Dear Distinguished Colleagues and Friends,

On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee and Chairman of the 8th IST - AP Meeting on Animal, Plant, and Microbial Toxins 2008 in Vietnam, it is our great honor and pleasure to convey to you our cordial invitation to the Meeting. The Meeting will be held from December 2 nd - 6 th, 2008 at two national landscapes of Vietnam including its capital Hanoi and Halong Bay.

This year Meeting theme on "Biotoxins from Nature to Human Diseases" aims to bridge fundamental research and clinical studies on issues related to natural toxins and their potentials. Our efforts are to make this Meeting a platform for scientific programs reflecting from natural biotoxins research to applications for human medical uses in all of its diversity, especially with emphasis on those cutting edge topics relevant to  both international community and developing countries in Asia.  To meet the challenges of  the multi-discipline of  the current biotoxin research,  we welcome and appreciate the contributions of  scientists in the broad field of  biological research, biotechnologies, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical industries  to report and exchange the latest ideas and techniques for further development of largely untapped biotoxin resources in Asia and worldwide. In addition, there will be poster and workshop sessions to promote further interactions and  to bring up-to-date training in technologies required to advance biotoxin research.

For your information, we would like to summarize the Meeting schedules as following: 
 
The first day of the Meeting, 2nd December, 2008:
The opening ceremony and plenary lectures will be held in the millennium of old city of Hanoi, at The Museum of Ho Chi Minh President. Address: 19  Ngoc Ha Street, Badinh District, Hanoi Capital. The museum is solemnly regarded by the public and is surrounded by many historical monuments & famous beauty spots such as Temple of Literature, Vietnam Art Museum, Badinh Square and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One-Pillar Pagoda, Military Museum , West Lake and the working buildings of National Assembly, Government, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Embassies,etc have made up the capital’s community of culture, politics, economics and tourism.
 
The following days, 3rd to 6th December, 2008:
In this main scientific session, Meeting participants will have a leisure trip with lunch on boat when cruising the Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Quangninh province. The 3 day scientific programs will be at Saigon Halong Hotel on Halong Road, Halong city, Quangninh province, which is located on the hillside overlooking the  seashore of the Halong city.

The 8th IST - AP Meeting in Vietnam  will bring you the advantages of a full scientific program on biotoxin research, and the pleasures of exposure to the unique culture and landscape of  Vietnam. Our staffs are prepared to provide you with assistance to make your trip a beautifully memorable one. For detail information and updates of the Meeting, please review the website www.toxinology.org.vn

Thank you in advance for supporting our efforts and we look forward to welcoming you in Vietnam!

With warmest regards,

Trinh Xuan Kiem, MD., Ph.D
Chairman, Local Organizing Committee
The 8th IST - AP Meeting, Vietnam.