THE HISTORY OF THE STEROID CONGRESS

Unfortunately, I do not recall all the details of the origin of the Steroid Congresses. I remember that I was impressed by the impact that the First International Congress of Endocrinology (which took place in Copenhagen in 1960) had on the scientific life of my laboratory. I realized at that conference how important the mutual exchange of scientific ideas, and the personal contacts amongst researchers are for the progress of science. I also remember a conversation which I had with Professor G. A. Overbeek from Holland; Dr Overbeek was in Milan attending a small symposium on Anabolic Steroids, and he pointed out to me that many facets of “steroidology” could not be fully covered at the International Congress of Endocrinology. I recall, he mentioned a series of steroids that he was studying at that time which exerted strong curare-like actions, and others which were of clinical use as general anesthetics because of their depressant activity on the CNS. Probably, this conversation really initiated the Steroid Congress. It was obvious that, in order not to duplicate the Copenhagen Meeting, it was essential to include in the new conference simultaneously steroidologists of multiple disciplines: chemists, biologists, physiologists, pharmacologists as well as clinicians. In other words, the Steroid Congress would have to be as interdisciplinary as possible.

The early 60’s were the years of what was called the “Italian economical miracle”. The country, after having totally recovered from the disasters of the war, was prosperous; everybody, especially in the University, liked to work very hard. I realized that, probably, it was not going to be too difficult to collect enough money to support a middle-sized meeting. At that stage, I was encouraged by Professor A. Ercoli, a very well known Italian steroid chemist, who was also very influential in raising the initial funds through the courtesy of the drug companies he knew.

Obviously, one could not consider organizing a congress on hormonal steroids, without giving proper emphasis to the rapidly moving field of the physiology of reproduction. Those years were characterized by what I consider to be one of the major discoveries of our century and which had placed steroids in the fore-front of public interest: Dr. G. Gregory Pincus had shown that it was possible to interfere with human fertility utilizing an oestrogen–progestagen combination. Consequently, I wrote a letter to him asking whether he thought it was worthwhile expending effort, money and time in organizing such a congress. The answer was what I learnt later to be a typical Pincus’ letter: Dr. Pincus, after saying “yes” in a very brief introductory paragraph, immediately provided me with a list of symposia to be included in the congress, together with preliminary suggestions for possible speakers. The First Steroid Congress was born.

The Meeting was convened under the sponsorship of the Italian Society of Endocrinology, in the premises of the University of Milan on May 14–19, 1962, with Dr. Pincus as the Honorary President and Professor E. Trabucchi as General Chairman. Dr. A. Pecile and myself acted as Scientific Secretaries. For the organization of the meeting we could count on the enthusiastic support and help of all the younger investigators in the laboratory. I would like to mention Dr. F. Fraschini, Dr. G. Gavazzi, Dr. G. Giuliani, Dr. G. Mangili, Dr. M. Motta and Dr. E. E. Muller. We anticipated that some 200 people would be attending the Congress. When registration was closed, there were more than 600 scientists representing some 25 countries. The program included, in addition to a series of Plenary Lectures and Symposia, 417 Free Communications.

If numbers provide some indication of the success of a congress, we may assume that the Steroid Congress was a success. This was the feeling of everybody, also because of the nice atmosphere—a very pleasant Italian spring—which surrounded the participants. It was consequently the feeling of Dr. Pincus and of the local organizers that the International Congress on Hormonal Steroids should be repeated four years later. The Second International Congress on Hormonal Steroids was placed again under the chairmanship of Professor Pincus and Professor Trabucchi. The Rector of the University of Milan was again kind enough to offer the attractive facilities of our School. The scientific program of the meeting was developed by an international Organizing Committee appointed by Dr. Pincus. The Committee consisted of Dr. E. E. Baulieu (France), Dr. I. E. Bush (U.K.), Dr E. Diczfalusy (Sweden), Dr. J. Fried (U.S.A.), Dr. L. Martini and Dr. A. Pecile (Italy). The work of the International Organizing Committee was facilitated by the suggestions received from a Program Committee consisting of different steroidologists of various disciplines and nationalities. Dr. Fraschini and Dr. Motta acted as Executive Secretaries. The Second Congress on Hormonal Steroids (Milan 23–28 May, 1966) attracted even more scientists than the previous one, and it was forced to include in addition to the Plenary Lectures and to the Symposia, 742 Free Communications.

