The Congress unites the efforts of doctors of various specialties to build a prosperous demographic situation in the Russian Federation. The National Medical Research Centre of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation is one of the flagship in the Russian medicine, which sets the vector of the development in the field of medical laboratory research.

The activities of eighteen scientific and clinical laboratories of the Centre are aimed both at diagnosis itself and the improvement of the existing methods and development of new ones in the field of obstetrics and neonatology. We do realize our high responsibility in matters of the transfer of advanced laboratory technologies to the medical facilities of all regions of Russia. Therefore, we are holding this Congress, which will help us to enter a new stage in the development of laboratory diagnostics in reproductive medicine and neonatology. It is planned to discuss the issues regarding laboratory's organization and management. Therefore, the Congress will hold a number of seminars on laboratory technologies in certain clinical areas i.e. assisted reproductive technologies, obstetrics and gynaecology, neonatology, andrology and urology, oncology and dermatovenerology. Furthermore, there will be organized panel discussions and experts' roundtables on the topics of "Cervical Cancer Screening", "Streptococcus Group B and Pregnancy", "Prenatal Genetic Screening", "Clinical Recommendations-Methodological Laboratory Aspects". There will also be engaging of direction as translational technologies as organization of biobanking and the use of stem cells.

We will be glad to see you at the First National Congress "Laboratory technologies in reproductive medicine and neonatology: from science to practice" with international participation! We are confident that many of our colleagues will take the advantage of the opportunity to gain new knowledge and exchange their experience. There is still time to make a decision to participate in the Congress and write your name in the very beginning of its history.

GENNADY SUKHIKH
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the National Medical Research Centre of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation

I am pleased to welcome you to such a representative platform created for dialogue and training of doctors involved in the field of human reproduction. Solving the problem of increasing the birth rate in the Russian Federation is one of the most important priorities of the country's development. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized the urgent need to improve the demographic situation, including the improvement of the quality of medical care provided to the population. Within a five-year period under the State programme for the perinatal centres network development we have achieved significant success in the reducing maternal, infant and early neonatal mortality. Moreover, we have improved the survival of premature infants, significantly increased the availability and quality of medical care for mothers and children, and have created conditions for increasing the satisfaction rate of the population with medical care.

One of the factors that allowed to reach such results is the rapid development of laboratory technologies. Modern laboratory diagnostics is moving along the path of automation, informatization and centralization, which allows to solve clinical problems quicker and more accurately. The creation of new innovative digital systems, as well as the development of telecommunication technologies in the laboratory diagnostics are important factors in the progress of modern medicine. Clearly, an integral part of the evolution of laboratory services is the improvement of the staff competencies - doctors of laboratory diagnostics and clinical specialties.

I am confident that the Congress will unite leading experts who understand the need for change, and it is you who can become the driving force in the modernization of the Russian laboratory service, which will undoubtedly give a powerful impulse to its qualitative development. I wish all the participants of the First National Congress "Laboratory technologies in reproductive medicine and neonatology: from science to practice" with international participation engaging discussions, productive scientific dialogue, enhancing of professional knowledge, and the most important – the creation of an effective community to solve the key problems of laboratory technology development in Russian Federation.

SERGEY KRAEVOY
Deputy Minister of Healthcare of the Russian Federation

90% of pregnancy is provided by laboratory tests. That is why an effective dialogue between the clinicians and the laboratory is the key to successful maternity.

The Congress contribute an opportunity to gain new knowledge and refresh the existing ones. Furthermore, it is designed to help to establish a dialogue between clinicians and laboratory and develop it by exchanging their own experience and knowledge. Moreover, the Congress would help to improve the dialogue through the active discussion with experts on clinical and laboratory aspects of diagnosis of various conditions in the field of reproductive medicine and neonatology.

Reasons to participate
1. A Unique Congress which unites different specialties: obstetrician-gynaecologists, neonatologists, pediatricians, urologists, dermato-venereologists, doctors of clinical laboratory diagnostics, bacteriologists, virologists, mycologists, molecular biologists, pathologists, health care organizers, biotechnologists, epidemiologists

2. Participation in the I National Congress with international participation is free of charge

3. Round-table discussions on the topical issues – the view of representatives of different specialties

Konkovo metro station
Last wagon from the centre, turn left after you exit from the metro, turn right at the end of the passage, turn left to get outside.
Buses No. 295, 145, 712, 827 minibus taxi No. 361 to the stop "Nauchny tsentr akusherstva i ginekology".
The travel will take about 7 minutes.
Please note: buses and taxis can be stopped from Ostrovityanova Street. In order not to get lost in the medical town, you should go to the gate on Oparina Street!

Yugo-Zapadnaya metro station
First wagon from the centre, turn right after you exit from the metro.
Bus No. 718, minibus taxi No. 361 to the stop "Tsentr okhrany zdorovya materi i rebenka".
The travel will take about 10-15 minutes.