Welcome message from SOIE

The SOIE welcomes you to Lausanne, Switzerland, for the 2017 IOIS Congress

Dear Colleagues and Friends,
 
The Society for Ophthalmo-Immunoinfectiology in Europe (SOIE) has been entrusted by the IOIS General Assembly during the San Francisco IOIS congress, to organize the 14th IOIS Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland. We, the SOIE, are honoured and pleased to have been elected to perpetuate the longstanding tradition of IOIS meetings since the foundation of IOIS in 1992, 25 years ago. Our task is to set-up an environment favourable for the scientific proceedings of the congress. We will do our best to be good hosts and make you feel comfortable in order to allow for a successful meeting and assure the advancement in the field of ocular inflammation that can be expected from the congress. 

Lausanne is easy to reach by train from Geneva and Zurich airports as well as from Paris. Each congress city has its particular interests and charms. The present meeting will take place in the midst of a small lakeside town and the participants will benefit from the quietness of the place suitable to achieve instructive sessions and fruitful exchanges. The congress venue’s capacity and its equipment are ensuring that scientific sessions will run with Swiss precision. The venue is conveniently located within walking distance from the shores of lake Léman (or lake of Geneva) and the old town that can be easily reached. A quiet stroll along the lake shores or a walk in the old town may be refreshing after a busy scientific day. We organized social events that will allow participants to interact with each other and enjoy being together in an enchanting scenery, starting with a welcome dinner cocktail on the evening of the first day of the congress, on Wednesday 18th October 2017, held in the R-S congress venue. On Friday evening, October 20th, 2017, the congress dinner “Swiss night”, will be organized in the award winning Olympic Museum, preceded by a visit of the museum for those who are interested.

For those who would like to explore Lausanne and its surroundings before or after the meeting, the cosy character of the city is most convenient, as most spots are close by: Terrace Vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO world heritage site; Gruyères, the medieval castle and borough where the famous cheese of the same name takes its origin; the medieval castle of Château de Chillon, a castle that became famous worldwide after Lord Byron composed his verses on the prisoner of Chillon, and the Charlie Chaplin Museum, “Chaplin’s World”, which was designed in and around the magnificent mansion in Vevey where the film legend spent the last 30 years of his life. You may even visit the thermal site of Evian in France, by taking a boat across Lake Léman. Excursions are organized to these attractions for the accompanying persons.

We would like to assure you that we, the SOIE and the Local Organizing Committee will do their best for an impeccable organization of the meeting and a most enjoyable stay in Lausanne. In order to fulfil our role, allowing IOIS to compose an interesting scientific program in an attractive venue, we will be at your disposal and we sincerely hope that the IOIS 2017 Lausanne meeting will be a memorable one. 

In the name of SOIE and the Local Organizing Committee, we look forward to welcome you to IOIS 2017 in Lausanne, Switzerland,

Carl P. Herbort Jr, MD, PD, Lausanne, Switzerland,
President SOIE & President Local Organizing Committee
Ilknur Tugal-Tutkun, MD, Istanbul, Turkey, Vice-President SOIE
Moncef Khairallah, MD, Monastir, Tunisia, Vive-President SOIE
Piergiorgio Neri, MD, PhD, Ancona, Italy, General Secretary SOIE
Christoph Tappeiner, MD, Bern, Switzerland, Swiss SOIE Representative