About APAAACI
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Does it have a Constitution?

Yes, the Constitution of APAAACI is modeled on the constitution of IAACI (now, the World Allergy Organization). A very important principal is that membership of the Association is determined by geographic factors alone, and political issues play no role.

Give me some background!

APAAACI was formed at a regional allergy meeting held in Bali, Indonesia, in 1989, as the Asian Pacific Association of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (APAACI). The first Asian Pacific Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (APCACI) was held in 1992 in Bangkok, and subsequent Congresses have been held every two to three years in Taipei (1995), Manila (1998), Sydney (2000), Seoul (2002), Tokyo (2004), Bangkok (2007) and Singapore (2010). The meetings in Sydney (2000) and Bangkok (2007) were held in conjunction with WAO's World Allergy Congress of those years.

APAAACI has grown over the past 22 years to include membership of most professional societies in the Asian Pacific region. In 2000 the Association changed its name from Asian Pacific to Asia Pacific to clarify its geographic basis. In 2007, the Association's name was updated to include "Asthma", reflecting the importance of the condition in the Asia Pacific, and to the Association and its member National Societies. Congresses have increased in stature and have attracted the foremost international scientists and clinicians as contributors and participants. APAAACI Congresses are a major educational program, used to encourage exchange between countries for training programs and research.

The 5th APAACI Congress was held in Seoul, Korea, in association with the 7th West Pacific Allergy Symposium, from 12-15 October, 2002. APAAACI is a supporter of the World Congress on Immunopathology which was held in Singapore from 2 - 6 December, 2002. APAACI also participated in the WAO Congress-XVIII ICACI 7-12 September, 2003 in Vancouver. The 6th APCACI was held in Tokyo in 2004.

The 7th Congress of APAAACI was held in Bangkok 2-6 December 2007, in association with the XX World Allergy Organization Congress. It was a great success with over 4500 participants from the region and around the world.

The 8th Congress held in Singapore, Nov 6th-9th 2010, as a conjoint Congress with the Asia Pacific Association of Pediatric Allergy, Respirology and Immunology (APAPARI). This was one of the most successful regional Congresses for APAAACI and APAPARI with 1400 registrants from the Asia Pacific as well as outside the region.

The 9th APAAACI Congress will be held in Taiwan in 2013. The House of Delegates at the 8th Congress in Singapore voted to hold the 10th Congress in 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Where are we heading?

Our major aim is to encourage and support the development of the discipline of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology in the region, especially in those countries where there is not a society as yet. To achieve this we want to bring into APAAACI those National Societies in our region who are not yet members of our organization, and to encourage and assist in the formation of National Societies where none exist. We want to encourage the communication between our National Societies, through regular meetings and by other means including publications and the use of the Internet.

(R S Walls, 4th February 2003, updated F Thien 23rd Jan 2011)