Dear Colleague:

Over 300 thought leaders gathered at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel in January 2005 at Cambridge Healthtech Institute's Second Annual High-Content Analysis meeting. The 20% growth in attendance, doubling of the exhibit hall, and the level of energy onsite certainly reflected the booming interest in this growing field. A year later, we are returning to the Fairmont with an expanded four-day, two-track program, a comprehensive Trade Show, and multiple User Group meetings hosted by leading technology providers. HCA 2006 will be the largest and most comprehensive event dedicated to this rapidly evolving field. Whether you are an HCA expert or a new adopter, this is the annual event you can't afford to miss!

I have been fortunate to follow the HCA field for over five years, in my previous job as an editor and now as a conference director. The technology (including instruments, assays, and informatics) has certainly come a long way, but at the same time still faces many of the same (and new) challenges. It has been interesting to see HCA penetrate from secondary/tertiary screening applications into all stages of drug screening and target validation. The key is the increased content of information generated by the assays, which serves as a basis for better decision making at earlier stages of drug discovery and lower attrition at late stages (which is the most costly). The HCA 2006 program is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of all areas where HCA is making an impact. The meeting also anticipates the growing technological challenges and provides a working forum for the HCA community to put their heads together to move the field forward.

So get some sleep before you come to the meeting; you won't want to miss any part of the packed agenda. Here are some highlights from the program:

• Cutting-Edge Scientific Program: Two concurrent tracks reflect the two key application areas in HCA: compound screening and pathway analysis. The well-balanced agenda allows you to choose the application sessions most relevant to your work, while joining your colleagues for technology sessions and networking events.

• Flexible Agenda: Customize your four-day program by choosing the sessions relevant to your work and signing up for the optional tutorials, selection of co-located user group meetings, and End-User Forum. Flexible registration options allow you to attend two, three, or four days of the program.

• Unparalleled Networking: The largest gathering of HCA end-users and technology providers. Brainstorm key issues with your peers and meet future partners during a multitude of facilitated and open networking opportunities, including the End-User Forum, ThinkTank sessions, panel discussions, and receptions.

• New Technology Highlights: Learn about the latest advances in instrumentation, reagents and informatics at the New Technology Showcases, Technology Workshops, User Group Meetings hosted by key technology providers, and the expanded Trade Show floor.

• End-User Forum: The "end-users only" forum features a series of facilitated discussions addressing key challenges in implementing HCA technologies. The 2005 End-User Forum brought together over 50 technology end-users to brainstorm practical solutions and learn from their peers during this informal and "off-the-record" discussion, many of whom commented that this was the most useful part of the meeting. 

• User Group Meetings: We currently have four user group meetings co-located with HCA 2006, which provide a great addition to the conference program and an opportunity to share your experience with a group of peers using the same technology. I would like to thank Cellomics, GE Healthcare, Molecular Devices, and BD Biosciences for choosing HCA 2006 as the venue to host their User Group Meetings.

• Expanded Trade Show: One-stop-shop for instrumentation, reagents, and informatics: all you need to set up and run your HCA lab. The one place where the market leaders and new players come together to showcase their technologies.

• Co-Located RNAi Meeting: Get free access to the co-located Third Annual RNAi for Pathway Analysis meeting. 

While the program for HCA 2006 is nearly finalized, the work will continue between now and January. I invite you visit the official Web site, www.highcontentanalysis.com, for updated information, event news, white papers, and free downloads.

I look forward to meeting you in sunny San Francisco!

Julia Boguslavsky
Conference Director
Email: juliab@healthtech.com