Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson

Alþjóðleg ráðstefna um æðasjúkdóma í miðtaugakerfinu Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)

í Öskju, Háskóla Íslands

9. ágúst 2007

Dear participants, distinguished guests.

Let me first of all wish you all very welcome to Iceland. I am both proud and grateful that you have chosen our country as a host for this important symposium.  When I looked over the program I saw a very impressive participation by scientists from all around the world, and I would like to thank all of them for their willingness to share their knowledge with others in our country.

Although the Icelandic population is relatively small and relatively young we are eager to play our role in the international community in many fields, not the least when it comes to research and science.  The Icelandic population has a long tradition of going abroad for further studies and scientific collaboration.  This has led to invaluable contacts throughout the world.  This makes it possible for Iceland not only to receive knowledge and take part in the activities in other countries, but it also makes it possible for us to contribute into the international scientific arena. Your symposium is in my view a good example of this two-sided contact that Iceland has with the global scientific community.

I mentioned before that the Icelandic population is relatively small. Our limited size can make it difficult to establish and maintain some parts of our internal structure but at the same time it gives strong possibilities, like   population studies and research of different types.  I am convinced that this symposium is a good example of our contribution in spite of our small size.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Professor Anders Grubb from Lund who yesterday received one of the highest Icelandic awards given to foreigners, when the Icelandic President honored him.  Professor Anders Grubb has been a very strong supporter and helpful to many Icelandic scientists during the last decades.  He has also shared his knowledge and vision with scientists in Iceland and this has led to many scientific papers and degrees.  Professor Anders Grubb, thank you once again for your fantastic contribution.

Dear participants

I mentioned before that the Icelandic population is relatively young. But the young tend to get older!  We are expecting relatively high rise in the older age groups, bringing along deceases of the elderly, both genetic deceases and deceases caused by life-style.

A congress of this kind is therefore of the highest importance for Iceland as a hosting nation and surely for all participating, and I sincerely hope that all of you will benefit from it by taking part in this symposium.

At the same time I hope that your stay in our beautiful country will be well spent and that your work will strengthen our effort in making life better for everyone affected by the diseases that you are mainly studying.

I want to wish you all the best during your stay here in Iceland and in your important work in the future. I sincerely hope that this symposium will strengthen the ties between scientists and countries, bringing together views and wisdom to the benefit for all of us.

Thank you

Talað orð gildir.