Dear Colleagues,

_________It is our great pleasure to inform you that the Fifth International Conference on The Epididymis (Epididymis V) will be held in Águas de São Pedro, São Paulo State, Brazil, October 25^th – 28^th, 2010. This will be the first Latin American venue for these workshops following Epididymis IV held in Chatel-Guyon, France in 2006, Epididymis III held in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA in 2002, Epididymis II held in Newcastle, Australia in 1998 and Epididymis I held in Hong Kong, China in 1992.

_________This is a rare opportunity to attend and participate in a conference where the Epididymis is the focus of attention, where established scientists and trainees together join in conversation about this enigmatic organ, and where the intentionally small nature of the meeting maximizes interaction among participants. A maximum of 150 participants is expected to attend the meeting.

_________Speaker sessions, symposia, and poster sessions will highlight recent progress in topics ranging from basic research to clinical application, from epididymal development and regulation of gene expression to epithelial transport functions and innate immunity, emphasizing new discoveries in the cellular and molecular biology of this tissue and new tools in the search for effective male contraceptives. The experience of senior investigators, the enthusiasm of new trainees, and the synthesis that comes from the combination of the two are hallmarks of this conference series. Meeting sessions and housing will be kept in the same hotel to facilitate and maximize scientific exchange and interaction among researchers. Opportunities to network with your colleagues will be also offered through social events. It is a magic mixture that will happen again.

_________Invited speakers and attendees from different countries are expected. The official language will be English. It will be certainly a great and exciting scientific opportunity in Brazil!

_________We have chosen a wonderful location in São Paulo state. The Grande Hotel Escola SENAC São Pedro is in the heart of a hydro-mineral resort of Águas de São Pedro city, inside a green and peaceful area. Águas de São Pedro is the smallest city in Brazil and is included in reports from the United Nations as one of the resorts with the best quality of life index in Brazil. The weather in October is warm and perfect for exploring the nearby forests and gardens, enjoying the famous medicinal waters, discovering local culture, or swimming. The hotel has a wonderful restaurant and local bars are nearby. The venue is 3 hours from Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) in São Paulo city, with a convenient transportation schedule to take international travelers to Águas de São Pedro.

_________Just in Time: The III International Symposium on Animal Biology of Reproduction (ISABR 2010) will be also held in Grande Hotel Águas de São Pedro, Brazil, October 22^nd-24^th, 2010. Meeting information:
http://www.cbra.org.br/portal/eventos/isabr2010/isabr2010.htm. _________

_________We hope you can join us and look forward to welcoming you here in Brazil !

_________Best regards,

Organizers

Maria Christina W. Avellar (Brazil) and Patricia Cuasnicu (Argentina)