The scientific programme of the 11th Annual Meeting of ETRS held in Cardiff in September was the best yet according to comments made by attendees. Keith Harding our new president and colleagues should be congratulated for their hard work. A stimulating session was held at the opening of the meeting on the impact of ageing. This session (see photograph below) was chaired by Niall Dickson of the BBC and covered subjects from scientific, clinical and health economics related to the aspects of ageing.

Impact of ageing session (from left to right): Nick Bosanquet, Health Economist; David Kipling, Scientist; Ken Woodhouse, Geriatrician; and Niall Dixon, BBC, Moderator.

Another unique aspect of the meeting was the in depth review of healing in different organs by experts from throughout the world.

Each poster was orally summarized in the main meeting room (see photograph overleaf). We are publishing a selection of abstracts in this edition of the ETRS Bulletin, including the abstracts of the Young Investigators' session.

I recently heard from Adrian Barbul, the local organiser of our Joint conference in Baltimore, USA (28 May - 1 June 2002) that the programme will be both innovative and exciting. Baltimore is an excellent venue for the meeting and I am sure there will be a good attendance by members of the ETRS; similar to the support that the Wound Healing Society members gave to our last Joint Meeting in Bordeaux.

   Posters in the main meeting room

The new World Union of Wound Healing Societies is beginning to become a working organisation through its working parties. The educational group had its first meeting in conjunction with the European Wound Management Association meeting in Dublin in May under the leadership of Gary Sibbald of Toronto and this was attended by members of wound healing societies from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, UK and USA.

The industrial liaison committee headed by Keith Harding had an introductory meeting at the ETRS meeting in Cardiff with members of Industry outlining plans of the new World Union as well as encouraging industry to become actively involved by joining the corporate side of this new organisation.

The developing country working party headed by myself sponsored a practical wound management meeting in Tanzania Africa at the Regional Dermatology Training Centre, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College, Moshi in conjunction with the International Skin-care Nursing group. This was a four day meeting in which Terence Ryan of Oxford as well as Kent Jonssen, a general surgeon and Salathiel Mzezawa, a plastic surgeon both from Harare, Zimbabwe made major contributions to the practical management of trauma and wounds which was well received by the audience of African dermatology assistants, doctors and nurses. Both surgeons from Zimbabwe have attended our annual ETRS meetings and been actively involved in the Society since the second meeting in Malmo, Sweden. Dr Mzezawa is currently involved in research on HIV and the healing of clinical wounds. Wound management is a major problem in developing countries, particularly resulting from trauma and this meeting was just the beginning of future programmes that are needed.

Dr George W. Cherry
Editor