4th International Neonatology Association Conference (INAC 2018)

On behalf of the Scientific Committee of the International Neonatology Association (INA) and the Steering Committee of the Belgian Society of Neonatology (BVN-GBN), it is my privilege and great pleasure to invite you all to the 4th International Neonatology Association Conference (INAC) which will be held in the beautiful, historical city of Ghent, Belgium, on June 22 – 24, 2018.

Thanks to the many excellent contributions from brilliant minds in neonatology, this conference has grown into a fantastic meeting where clinicians find their way to state-of-the-art information and can update their knowledge in various domains of neonatal care.

Also for the upcoming 2018 edition, a wide spectrum of topics will be covered by highly esteemed international speakers. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy both expert keynote lectures on main topics as well as more focused discussions on specific aspects of neonatal care during concurrent sessions. For the 2018 edition, emphasis will lie on the neonatal brain and various facets of neonatal neurology. On the first day of the conference, a workshop with high educational value will be organized.

Besides the scientific program, the INAC offers great opportunities to meet with colleagues from all over the world to exchange ideas and experiences, and to discuss more informally with the international speakers.

We strongly encourage not only neonatologists, but also neonatal nurses and nurse practitioners to participate in this stimulating conference, and to contribute to the scientific content by submitting abstracts.

If you are still not entirely convinced to join the conference, then the location will certainly do so! Ghent is a lovely and charming city in the middle of Flanders with a unique and beautifully restored medieval centre. Enjoy a delicious Belgian beer on a terrace with a view on the medieval Gravensteen castle. Stroll along the riverside on the Graslei and imagine yourself being in a 11th century movie decor. Buy some crispy fries or a sweet Belgian waffle, and enjoy eating it overlooking the St-Baafs Square with its magnificent cathedral. Admire the unique and world-famous 15th century altarpiece “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb” in the cathedral, painted by the brothers Van Eyck. It is not without reason that National Geographic Traveler Magazine placed Ghent third in its global ranking of authentic destinations, praising it for its “brilliant mix of a wonderful past and a contemporary, vibrant city”!

So, mark your calendars for INAC June 22 – 24, 2018, in Ghent! The conference will be rewarding and your visit to Ghent an unforgettable experience!

Prof. dr. Filip Cools
President of the Belgian Society of Neonatology
Chairman of the INAC 2018