I am much honored to take on the new term (2008-2010) of APLAR presidency.

Asia Pacific League for Rheumatology has established since 1963. Asia has largest population in the world with varieties of different culture and APLAR has covered up to 30 member national societies. For the past 45 years, APLAR is showing remarkable growth not only in its contents and quality but with global achievement.

Many of APLAR national member societies have published excellent publications in prominent scientific journals and/or present their current data at annual meeting of APLAR, ACR and EULAR congress. However, some of Asian countries are still at an elemental stage.

Biannual APLAR congress is a major avenue for us to be updated and to have the chance to present our research and clinical experiences, and provide us continuous communication with each national society in Asia Pacific region.

The new APLAR office would like to launch two strong scientific / educational committee and financial committee, those unite all the pre-existing the various Special Interest Groups and standing committees.

APLAR is in front of many of new biologic agents. With increasing our knowledge of the immunology and molecular biology, APLAR is in face of various multicenters clinical trials of new biologic agents, such as TNF-a blockers, anti-B cell targeted agents and/or other immunomodulators. In this regards, APLAR is required for sharing our experiences of clinical and basic researches with mutual communication for the management of rheumatic diseases. APLAR office encourages inauguration of Rheumatology meetings in each national society and several regional meetings such as East Asian group of rheumatology (EAGOR), Asian congress of autoimmunity and 10 topics in Rheumatology etc. These events could provide further opportunity for young investigators to present their clinical and research data.

The new strategic plan of APLAR is subject to resolute APLAR fellowship system and to establish new in-training program for rheumatology fellow, clinical and basic course for trainees in Asia Pacific region. The New APLAR endorses many young rheumatologists from each APLAR member national societies, and give them an opportunity to involve APLAR affair, to learn clinical practice and research activities, and to communicate mutual interesting among many of APLAR members from different countries.

I'm so happy that APLAR office has new two vice-presidents, Dr. Kazuhiko Yamamoto and Zhan-Guo Li, as an executive committee member.

I would like to passionately pursue the willingness of former president, and, to make new APLAR more comprehensive, I would like to open my eye and my mind, and waiting for your generous participation.

Dr Ho-Youn Kim
Professor of Internal Medicine/Rheumatology,
Director of Rheumatism Research Center (RRC),
The Catholic University of Korea
Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital
#505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Korea