Welcome to the 44th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Rome, 7-11 September 2008!

On behalf of the Local Organising Committee and the Local Advisory Board, it is a great pleasure to invite you to attend and participate in this exciting event.

Rome, the cradle of Western civilization, was instrumental in shaping so many fundamental aspects of our modern life. Its history and legacy are unparalleled. More artwork is to be enjoyed in Rome than perhaps in the whole rest of the world, and its museums, exhibitions and lifestyle make it unique. Do not miss what is going to be a memorable 2008 EASD Annual Meeting in Rome!

The venue of Meeting will be the newly built Nuova Fiera di Roma conference and exhibition centre, located west of Rome, about 8 minutes by train from the Leonardo da Vinci (“Fiumicino”) Airport and about 25 minutes by the same train from Termini Railway station and the heart of the Eternal City.

The meeting will start with a get-together event at the conference centre the evening of Sunday, 7 September, and the official Opening Ceremony will take place in the morning of Monday, 8 September. The meeting will end at lunchtime on Thursday 11 September, with the Closing Ceremony followed by a Farewell Reception.

We are certain that the EASD Annual Meeting in Rome will stand out as unforgettable in our memory. Do come to enjoy the ever outstanding scientific programme, and a bit of “dolce vita”.
We look forward to welcoming you in September 2008.

Massimo Porta
Chairman, Local Organising Committee