Welcome to your May newsletter from the World Muscle Society

We have exciting Congress news! Already, more than 900 people have registered to join us in Hiroshima, Japan, for WMS 2026. This means we're almost two thirds full as our maximum capacity for this Congress is 1,470. Networking activities, such as the Networking Reception, Group Activity and Congress Dinner are also filling up fast. If you haven't already registered for WMS 2026, I highly recommend doing it very soon. If you register before 5 June, you can also take advantage of earlybird prices!

One of the reasons we have had so many registrations already is the huge number of abstracts people have submitted. We had more than 800 abstract submissions (another new WMS record) and all our reviewers are busy reviewing them now. Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered to participate in this valuable exercise. We couldn't do it without you. 

Next month, the Programme Committee will meet in Berlin to decide which abstract submitters will be invited to present at the Congress. The abstracts I have reviewed so far (I know, I am late and still have 87 on my plate...) suggest the work is of a very high quality and I am looking forward to the Programme Committee discussions and to seeing this all come together when we meet in Japan. 

We're also making progress on our future Congresses. The RFP process is open for 2030 and about to open for 2029. In contrast with a certain famous football competition, the jury is incorruptible and we continue to do our best to make sure our events aren't so expensive that no one can afford to attend!

 

Speaking of affordability, one thing that has helped support early registrations, and something I'm personally particularly passionate about, is the extension of our membership grants to include access to a registration grant. Our membership grants have existed for several years, offering people for whom finance is a barrier to WMS membership the opportunity to join at a discounted rate. This year, we launched our registration grants to people in receipt of a WMS membership grant. This meant they were able to register to attend the Congress without having to pay an upfront fee.

I am very pleased to be able to say that, so far this year, we have already processed and approved 31 membership grants and 23 registration grants, giving access to our full scientific programme and all the benefits of WMS membership. As an organisation, we can be extremely proud of this progress. I am not aware of many scientific societies offering that number of membership, registration and Congress grants.

Please pay particular attention to the section below on phishing emails. Be sure that if you receive an email from a so-called “Laurent Servais” asking you for money to cover the WMS's urgent need, to meet him on a weird website, to upload an unknown application, or to cover his hospitalisation cost as he is in the middle of nowhere, keep your money to have a good drink with the real Laurent Servais during the next Congress!

Kindest regards,