What is ISHAM?
ISHAM is a world wide organization that represents all clinical scientists and fundamental researchers with interest in fungal diseases. ISHAM is an independant society that is non-political and non-discriminatory. It exists solely to encourage and facilitate the study and practice of all aspects of medical and veterinary mycology.
The Society aims to make recent developments in mycology available to everyone. We particularly try to help those who don’t have sufficient means to participate in these developments, and therefore wish to devote a share of our resources to young mycologists and workers in developing countries.
ISHAMwas founded in 1954 at the VII International Congress of Botany with 150 members and has subsequently expanded to become an international body representing more than 1000 individuals who work professionally with fungal diseases and pathogenic fungi.
Twenty three national medical mycology associations are affiliated with ISHAM. The society is a properly recognized non-governmental affiliate of the World Health Organisation. It sustains a co-operative working relationship with the International Mycological Association and the Mycology Division of the International Union of Microbiological Societies.
The aims of the organisation are:
- To encourage the practice and study of all aspects of medical and veterinary mycology,
- To facilitate on an international basis the exchange of ideas and information and give assistance pertaining to medical and veterinary mycology,
- To publish an official journal: Medical Mycology (formerly the Journal of Medical and Veterinary Mycology),
- To organize an international congress at least once every five years. The forthcoming congress will be organized in Tokyo with a satellite in Beijng, May 2009; see elsewhere on this website LINK.
