it is our great pleasure to invite you to Perinatal Biomagnetism 2009, the 1st International Workshop on the clinical usefulness of Biomagnetism in Perinatal Medicine.

Perinatal Medicine has gone through an enormous development over the last 50 years, and Perinatal Biomagnetism 2009 is intended to address critical issues related to the monitoring of fetal and neonatal well-being using biomagnetism.

Biomagnetic fields are the magnetic analog of the electric signals generated by the spontaneous activity of living systems such as the heart, brain, or muscle. Likewise, biomagnetism is a fully non-invasive method that deals with the recording and analysis of biomagnetic fields. Disciplines of biomagnetism are utilized to expand detection and imaging technologies, to investigate biological, physiological and pathological functions, and to develop clinical applications.

The purpose of Perinatal Biomagnetism 2009 is to provide obstetricians, perinatologists, pediatricians, pediatric neurologists and pediatric cardiologists, who might be interested in new technologies in translational Perinatal Medicine, with an updated overview of the state-of-the-art in the application of Magnetocardiography (MCG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the specific field of fetal and neonatal medicine. The advantages and disadvantages, and the potential usefulness of these new techniques in perinatal surveillance will be presented and analyzed by specialists coming from all over the world.

During a round table that will be held at the end of the Workshop, particular emphasis will be devoted to comparing the prospective suitability of MCG and MEG in Perinatal Medicine with that of techniques routinely used in the clinical setting, such as ultrasound or ECG/EEG.

The Workshop will take place at the University of Chieti (Italy) on April 4, 2009. Chieti is a nice old town in the Abruzzi region, facing the two highest mountains of the Appennini mountain chain and situated only 15 km from Pescara, a more modern town on the Adriatic sea. Chieti traces its history back to the pre-Roman era, and a fine Romanesque cathedral (11th cent.) as well as a 14th century tower can be admired downtown. The weather in April is usually very enjoyable, and Perinatal Biomagnetism 2009 might be a good occasion to combine science and tourism.

The registration fee will cover also rich coffee and tea breaks, and a get-together lunch that will provide a taste of the local traditional cuisine. In addition, we are organizing a transportation service between the hotels listed in the Accommodation page and the Workshop venue, and all participants are invited to book for their seats.

We sincerely hope that this Workshop will offer an opportunity for all participants to become more familiar with biomagnetic techniques and to present their latest results on perinatal studies, from which future progress in Perinatal Medicine might stem.

We look forward to welcoming you to Chieti in 2009.

Sincerely,
Silvia Comani and Janette Strasburger
Workshop Chairs