On behalf of the Organizing Committee, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Vancouver, B.C. and to the 7th World Congress on Heart Failure - Mechanisms and Management.

The Congress has been designed to provide an innovative and comprehensive overview of the latest research developments in heart failure, primarily in the areas of molecular and cellular biology, cardiomyopathies, valvular and congenital heart disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension and arrhythmias. Special emphasis has been given to surgical intervention in heart failure.

Many distinguished cardiologists and scientists have joined the faculty and will take part in this Congress. Papers will be presented in the form of plenary sessions, symposia and posters and will include superb scientific material that was carefully selected by the scientific abstract review committee from over 750 abstracts submitted for presentation at the meeting. These studies originating from laboratories in more than 50 countries, assures that the meeting will be a major scientific event.

We would like to express our thanks to the pharmaceutical and manufacturing industry for their generous support, to Kenes Organizers of Congresses and Tour Operators Ltd. for their excellent arrangements in all aspects of the Congress, to our dedicated staff, colleagues, friends and families for their untiring help, support and advise in planning and arranging this meeting.

We hope that you will enjoy the Congress and that your interaction with your colleagues from many different countries will stimulate a creative exchange of ideas and will be personally rewarding. We also hope and trust that you will enjoy your visit to the very beautiful and exciting city of Vancouver, B.C., in July 2000.

Yours sincerely,

Asher Kimchi, MD
Chairman