THE XTH INTERNATIONAL SMALL BOWEL TRANSPLANT SYMPOSIUM will take place in Los Angeles, California from September 5–8, 2007. As the host, the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is pleased to invite all health care professionals interested in the fields of intestinal failure, rehabilitation, adaptation and transplantation to attend this meeting. This state of the art symposium, which is held every other year, is designed for physicians, surgeons, scientists, researchers, nurses, nurse practitioners, coordinators, pharmacists, dieticians, occupational therapists, social workers and other allied health care professionals working in the field of pediatric and adult intestinal transplantation, intestinal failure, and intestinal rehabilitation. For the past two decades the International Small Bowel Transplant Symposium has brought together world experts, and has provided an interactive learning environment for the exchange of knowledge, experience as well as the latest ideas in basic science, clinical research, and clinical practice. As in the past, attendees are welcome to contribute to the exciting discussions and debates which make this an ideal forum for education and collaboration.

Topics of discussion will include, but not be limited to: wait list dynamics, clinical outcomes, long-term outcomes, transplant immunology, immunosuppression, surgical techniques and challenges, abdominal wall management, critical care, infectious disease complications, ischemia-reperfusion injury, novel diagnostic and monitoring tools, basic science rejection, nutrition, and health-related quality of life.  In addition, pre-congress workshops will be dedicated to pathology, nomenclature, organ allocation/wait list issues, and nurse and allied healthcare support associated with bowel transplantation. The scientific program has been carefully prepared and will include lectures from invited speakers, plenary and parallel sessions, as well as oral and poster presentations.  We strongly encourage you to contribute to the success of the meeting by submitting your work for presentation.