1. Chair’s Address Mary Anne Lim-Abrahan, MD Chair 8 th Symposium on Molecular Diabetology in Asia Renaissance Makati City Hotel Makati, Philippines

2. To: Researchers and Clinicians All over the world Diabetes mellitus affecting 190 million people worldwide Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Asia varies from 1 to 30%

3. Beginnings The First Board Meeting of the Study Group of Molecular Diabetology May 22, 1998 Wakayama Prefecture, Japan

4. Wakayama PrefectuRe Japan

5. China Hong Kong Indonesia Japan Korea Philippines Taiwan Thailand Growth

6. To: Participants from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand To answer important questions on the development of diabetes and its complications To promote mutual enlightenment on molecular diabetology in Asia To provide opportunities to build networks for the investigation of diabetes among Asian ethnic groups The 1 st Symposium on Molecular Diabetology in Asia Osaka, Japan

7. Seoul, Korea

8. From: The Seoul National University Hospital Seoul, Korea Evidence for the mitochondrial hypothesis of insulin resistance and its clinical implications Lecture by Prof Hong Kyu Lee The 2 nd Symposium on Molecular Diabetology in Asia Seoul, Korea

9. Shanghai, China

10. From: The Park Hotel Shanghai, China Polymorphisms in fat-expressed PPAR-  and sequence variations in APM1 gene coding for adiponectin, and involvement in the transition between obesity and type 2 diabetes Lecture by Dr Philippe Froguel The 4th Symposium on Molecular Diabetology in Asia Shanghai, China

11. Taipei, Taiwan

12. From: The Grand Hotel Taipei, Taiwan Evidence supporting the relation of genes involved in adipogenesis and the development of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome Lecture by Prof Lee-Ming Chuang The 6 th Symposium on Molecular Diabetology in Asia Taipei, Taiwan

13. Hong Kong

14. From: The Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong, SAR Challenge: Applying new knowledge on the genomics of diabetes for the benefit of the community Lecture by Prof Juliana C N Chan The 7 th Symposium on Molecular Diabetology in Asia Taipei, Taiwan

15. The Philippines

16. From: The Organizing Committee The Renaissance Makati City Hotel Makati, Philippines Welcome to the Philippines! The 8 th Symposium on Molecular Diabetology in Asia