About the Congress

Cellular Phones and Pagers
Delegates are kindly requested to switch off mobile phones and pagers in the rooms where scientific and educational sessions are being held, as well as during poster sessions’ rounds.

Certificate of Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be included in each Congress bag.

CME Accreditation
The World Congress of Nephrology 2007 is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to provide the following CME activity for medical specialists. The EACCME is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), www.uems.net.
The World Congress of Nephrology 2007 is designated for a maximum of 21 hours of European external CME credits. Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity. EACCME credits are recognized by the American Medical Association towards the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). To convert EACCME credits to AMA PRA category 1 credit, contact the AMA, www.ama-assn.org.

Coffee Breaks
Coffee and tea during official breaks are included in the registration fee and will be served in the Exhibition and Poster Communications area, Pavilion 3.

Congress and Exhibition Venue
RIOCENTRO – Rio Convention & Exhibition Center
Av. Salvador Allende, 6.5555
Barra da Tijuca
22780-160 Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Tel: +55 21 2442 1300
Fax: +55 21 2442 1488
www.riocentro.com.br

The largest congress venue in Rio, RIOCENTRO is equipped with all the state-of-the-art facilities to respond to all the necessary requirements to host a congress and exhibition of the highest caliber associated with the WCN. The natural beauty of Rio even stretches to the surroundings of the convention center itself. The expansive lawns, gardens and a natural lake offer visitors an oasis for inspiration and thought before or at the end of a busy day at the Congress.

RIOCENTRO is located in the modern and lively area of Barra da Tijuca, offering all visitors a wide variety of shopping malls, restaurants and bars, and naturally just one of Rio’s many golden and idyllic beaches. A new highway conveniently connects the Airport to the Convention Center avoiding crossing the city center, transporting you away from the busy traffic zones.

RIOCENTRO will open its doors for WCN 2007 on Saturday April 21, 2007 at 07:00 and close on Wednesday April 25, 2007 at 12:00. Both the Opening Ceremony and the Welcome Reception will be held on Saturday April 21, 2007 from 17:00 onwards.

View the RIOCENTRO floorplan

Congress Documentation and Badges
Name badges and congress documentation can be collected from the Registration Desk, situated at the entrance of Pavilion 5. Name badges must be worn at all times during the Congress as well as in the exhibition area.

Cyber Café
A Cyber Café available to all delegates will be located centrally in the Exhibition area, Pavilion 3.

Disclaimer
The Organizing Secretariat and the WCN 2007 Organizing Committees claim no liability for the act of any WCN 2007 supplier, personal injury, safety of any participant while in transit to or from the event, for any loss or damage, for delays in transport by air, sea, rail, road, weather, in case of strikes, sickness, war or any other causes.

Lunch
Lunches are not included as part of the WCN 2007 registration fee. Various cash bars will serve food at the congress venue in the Exhibition area, and purchase will be at the participant’s own expense.

Official WCN Bus Shuttle Service
Special WCN shuttle buses are scheduled to take delegates to and from official hotels to the RIOCENTRO Congress Center. Official timetables and routes will be handed out to all delegates at the Registration Desk upon retrieval of the congress materials.
All official WCN 2007 Hotels have bus departure times and routes displayed in their lobbies.
Outside of the official WCN Bus Shuttle timetable we strongly advise participants to take taxi cabs for transportation. Taxis in Rio are abundant, cheap and a much safer alternative to public transport. The Congress Organizers particularly recommend the white cars of the Coopertramo Radio Taxi fleet with which they have an agreement..

Official Language
Lectures will be delivered in English. Simultaneous translations into Portuguese and Spanish will be available for Keynote and Named Lectures and CNE’s held in the Plenary Hall, Pavilion 5.

Poster Communications Area
Poster Communications will take place in the Exhibition area, located in Pavilion 3, from Sunday April 22 to Tuesday April 24 from 10:30 to 17:30.

Registration Desk
The Registration Desk for information and distribution of documentation is located at the entrance of Pavilion 5 and is open as follows:

Services for the Disabled
All rooms at the congress center are fully accessible to participants with disabilities.

Smoking Policy
The WCN 2007 adopts a strictly non-smoking policy. Participants are kindly requested to refrain from smoking in the congress venue, including the exhibition area.

Social Program & Networking Opportunities

Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception
The Welcome Reception will be held after the Opening Ceremony (17:00 - 19:00, Plenary Hall, Pavilion 5). All participants and accompanying persons are cordially invited.
Saturday April 21
19:00 - onwards
Exhibition Area, Pavilion 3
Entry and refreshments are included in the registration fee.

Congress Celebration – Official Party
The WCN 2007 Official Party will be held at one of Rio’s renowned restaurants - Porcão Rio’s Churrascaria Barbecue House. Located in spectacular surroundings with breathtaking views of Guanabara Bay and the Sugar Loaf Mountain, the WCN 2007 Official Party will be an unforgettable experience providing participants with the ideal opportunity for networking and exchange in a more informal and relaxed evening setting.
Monday April 23
20:00 - onwards
Porcão Rio’s - Churrascaria Barbecue House
Price per person: US$ 40.00

Closing Ceremony
Wednesday April 25
12:30 - onwards
Plenary Hall, Pavilion

WCN Transfers from the Airport
On Saturday 21 and Sunday April 22, 2007 several WCN 2007 Welcome Desks (at both the International and the National Airports) will be clearly visible. Hostesses will be ready to assist all arriving delegates and organize official taxi transportation to transfer participants into town or to the RIOCENTRO directly. Delegates must state their destination and will be asked to pre-pay the taxi counter at the airport. Specially negotiated and fixed WCN 2007 rates (depending on the transfer area) will apply.