Rchahilitac1p - Letnik VII. .11111/. -1 (!008) 
FOREWORD 
Dear Colleagues, 
/11 spite o.f rece111 ac/1' (111ces in both the research a11d clinical 
do11wi11s o.f C1111yotrophic late ral sclerosis (ALS), the disease 
re111ai11s CIII inrnrable. f atal condition. On the other hC111d it is 
a11 i11spiri11g challenge to researchers and clinicians olike. 
The Ljubljana ALS Te am 11·as established in C111tu11111 2002 CII 
the Institute o.f Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medica/ 
Centre Ljubljana. The tew11, led by Professor Jane::, Zidar, 
li11ks together experts.from differentfields working in unison 
to provide care and support for patie11ts with ALS. A few 
reseC1rch projects have started in para/le/ making cli11icia11s 
C1nd researchers eve11 more co111111itted to this disease. 
ALS is tire topic of this year's Ljubljana au/1111111 clinicol 
11e11roscie11ce 111eeti11g taking plC1ce at the Unil'ersity Meclical 
Centre, Ljubljana 011 19-20 September 2008. The Sy111posi11111 
keynote speaker is Professor Nigel LeiglrJim11 Ki11g'.1· Col­
lege London prese11ti11g the 24'" D1: Jane::, Faganel Memorial 
Lecture entitled ''ALS: Admnces in the Laboratory a11d in the 
Clinic ". In two dC1ys the 111eeti11g wi/1 cover various C/.\pects 
rlthe disease,from 11euroi111aging and 11europhysiology, to 
respiration, cognition, neurobiology, and- 111ost importantly 
- treat111ent and care o.f tire pC1tients.
The meeting is 111C1i11/y a bi/(l{eral event bringing together 
two groups of hoth yow1g a11d also estClblished researchers 
• 
and clinicians: the Lj11hljC111a ALS Te am and the MND Team 
from King 's Coli ege London. A.feir promi11e111 speakersfimn 
other part.1· of E11rope hm•e joi11ed the111 and it i.1· great to see 
that the participants are co111i11g not j11stfim11 Sl<J1'e11ia, but 
also fimn 11eighbouri11g co1111tries. 111aki11g the 111eeti11g an 
important regional eve111. 
The meeting is a result <>{ the hard l\'ork t�f CI group of 
dedicated co/leagues a11d good.fi-ie11dsJimn both SloFenia 
a11d the UK and 1 would like to tha11k the111 ali for their 
i11p11t. The orga11isatio11 oj the 111eeti11g ll'ould he i111pos­
sible without ge11ero11s s11pport .fimn the British Co1111cil 
(The Int ernat iona/ Networki11g Jor Young Scie111ists Pro­
gra111111e), the SlrJ\'enian Research Agency a11d also fimn 
11wnero11s phar111aceutical co111pa11ies. /'111 deeply thankful 
to tlrem a/1. 
My hopes C1re that this 111eeti11g irill stre11gthe11 tire links 
betll'een the gro11ps a11d also create 11ei1· opportunities and 
ideas for reg iona/ collaboratio11. I C1!so hope tl1C1t 11w11y 
11e1r.frie11dships will be 111ade. With this in 111i11d. I wish you 
an i11teresti11g and inspiring 111eeting, and a pleasant stay 
11·ith /IS. 
We wish you a 1
1
el)' 11·cir 111 welcm11e to ½iublja11a, 
Bla: Koritnik