw and thank you in advance for joining us in the 8th International Conference of the EHSF e.V.
On behalf of the Organizing and Scientific Programme Committees
Prof. Dr. Prof. honoraire Dr. h.c. Christos C. Zouboulis, Dessau
President of the EHSF e.V.
