66 YEARS OF SURFACTANT RESEARCH

In November 1995, a floating congress organized by Drs. B. Lachmann an d L.M.G. van Golde was held on the River Danube. The purpose of this c ongress was to promote cross-fertilization of ideas among investigator s involved in various aspects of surfactant research. The beginning of surfactant research is marked by Kurt von Neergaard's work in 1929, w hich suggested that surface tension plays an important role in lung ex pansion. However, rigorous study of surfactant, the substance that mod ulates surface tension in the lung, started in the 1950's with the wor k of several investigators, including Dr. Clements. The clinical corre lation of lack of surfactant with hyaline membrane disease in the prem aturely born infant was also described in the 1950's by Dr Avery. Toda y, we know that surfactant is essential for normal lung function and t hat surfactant, or its components, are dynamic in nature and complex. Complexity has been observed at structural, functional, molecular, and genetic levels. Although the prematurely born infant has been the cen terpiece of surfactant research for the past several decades, recently considerable interest has arisen regarding the role of surfactant in acute respiratory distress in humans of all ages. The topics covered w ere diverse, ranging from whole animal experimentation to molecular an d genetic levels, including work both in basic and clinical science, a nd clinical trials. Two awards for outstanding poster presentations by a young investigator were given. The basic science award went to Dr. C. Casals for her work on SP-A self-aggregation and structure. The cli nical award went to Dr. P.A. Dargeville for addressing the problem of identifying a useful surfactant sampling technique.