The Chairman, the 49th meeting of
the Japanese Society of Lymphology
      Masanori Hirashima

I am pleased to announce that I have been appointed as the chairman of the 49th Meeting of the Japanese Society for Lymphology, which will be held at Toki Messe Niigata Convention Center on May 23 (Fri) and May 24 (Sat), 2025. Looking back at the history of the annual meeting, we had the 22nd meeting in Niigata (Chairman: Dr. Hitoshi Asakura) in 1998. In the quarter century since then, beginning with the discovery of molecules that function specifically in lymphatic vessels, and our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate lymphatic vessel formation and function has dramatically deepened. Moreover, the evolution of medical and biological research is occurring due to technological innovations such as genome editing technology, single cell gene expression analysis, quantitative analysis of trace proteins, and the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

The theme of the 49th annual meeting is "SHINKA" after the Japanese words for deepening and evolution. We look forward to our further understanding of lymphology research and medicine, as well as to discussion of the prospects for the next generation. We would also like to plan a special seminar of Japanese culture that is on the cutting edge in the use of AI.

In Niigata in late May, fresh green shines, warm weather is coming, and fresh seafood can be enjoyed along with local sake. We will make diligent preparations to ensure that this meeting will be a meaningful one with good learning and good encounters for all participants. We sincerely look forward to your participation.

In June, 2024.