Welcome to Liverpool

A really warm welcome to Liverpool, which will be playing host to Focus for the first time in 2009. The city, and particular the Mersey waterfront, has undergone a transformation over the last few years and is now the site of the new Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool- an innovatively designed, purpose-built exhibition and meeting space which will be our Focus venue. The waterfront area as a whole has been developed to provide the city’s premier location for commerce, retail therapy, fine dining and entertainment and will be the location for Focus social events designed to provide you with the opportunities you need to network with colleagues.

Arthur C. Clarke best encapsulates the general reaction to new ideas when he says that ‘New ideas pass through three periods: 1) It can’t be done. 2) It probably can be done, but it’s not worth doing. 3) I knew it was a good idea all along.’ In 2009 Focus on Ideas aims to relay those new ideas from the forefront of science and information technology, explore ideas in the development and clinical application of diagnostics with our commercial companies in the Focus Forum exhibition area, and use the Forum Interactive as a vehicle to discuss these ideas and engage with colleagues from all aspects of laboratory medicine.

On behalf of the organising committee, I very much look forward to seeing you in Liverpool in May. Make a date to come and see that ‘little bird’ for yourself!

Kath Hayden

Chairman, Focus 2009