The 1^st Joint Meeting  on HEREDITARY BREAST & OVARIAN CANCER: RISKS AND CHALLENGES has been held  at the Medical School of Bari-Italy on September 10-12, 2009.

The Joint Meeting “Hereditary breast & ovarian cancer: risks and challenges” represents a continuation of conferences independently held on this topic in the two Institution since 2003: 2nd International Workshop on Familial Breast Cancer at the National Cancer Institute of Bari and V Lynne Cohen Foundation Meeting at the University of New York. The co-organizers believe that a close dialogue on scientific, ethical, and clinical issues by participants on both sides of the Atlantic may contribute to a better formulation of future questions. This meeting will be held biennially and will alternate between European and U.S. locations.

The conference has gathered several scientists and young students. Three presentations of the students have been awarded. Discussions and interactions between the faculty and the participants have been strongly favored.