title: [Introduction and welcome message].
authors.affiliation: Actelion Pharmaceuticals, comité scientifique de RARE 2011, 75001 Paris, France. Annick.schwebig@actelion.com
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwebig
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Ségolène
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayme
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D003226:Congresses as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D004345:Drug Industry; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D010297:Paris; D011635:Public Health Administration; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D012958:Societies, Scientific / Q000458:organization & administration