With great pleasure I invite and welcome you to the International Neuromodulation Society’s 16th Scientific World Congress. I think we are truly blessed to hold it in the beautiful city of Vancouver with its majestic backdrop of mountains framed by the water and populated by some of the nicest and friendliest people on the planet.

This Congress is going to be a fantastic opportunity to access the latest in neuromodulation research as well as catching up with old friends and making new ones. Congresses like this serve an indelible purpose of filling the trough of knowledge and invigorating the intellectual mind, in a compact meeting format.

Our theme for this Congress is Neuromodulation: Harnessing the Power of the Nervous System. It aptly refers to the potential that exists to reduce disease and improve the human condition when the nervous system can be guided to be a partner in therapeutic delivery. As basic science further unravels the power and complexity of the system, this allows refinement of our neuromodulation therapies and our aspirations of what can be achieved.

The Scientific Program has been expertly curated by Prof. Slavin, Dr. Robert Levy and Ms. Stana Bojanic and a hard-working committee and this time again will be the jewel at the heart of this meeting. For the very first time we are initiating a fourth concurrent stream of Neuropsychiatry alongside Pain, Brain and Organ, and with this we believe there will be great added value to the scientific program. There will certainly be no excuse for a lack of content to attend!

Pre Conference, we have our Innovation Day where cutting edge lectures are interspersed with presentations of cutting edge technology as well as the Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation program which goes from strength to strength and popularity.

We thank Dr. Chris Honey, Congress Chair, the Local Organizing Committee and The Canadian Neuromodulation Society, for so graciously welcoming us in their beautiful country. The sunny Vancouver Convention Centre will be our home for the next few days and is perfectly positioned as an introduction to this wonderful city and its wonderful people. Please make the most of the cultural and naturalistic opportunities this city presents.

I thank all the hard-working people that go into making this Congress a success and I thank you for your attendance and contribution that will make this a memorable Congress. Welcome to Vancouver.

INS President Marc Russo,

MBBS DA (UK) FANZCA FFPMANZCA