The 9th Asian Federation of Laboratory Animal Science Associations Congress 2023 (AFLAS Congress 2023), themed 'One Health and One Welfare,' concluded on September 13-15 in Jeju Island, Korea.
AFLAS, which traditionally convenes its congress biennially across Asia since 2004, faced postponements and eventual cancellation of the previous congress in 2021 due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. However, AFLAS Congress 2023 successfully resumed in September 2023, marking its first occurrence in five years. The event united numerous delegates from academia, research institutes, industries, and government bodies.
The congress encompassed a Nature Forum, two pre-congress sessions, five Plenary Lectures, 28 Academic sessions featuring panel discussions, and Bio-Exhibitions.
Over the three-day event, it garnered a total of 1,408 professional attendees from 29 different countries, hosting 136 distinguished speakers, 925 participants, 243 exhibitors, and representatives from 11 Asian countries.
In a notable prelude to the main event, 15 young scientists selected from 11 Asian countries congregated at Seoul National University's Siheung Campus on September 10-11, fostering new networking opportunities and mentorship.
The Nature Forum delved into discussing recent advancements in understanding immune responses to viruses, as well as charting future research directions and translational challenges in immunology and infectious disease research.
Prof. Kil Soo Kim, the President of AFLAS, remarked: “AFLAS remains committed to encouraging global interactions in laboratory animal research and contributing to the high-quality growth of laboratory animal science. This AFLAS Congress, particularly, aimed to facilitate new relationships and overcome barriers post COVID-19.”
The subsequent AFLAS Congress is scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, in 2025.