It is a great honour for me to become President of ISHAM and I look forward to the challenges that the next three years will provide.  I must take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to Sybren de Hoog for the outstanding job he has done as President for the last 3 years.  I would also like to sincerely thank Malcolm Richardson (United Kingdom) who has served as General Secretary for the past 6 years; Kathrin Tintelnot (Germany) who has served as Treasurer and Vice President for a total of 9 years; Yoshinori Nozawa (Japan) and Eva Burger (Brazil) who have also served as Vice Presidents for the past 6 years.  All have provided ISHAM with outstanding service.

Congratulations to Hideoki Ogawa (Congress President) and the Japanese Society for Medical Mycology on hosting a fantastic ISHAM Congress.  The 17th ISHAM held in Tokyo 25-29 May 2009, will be remembered by all for excellent science, superb organisation and wonderful hospitality.  The JSMM has always been a strong supporter of ISHAM, and many Japanese members have served ISHAM with great distinction.  All JSMM members may be very proud of their outstanding contribution to ISHAM and to Medical Mycology worldwide.  Congratulations also to Ruo-yu Li (Chairperson) and the Mycology Sub Society of the Chinese Society for Microbiology for hosting an excellent Satellite Symposium in Beijing from 29-31 May, 2009. 

At the Tokyo ISHAM Congress all ISHAM members were given a copy of a book entitled “Descriptions of Medical Fungi” and I am pleased to announce that a PDF copy of this book will be available to all members as a download from the members section of the web site.

The 18th ISHAM Congress will be held in Berlin, Germany 10-14 June 2012.

David Ellis
ISHAM-President 2009-2012