Invitation. I am delighted to announce that the programme for the 6th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology in Pittsburgh, June 19-22 2006 is now complete*, with some 100 invited speakers in 21 Symposia and 6 Plenary Lectures. Accordingly I am pleased to invite all whose research embraces neuroendocrinology, whether basic or clinical (the Congress is ACCME compliant), to participate in this exciting major olympiad event. Registration and abstract submission are now open (via the INF website www.isneuro.org/go to ‘Congress website’). Please note that the deadline for abstract submission (including for prizes), early registration and application for travel awards is February 15th 2006, so now is the time to begin writing your abstracts (which will be published in a special issue of Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology).

* Apart, as you might expect, from the ‘Hot Topics’ session to allow inclusion of the very latest exciting research.

Programme overview. The 6th ICN Programme has been planned with imagination by the international Programme Organising Committee representing all of the world’s neuroendocrine societies, under the Chairmanship of Iain Clarke, and working closely with the Local Organising Committee Chaired by Tony Plant. The Programme covers the major developments in our increasingly important and exciting field since the 5th ICN in Bristol in 2002, includes presentations from the world’s leading neuroendocrinology research laboratories, and from colleagues at all career stages.

More neuroendocrinology. But this is not all! The Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (<http://www.sbne.org/ >) will be holding its Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh to overlap by one day with the 6th ICN, and just after the 6th ICN the first day of the Endocrine Society meeting in Boston is devoted to the Endo Brain (<www.endo-society.org>).

Ensuring reduced registration. The LOC has succeeded in their careful budgeting and substantial fund-raising for the 6th ICN in keeping the registration fees and accommodation costs at a modest level, including the opportunity to register for both the 6th ICN and the SBN Meeting as a special package. Naturally, the registration fees are reduced for INF members: if you are a paid-up member of one of the INF Member Societies (ANS, BSN, JNS, PSN, SBN, SNE), or if you are a paid-up individual INF member via a regional group then you are entitled to the reduced rate. Otherwise you will have the opportunity at the time of registration to join the INF, or to renew your subscription: simple arithmetic will show you that joining the INF is a bargain against the full registration fee! If you need to check your INF individual membership status either ask your regional representative (e-mail addresses are on the INF website), or ask the INF Treasurer/ Membership Secretary, Greti Aguilera (e-mail address is on the INF web-site).

Financial support. The INF is making available Travel Awards to assist trainees in neuroendocrinology to participate in the 6th ICN (see 6th ICN website for details).

Prizes. Trainees are invited to indicate at the time of abstract submission if they wish to be considered for the prizes for best submissions and presentations by young investigators (details are on the 6th ICN website).

Finally, I recently had the pleasure of visiting Pittsburgh to discuss with Tony Plant and his team of local organisers some of the details of the arrangements for the 6th ICN. I was very much impressed by the David L Lawrence Convention Centre (the biggest ‘green’ building in the world), the accommodation for participants and the venues for the major social events, as well as the nearby informal meeting places. I am looking forward eagerly to returning in June 2006 to participate in what I am confident will be an outstandingly great International Congress of Neuroendocrinology.

I hope to meet you there.

Kind regards.