2023 Montréal Congress welcome editorial

In 2017, we submitted our bid to host the 2023 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress in Montréal and were thrilled when it was accepted. At the time, it seemed so far in the future … but now, 6 years and a horrible COVID-19 pandemic later, we are excited to welcome you to our live, in-person congress! Although virtual conferences over the last few years were a pandemic-related necessity, nothing compares to the excitement of hearing data presented live by a principal investigator followed by an in-person, interactive question and answer session. For trainees and early career investigators, the formative experience of presenting one’s data to a live audience, whether at an oral or poster presentation, and fielding questions (and receiving kudos!) from audience members and conference attendees is unparalleled. A live meeting also provides the opportunity to meet face-to-face with national and international colleagues over coffee or a drink, make new connections, and introduce oneself to top experts in the field—don’t be shy, the thrombosis and hemostasis community is a friendly and approachable bunch! Montréal is a wonderful place to visit, especially in June. Warm balmy weather, sidewalk cafés and restaurants with their open-air terraces abuzz with chatter and activity, and everyone reveling in the arrival of summer after a long, hard Canadian winter. As we described in our “First-person call to attend” piece in the February 2023 issue of JTH [[1]Kahn S.R. Matino D. Carrier M. Rodger M.A. Bonjour-hi, welcome to Montréal.J Thromb Haemost. 2023; 21: 714-715Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (1) Google Scholar], Montréal is a bilingual (French and English) city that offers a unique combination of old-world European charm and a modern, lively North American ambiance. A notable and fun event on Saturday, June 24, 2023, the first day of the congress, is the National Holiday of Quebec (La Fête nationale du Quebec), also known as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. The holiday arrived in Quebec along with the first French colonists, with celebrations noted as far back as 1636. Look out for fireworks, dancing, concerts, and parades with lots of activity centered in the Old Port and the Place des Festivals, both easy walking distance from the Palais du Congrès where the congress will be held. Immediately after the congress, why not stay on for the 43rd edition of the Montréal International Jazz Festival taking place from June 29, 2023, to July 8, 2023—the lineup of amazing musicians from around the world has already been announced on the festival’s website. While in Quebec, consider planning a visit to nearby Quebec City, a fortified city with cobblestone streets, unique historic sites, and a magnificent heritage; go whale watching in Tadoussac; or travel further afield to the serene and scenic Gaspé Peninsula region. Canada is a huge country (the second largest in the world) and there is so much to do and see in its 10 provinces and 3 territories: take the opportunity to custom-build a vacation to explore our beautiful mountains, oceans, rivers, lakes, towns, and cities. Now for the incredible science. Behind the scenes, ISTH 2023’s 10-member local organizing committee (Table 1) along with the co-leads and members of our 13 theme committees (Table 2) have been working together since 2022 to put together a stellar program—this represents hours of thoughtful deliberation and planning by more than 136 colleagues! As an overview, our congress offers 24 Scientific and Standardization Committee sessions, presentations by 4 world-renowned plenary speakers whose talks are presented in memory of 4 outstanding Canada-based researchers, 28 State-of-the-Art (SOA) sessions, 80 oral communication sessions, 30 master classes, 12 career development sessions, 3 Nurses Forum sessions, hundreds of poster presentations, and 2 not-to-be-missed late-breakthrough research oral sessions.Table 1ISTH 2023 local organizing committee.RoleNameCongress Co-ChairsSusan Kahn, McGill UniversityMarc Rodger, McGill UniversityScientific Program Chair, BasicPatricia Liaw, McMaster UniversityScientific Program Chair, ClinicalDeborah Siegal, University of OttawaScientific Standardization Committee liaison representativeMarc Carrier, University of OttawaEarly career representativeDavide Matino, McMaster UniversityExecutive membersMary Cushman, University of VermontDavid Lillicrap, Queen’s UniversityMargaret Rand, University of TorontoSam Schulman, McMaster UniversityISTH, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Open table in a new tab Table 2ISTH 2023 themes and