1st International Symposium
on
Prevention and Epidemiology of Congenital Malformations (ISPECOM 2000)
Cardiff, UK
Friday 15th - Saturday 16th  September, 2000

Organised by:
International Clearinghouse for Birth
Defects Monitoring Systems (ICBDMS)

Welcome to Cardiff

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Wales for the 1st International Symposium on Prevention and Epidemiology of Congenital Malformations (ISPECOM 2000)  arranged by the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems (ICBDMS).

The England and Wales programme was one of the founder members of ICBDMS. Since 1974 we have seen the 'Clearinghouse' grow to more than 30 member programmes, promoting expertise in monitoring birth defects and developing ambitious international collaborative projects.

The symposium is a new activity for ICBDMS. The themes chosen reflect the current issues in the prevention of birth defects. We are pleased that so many distinguished speakers have agreed to participate and we hope that the symposium will provide an opportunity to stimulate further research and to meet with others working in the field.

In the England and Wales programme we have been working in close collaboration with regional registers in the British Isles. We are delighted that CARIS - the register for Wales, contributes high quality data to the programme.

Cardiff is the fast growing capital of Wales- a principality, which in 1999, for the first time, elected its own assembly. Our conference will be based in the revitalised dock area - Cardiff Bay. Cardiff has many cultural attractions, shops and restaurants and is conveniently close by.

We hope that you will enjoy your visit to the British Isles and, as they say in Wales, Croeso i Gymru - Welcome to Wales !

Beverley Botting
Programme Director
England and Wales