The WSF is the host and organizing body of the World Scleroderma Congress which takes place every second year in differing locations.
Between February 11-14th 2010, the first World Scleroderma Congress took place in Florence Italy under the auspices of the recently formed, Swiss based World Scleroderma Association (w-s-a.net). The program included an intense program consisting of 34 didactic presentations from world experts, interactive workshops and case presentations covering all aspects of systemic sclerosis, with a focus on translational and clinical medicine, a patient-oriented teaching day and six industry supported symposia.
A recent increase in translational and clinical knowledge concerning various aspects of systemic sclerosis, continued interest in new therapeutic options and a slowly expanding therapeutic armamentarium suggested that such a congress would be appropriate.
The anticipated attendance of 500 expanded to the enthusiastic attendance of 1500 physicians, scientists, patient groups and industry from 61 countries. Only space limitations limited even greater attendance. Patients were represented by 129 members of the Federation of European Scleroderma Associations (FESCA) and even some patients from the Scleroderma Foundation of America were able to attend.
Planning included both health professionals and patients The resulting program was both broad and new. Innovative aspects such as a mentoring program for young investigators added texture to the congress. Support for this next generation of scientists and physicians was also evident by the 42 oral abstract presentations and 362 selected posters.
The congress was officially opened in the Palazzo Vecchio by Alexander Klee, patron of the World Scleroderma Foundation (WSF) after a series of talks by local dignitaries and also , very movingly, by a patient who shared her difficult experiences dealing with this disease. Alexander Klee, also an artist, is the grandson of Paul Klee, a resident of Switzerland who succumbed to this terrible disease in his 60th year, his later paintings and drawings graphically portraying his suffering Appropriately the WSF had its inaugural dinner on the evening of Wednesday February 10th in the beautiful Bellini Gallery in Florence, strengthening the theme of scleroderma and art. Figure 2 shows the signing of the statutes under the careful scrutiny of Donatello’s Madonna.
The scientific program opened with a lecture from Dame Professor Carol Black, a pioneer in the field, entitled “Scleroderma – history and prospectives” in which she echoed the cautious optimism which is starting to permeate this previously grim field. However, much work is still required.
The congress also provided a forum for strengthening old contacts and forming new networks across disciplines and national borders, so necessary for such a complex and relatively uncommon disorder. Many of the biological issues raised by scleroderma are also relevant to other more common chronic fibrosing disorders, and the World Scleroderma Congress is one forum where synergies and collaborations could be born.
The next congress will take place in Madrid in February 1-3th 2012 and will continue on a 2 yearly cycle timed to complement the biannual Scleroderma Workshop which focuses on basic science.
Details are available on the web site (www.sscworldcongress.org).
Any person or organization involved with scleroderma is welcome to contribute and participate.