theme co-leads.Theme committeeTheme co-leadsArterial thromboembolismMary Cushman, University of VermontGeoff Werstuck, McMaster UniversityCoagulation and natural anticoagulantsColin Kretz, McMaster UniversityAlisa Wolberg, University of North CarolinaDiagnostics and OMICsGuillaume Paré, McMaster UniversityRita Selby, UHN and Sunnybrook Health Science CentreFibrinolysis and proteolysisChristian Kastrup, Blood Research Institute, Versiti Blood Center of WisconsinPaul Kim, McMaster UniversityHemophilia and rare bleeding disordersManuel Carcao, Hospital for Sick Children, TorontoShannon Jackson, St. Paul’s Hospital, VancouverHemostatic system in cancer, inflammation, and immunityLisa Baumann-Kreuziger, Blood Research Institute, Versiti Blood Center of WisconsinPaul Jurasz, University of AlbertaImmunothrombosisYogen Kanthi, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of HealthDenisa Wagner, Boston Children’s HospitalPediatricsLeonardo Brandao, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of TorontoAnthony Chan, McMaster UniversityPlatelet disorders, von Willebrand disease, and thrombotic microangiopathiesDonald Arnold, McMaster UniversityPaula James, Queen’s UniversityPlatelets and megakaryocytesPeter Gross, McMaster UniversityMarie Lordkipanidzé, Montréal Heart InstituteVascular biologyEd Conway, UBC Centre for Blood ResearchJanusz Rak, McGill UniversityVenous thromboembolismGregoire Le Gal, University of Ottawa - The Ottawa HospitalVicky Tagalakis, Jewish General Hospital, McGill UniversityWomen’s healthFionnuala Ní Áinle, Mater Misericordiae University HospitalLeslie Skeith, University of CalgaryISTH, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis; UBC, University of British Columbia; UHN, University Health Network. Open table in a new tab ISTH, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. ISTH, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis; UBC, University of British Columbia; UHN, University Health Network. As for all ISTH congresses, we offer a special, congress-specific scientific theme; this year, the theme is immunothrombosis. Certainly, over the last few years, COVID-19 infection and its related thrombotic and other complications have renewed interest in the concepts of thromboinflammation and immunothrombosis; namely, the relationship between inflammation, infection, and clotting. Be prepared to learn about many fascinating discoveries in immunothrombosis, including therapeutic approaches, mechanisms, and host defense. Of course, all themes will feature exciting, emerging science in their respective oral and poster sessions as well as in SOA sessions that showcase the latest research and clinical practice implications in a given topic, delivered by world-class speakers. Examples of not-to-be-missed SOAs include emerging concepts in endothelial cell biology and function; targeting coagulation by the natural world; what do we do when the cause of the bleeding is unclear?; peripheral arterial disease—what’s new and what’s next?; thrombotic mechanisms and care in women; immunothrombosis and host defense; heterogeneity in platelets and their responses; translational genomics in thrombosis: from omics to clinics; management of severe venous thromboembolism; thrombotic risks among pediatric subspecialties; neuroinflammation, coagulation, and fibrinolysis; and inhibitors and how do we deal with them in 2023? This is but a small sampling of our SOA offerings. Visit https://www.isth2023.org/program for the full program. The overarching theme of ISTH 2023 is “Investing in ISTH’s future: early career investigators.” Early career investigators have been involved in planning the entire congress, particularly its early career programming. We hereby extend a direct invitation to all “early careers” and trainees: you are our future leaders in thrombosis, hemostasis, and vascular biology. Don’t miss the chance to attend the most important international meeting in the field: come for the science and the camaraderie. You’ll learn, you’ll be inspired, and you’ll build important, potentially career-long connections with colleagues from around the world. 2023 also marks the 10th anniversary of ISTH-led World Thrombosis Day, a growing movement that, with its partners, seeks to increase global awareness of thrombosis, including causes, risk factors, signs, symptoms, evidence-based prevention, and treatment. Look out for special activities at ISTH 2023 to celebrate World Thrombosis Day’s first decade. We look forward to hosting you at ISTH 2023 in Montréal—we know that you will be inspired by the breadth, depth, and ingenuity of the science offered by your colleagues from around the world. A bientôt!