Dear colleagues!
The end of spring will be marked by a very important event for the global obstetrics and perinatology community: the 15^th Meeting of the International Academy of Perinatal Medicine. This year the meeting will be hosted by the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov.

The Meeting will comprise Symposium "The latest achievements in perinatal medicine" and the Congress "The fetus as a patient". We will discuss recent advances and prospectives in perinatology together with the leading world experts. Current technologies allow us to undertake surgical and therapeutic interventions in utero. Due to this, we can achieve positive outcomes in the most complicated cases, for instance, when we face a rhesus incompatibility between the mother and the fetus, or an urinary tract obstructive condition of a fetus. Doctors of various countries put a lot of efforts to solve these issues.

Every time we meet, it is great to see that from year to year the growing qualification of our colleagues. The Meeting provides a platform for interaction, knowledge exchange and learning. Moreover, the world-renowned specialists' expertise also positively contributes to domestic neonatology and perinatal medicine development.

Cordially invite you to the Symposium "The latest achievements in the perinatal medicine" on May 22 and to the Congress "The fetus as a patient" on May 23 at our Center and wish you a very fruitful meeting.

The National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology counts more than 200 years of history. The Center is named after academician of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Vladimir Kulakov, the outstanding Russian physician and scientist, who had been heading the Center from 1986 to 2007. The Center is the leading scientific, medical and academic institution of Russia in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, perinatology and reproductology.

The Center comprises Institutes of Obstetrics, Neonatology and Pediatrics, Reproductology, Oncogynecology, Reproductive Genetics, a Perinatal Center, including 53 clinical departments and 22 laboratories carrying out fundamental research with the staff of 2 200 specialists. It also possesses a biobank with a collection of 306,000 samples; a simulation training center; the Frederik Paulsen Sr. ART Training Center (the largest in Europe and most modernly equipped), a resource center and a telemedicine facility. The Center provides medical care to around 140,000 patients annually, with over 7 000 births, 9 000 gynecologic surgical procedures, 8 000 IVF cycles in two ART units.

The Center is the major basis for implementation of governmental programs on maternal and child healthcare. It is a coordinating federal institution, accumulating and spreading scientific achievements of domestic and foreign experts in the field of medical science and coordinating the work of Russian regional centers and clinics.

The Center is the headquarters of the Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RSOG) and the founder and headquarters of the editorial board of the main national journal "Obstetrics and Gynecology".

IAPM was founded in 2005 by the presidents of three scientific communities: the World Association of Perinatal Medicine (WAPM), the European Association of Perinatal Medicine and the International Society "The Fetus as a Patient".

The goal of the Association is to create a platform for education, examination, discussion and promoting of perinatal medicine, in particular, the aspects related to bioethics, a proper implementation of technological developments, as well as social and humanistic fields.

The Russian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists was created in 1993 and today unites more than 35 000 doctors throughout Russia.

Main aims of RSOG are:

• introduction of modern technologies in obstetric and gynecological practice;
• development of medical standards;
• continuous medical education;
• protection of health professionals' and patients' rights.

RSOG carries out the following projects:

• Develops and implements scientific and educational programs, seminars and conferences on important issues of obstetrics, gynecology and related specialties on regional and central levels;
• Participates in creation of training programs and certification of specialists.
• Supports cooperation with domestic and foreign professional societies (including FIGO, EBCOG, RCOG, ACOG, AAP).

The RSOG carries out its activities through special committees:

• Health care quality committee;
• Committee on medical ethics, protection of doctor's and patient's rights;
• Committee of regional departments of the Society;
• Committee of international cooperation;
• Science, scientific publications and clinical researches committee;
• Committee on the RSOG and RAS cooperation;
• Committee on the RSOG and Ministry of Healthcare of Russia.