Dear colleagues,

The year 2010 is not only the year of the twentieth anniversary of the German reunification but also the year of the tercentenary existence of the Berlin Charité, Europe's biggest university hospital. Therefore, it is a great pleasure for my employees of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and of the Federal Institute of Forensic and Social Medicine and me to welcome you in this anniversary year to the 89^th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Legal Medicine from 22^nd to 25^th September 2010 in the German capital.

With 3.4 million inhabitants, Berlin is not only Germany's most populous and most extensive city but also a significant centre for politics, media, culture and science in Europe. Berlin's historic liability, numerous cultural events, the versatile architecture and the vibrant nightlife have been attracting national as well as international visitors ever since. Certainly, Berlin offers many possibilities for every participant.

The focuses of the conference themes are intentionally kept general in order to allow for the wide range of our profession.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Berlin!

Michael Tsokos and colleagues