"Building bridges"-An opportunity to connect, inspire, and innovate. SSIEM 2019 Annual Symposium in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

In this special issue of the Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, the reader can find a collection of articles from the lectures given at the SSIEM 2019 Annual Symposium, which took place from 3rd to 6th September 2019 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The organization of the symposium was a joined effort by the Amsterdam University Medical Center, Radboud University Medical Center and Erasmus MC University Medical Center. The 2019 edition of the Annual Symposium broke all records with the number of attendees, 3017 registrants from 86 countries. The general theme of the 2019 Annual Symposium was Building Bridges. A theme that suits the city of Rotterdam very well. Rotterdam is known as a city continuously renewing itself and seeking for innovation. It is in Rotterdam's genes to build bridges and seek connection with the rest of world. Seeking connection was exactly the goal we had for the 2019 symposium. The metabolic field knows many areas of expertise. Over the years, these different areas have accomplished great things and the future of our patients has considerably improved, but we must do better. There are still many patients who cannot be treated or cured. By connecting different disciplines (for instance: laboratory and clinic), but also by seeking connection outside the metabolic field, we can expand our knowledge and generate innovative ideas; all with the common goal of achieving a better future for our patients. In the 6 plenary sessions, 14 parallel sessions, 3 update lecturers, 1 educational session, and the 606 posters accepted, we asked all lecturers and authors to incorporate the theme Building Bridges. Especially, those lecturers who are not active in the metabolic field succeeded in connecting their field of research with the metabolic field and creating new ideas for the audience. The articles in this edition of the Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease will hopefully inspire the readers to seek connection and come up with innovative ideas. The Garrod Award 2019 for the best clinical study in the Journal of Inherited Disease was presented to Johannes Häberle for his study on urea cycle disorders: of ammonia, dialysis, and future directions of management. The Komrower lecture with the title From fatty acid oxidation to riboflavin - Make metabolites great again was presented by Christine Vianey-Saban. The organization of the SSIEM 2019 Annual Symposium would have been impossible without the help and support of the Local Organizing Committee, Scientific Committee, the SSIEM Council, and the PCO. Because of this great collaboration, we succeeded to build bridges. For a full impression of the congress, go to https://ssiem2019.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SSIEM-2019-report-FINAL.pdf. I hope that you will all keep safe during this COVID-19 pandemic and that we will soon be able to meet again.