Interest in pigment research has been increasing steadily. A search through Medline indicates a 2.7-fold rise in the number of publications on ‘melanin’ and ‘melanocytes’ in the past 2 decades. The general public, not only scientists and physicians, shows greater interest in pigmentation than ever because of the finding of a link between UV exposure and skin cancer and the need for cosmetics to modify pigmentation, not to mention curiosity about pigmentation. Pigment cell scientists are lucky and should be proud to live in such a growing, rewarding world. Interests need a forum to discuss the latest findings and to exchange ideas. The International Pigment Cell Conference (IPCC) has been held every 3 years since 1946 when Myron Gordon first held such a meeting in New York. The rapid expansion of interest in pigment research during the 1980s led to the establishment of the regional Pigment Cell Societies of the Americas (PASPCR), of Europe (ESCPR), and of Japan (JSPCR). In 1990, this upsurge eventually culminated in forming a Federation of those three Societies, the International Federation of Pigment Cell Societies (IFPCS). Since then, the IPCC has rotated among the three regional Societies. In Europe, the first of such was held in London organized by Prof. Patrick A. Riley in 1993. Nine years later, in 2002, the ESPCR hosted its next meeting, the 18th IPCC, in the Netherlands. The venue, Hotel Zuiderduin, was a good choice with a relaxed and informal atmosphere. The surroundings, Egmond ann Zee, provided the attendees with opportunities to enjoy local foods at cozy restaurants and leisurely walks along the North Sea coast. More than 300 scientists from 26 different countries were lucky enough to be able to attend. The attendees also took advantage of the location of the venue, only a 1-h ride to Amsterdam, one of the most interesting cities for tourists in the world. As the President of the IFPCS (at the time of the IPCC), I wish to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Stan Pavel, Dr Nico Smit, and the Organizing Committee for their excellent preparation and for their efforts to make us enjoy social events and concentrate on science when needed. The scientific program was superb, covering a wide range of topics in 10 Plenary Symposia and in 8 Concurrent Symposia. Altogether, 105 presentations were given orally and 118 were given at the Poster Session in the 4-day meeting. Four Satellite meetings were also held on the following day with 39 presentations. I was amazed to see nearly full audiences throughout the meeting. During coffee breaks, held right next to the Conference room, productive exchanges of information and ideas among the attendees were noticed everywhere. I am sure that at the IPCC, pigment cell scientists, old and new alike, made new friends and met old friends. This is the joy of attending international meetings, in particular the IPCC. The IFPCS serves to (1) encourage the dissemination of knowledge related to pigment cells by establishing a journal or other means, (2) organize a tri-annual international meeting, the IPCC, and (3) foster scientific collaboration, cooperation and communication among the regional Societies. The first purpose of the IFPCS is achieved by publishing the IFPCS-sponsored journal Pigment Cell Research. In conclusion, I would like to congratulate once again Prof. Stan Pavel and Dr Nico Smit as the Guest Editors of this Proceedings issue which presents 12 representative papers from the IPCC. These papers cover a broad range of subjects, giving readers a lively image on what topics were discussed at the latest IPCC.
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Mar 1, 2021
Open Access
Roberta Schwartz + 1