The increasing number of participants and of Free Communications suggested that a third meeting should be organized. Dr. Pincus reappointed the same Organizing Committee, with only one exception. Dr. V. H. T. James took the place of Dr. I. Bush. It soon became evident that it was important for a congress of the dimensions of the Steroid Congress to move to different cities. The Committee evaluated several offers, and eventually decided that the Third Steroid Congress should take place in Hamburg, with the expert organization of Professor K. D. Voigt. Unfortunately, when we were in the preliminary phase of the organization Dr. Pincus died. We all knew he was seriously ill, and we had been admiring the energy he was donating to our work. After his death we decided that his creation, the Steroid Congress, should continue. I still remember the sad atmosphere of the Committee Meeting, held immediately after his death, in the second scientific home: the Montremblant Lodge where the Laurenentian Hormone conference (another son of Dr. Pincus) was held every year. Professor J. Fried was asked to succeed Dr. Pincus as Chairman of the International Committee, and he devoted to this additional work a large proportion of his time, at a moment at which the survival of our organisation was really challenged. We were all grateful to him. Dr. Voigt became an ex-officio member of the International Committee. In Hamburg, he was assisted by a Local Committee formed by Drs. G. Bettendorf, K. Heyns, P. W. Jungblut, H. Nowakowski and J. Tamm. At the conference (Hamburg, September 7–12, 1970) Dr. C. B. Huggins, a recent Nobel Laureate, was asked to deliver the first “Gregory Pincus Memorial Lecture”.

In Hamburg it was decided to take the opinions of members of the congress on whether the congresses should be continued; the result of the vote was unanimously favourable. It was also decided to introduce some rotation in the International Organizing. Committee. Drs. K. D. Voigt and E. V. Jensen were elected, and consequently the composition of the new Committee became the following: Drs. E. Diczfalusy (Sweden), L. Martini (Italy), J. Fried (U.S.A.), V. H. T. James (U.K.), E. Jensen (U.S.A.), K. D. Voigt (Germany). Dr. Diczfalusy was appointed Chairman of the Committee. When it was decided that Fourth Meeting was going to be held in Mexico City, Professor L. Castelazo Ayala (Chairman of the Local Committee) joined the International Committee. The Local Committee consisted of Drs. J. L. Mateos, O. V. Dominguez, J. Finkelman, A. Gallegos, V. Garza and A. Zarate. As before, the Meeting in Mexico, in the superb facilities of the Centro Medico del Seguro Social, was very successful. During the congress, two new members of the International Committee were elected (Dr. O. V. Dominguez and Dr. H. Lindner) and Dr. Diczfalusy and Dr. Fried resigned. Dr. L. Martini was elected Chairman and Dr. V. H. T. James, secretary.

I believe the Steroid Congresses have represented something of a new departure in the concept of scientific meetings. Their unique character, and their strength have resided in the breadth of coverage of many disciplines, yet each with an interest in the role of steroid hormones. The Steroid Congresses had provided the forum for the presentation of a number of new important discoveries in the field. Moreover, they have represented an occasion for by-passing all sorts of nationalistic problems. They have also created the opportunity for the birth of new long-lasting friendships. We believe the Steroid Congresses have complemented, in a sense, the activities of the International Society of Endocrinology.

It is my impression that the spirit of the Steroid Congresses is still alive: this is demonstrated by the fact that we are all here to celebrate the Fifth International Congress. Its organization would have been impossible without the energy and the enthusiasm of Dr. K. R. Laumas and of all the members of his Local Committee. All of us will have gained a tremendous amount of new data, and will be aware of new interesting basic, chemical, biochemical, pharmacological and clinical results. This will be the best reward for all of us. But, the easy years have now gone. The Italian miracle has rapidly disappeared. Also, the economy of other countries has started to be less thriving. Moreover,...