Welcome to the 4th RAML Conference
with International Participation
18-21 June, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Dear Colleague,

  On behalf of the Organizing Committee I am honored and pleased to invite you to attend the 4 th Conference of the Romanian Association of Medical Laboratories (RAML) with International Participation, which will be held in Cluj-Napoca between 18 th and 21 st June 2008. The Conference will be held under the auspices of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC).
  An important cultural centre, Cluj-Napoca has many museums and theatres. "Lucian Blaga" National Theatre, opened on December 1 st 1919 in Avram Iancu Square , is the most important theatre in Transylvania . The building, designed by the Austrian architects Helmer and Fellner, was built in 1904-1906 to house the Hungarian National Theatre. The building also hosts the Romanian Opera, the oldest lyrics and dramatics institution in Romania . In the Bánffy Palace , where the National Art Museum is located, many notable artists are on display: Romanian painters Nicolae Grigorescu, Stefan Luchian, and Dimitrie Paciurea, as well as foreign painters such as Constantin David Rosenthal or Karl Storck. Other museums include the National Transylvanian History Museum , the Pharmacy Museum , the Village Museum , and the Geology and the Zoological Museum . The Botanical Garden is affiliated to the "Babes-Bolyai" University of Cluj-Napoca ; it was founded in 1920 by the university professor Alexandru Borza. The garden is organized based on rigorous scientific principles as far as the plant classification and phytogeography are concerned; this is harmoniously combined with the artistic refinement which turns it into an extremely charming and picturesque site.
  The programme of the Conference will provide state of the art scientific developments in the field of laboratory medicine and will include plenary sessions according to various topics from the field of clinical biochemistry, hematology, immunology and microbiology. Invited keynote speakers will participate in plenary sessions. Collateral poster sessions will be also organized. Leading scientists and experts will conduct workshops and short courses.
  A comprehensive exhibition of laboratory equipment and reagents will give an ideal opportunity for productive interaction between laboratory professionals and suppliers of commercial products. Industry-sponsored satellite symposia will also be organized.
  We can guarantee that we will do our best to present to you a most enjoyable and exciting Conference. We are confident that you will enjoy memorable days discovering more about laboratory medicine as well as the spirit of Cluj-Napoca .
  The Organizing Committee extends a warm welcome to all of you. We are looking forward to seeing you in Cluj-Napoca in June 2008.

Professor Minodora Dobreanu, MD, PhD,
President of the Romanian Association of Medical Laboratories,
President of the Organizing Committee.