A MEETING TO REMEMBER...A VISIT YOU WON'T FORGET   Dear Friends and Fellow Histiophiles,   I am excited to inform you that the 26th Annual Meeting of the Histiocyte Society will be held in Boston, Massachusetts from October 18 – 20, 2010. We expect that this meeting will offer both a stimulating scientific program and exciting cultural experiences. Boston is a unique American city that blends the modern with some of the most important sites in our young country’s history. Whether you choose to take a stroll along the Freedom Trail, visit the academic area of nearby Cambridge, or see famous Fenway Park, Boston is a city that appeals to all. Those attending the meeting will be treated to a very special reception at the unforgettable Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, sponsored by the Histiocytosis Association of America.   This year’s scientific meeting will feature presentations by several experienced researchers regarding a variety of perspectives on the histiocytic disorders. As the meeting will be held in Boston, we are pleased that Dr. Barrett Rollins from Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has agreed to be one of the keynote speakers on the subject of understanding the pathogenesis of LCH. Joining Dr. Rollins will be Dr. Miriam Merad from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Merad will give a presentation on the latest findings into the origins and development of the dendritic cells, and the links that may exist between these cells and LCH pathogenesis. As well, several of our members will provide updates on ongoing Society-sponsored clinical trials.   In order to provide a historical perspective for these more recent insights, Dr. Stephan Ladisch from the Children's National Medical Center will offer a review of the journey that has been undertaken to understand the biology of LCH, and improve methods of treatment for the disease. Also tentatively scheduled to speak at the meeting is Dr. Helen Su of the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose talk will focus on the defects in immune homeostasis underlying the hemophagocytic syndromes, such as HLH, XLP, and XIAP deficiency. Lastly, Dr. Marian Malone from Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London will lead an “Interesting Pathology Cases” session in which she addresses confusing and/or provocative histiocytosis scenarios from the pathology perspective.   I know that we will all enjoy and learn from this annual opportunity to meet our international colleagues. With the Annual Meeting of SIOP beginning in Boston on October 21st, I anticipate that our 26th Annual Meeting will be one of the most highly attended meetings in our Society’s history. I am hopeful that you will decide to join me in Boston as we continue to explore information and treatments aimed at bettering the lives of our patients with histiocytosis.   Yours Truly,   Alexandra Filipovich, M.D. President, Histiocyte Society