Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Asian Journal of Andrology (AJA) and the Organizing Committee, I wish to extend to everyone with great concerns about Men's health my cordial invitation to attend the Third Asia-Pacific Forum on Andrology (3APFA), in conjunction with the Tenth Anniversary Celebration of AJA, to be held on October 10-13, 2009, Nanjing, China.

The theme of this Forum is ?Environment, Life Style & Genetic/Epigenetic Factors and Men's Health?, endeavoring to explore the profundity and diversity of the contributing factors to Men's health.

The Scientific Committee, under the guidance of the Advisory Committee, designed a comprehensive scientific programme concentrating on one vital issue and embracing a large range of important aspects including:
1. Men's Health: Global and Regional Perspectives
2. Sperm Biology and Fertilization
3. Male Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology
4. Male Sexual Dysfunction
5. Male Ageing, Androgen Deficiency and Therapy
6. Prostate Diseases and Prevention, Diagnosis & Treatment of Prostate Cancer
7. Environment Hazards to Men's Health
8. Prevention of Life-threatening STDs/HIV Infections
9. Prevention of Overpopulation and Male Contraception
10. Alternative / Traditional Medicine and Andrology

With an aim of bridging the communication between the lab and the clinic, we deeply believe that the Forum deserves the attention from not only basic scientists but also clinicians in the field of andrology.

Besides the traditional plenary lectures and symposia we have innovatively introduced in the programme ?Panel Discussion on Holistic Concept on Men's Health, Health Determinants and Health Promotion? and ?Public Consultation? sessions. ?Panel Discussion? session allows an all-dimensional discussion among scientists, clinic doctors, public, media, and policy makers. ?Public Consultation? session brings doctors out of the clinics to the public hall and allows the public to touch more knowledge on Men's health in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. In its Tenth Anniversary Celebration, AJA will express a great deal of gratitude to people who support and contribute to its development in various ways, and will review the past, summarize the present and shape the future.

In addition, there are several satellite workshops with topics on male infertility, erectile dysfunction, prostate disease, andrology in ARTs, LOH, etc. A specific session for WHO standard semen analysis manual (5th edition) will also be organized during the Forum.

The Local Organizing Committee in Nanjing will also arrange social programmes through which participants may take an extraordinary journey to Chinese culture and history, ups and downs as well as the past and the present.

We look forward to welcoming you to the 3APFA, Nanjing, China, which no doubt will be a memorable occasion for fruitful interchanges of ideas and the development of long-lasting friendship in the coming years.

Professor Yi Fei Wang,
Chairman, Third Asia-Pacific Forum on Andrology
Editor-in-Chief, Asian Journal of Andrology