On behalf of the organising committee of the 4^th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health (ICPH), it is my pleasure to invite you to the meeting which will be held from December 7^th-11^th 2009 at the Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate, UK. The conference centre is 20 km from the School of Food Science & Nutrition, University of Leeds, the hosts of the conference.

ICPH is a biennial conference and we are delighted that for the first time the conference will be held in the UK. ICPH was initiated by Augustin Scalbert, in 2003 when the first highly successful meeting was held in Vichy, France. ICPH moved to North America in 2005, when the 2^nd stimulating meeting was hosted at the University of California, Davis, USA. In 2007 ICPH moved to Asia and the 3^rd inspiring meeting was held in Kyoto, Japan. The location of the 5^th meeting has yet to be decided, but we anticipate that the 4^th conference in Leeds will follow the truly successful trend of the previous 3 meetings.

Polyphenols are now recognized as essential components of foods and beverages, as well as traditional herbal medicines, which play an important role in reducing the risk of various chronic diseases. Impressive progress has been made over recent years in our understanding of key aspects of polyphenols and health, such as bioavailability from foods, and potential mechanisms of action. However, there is still much more to be discovered, to allow us to establish levels of intake in humans for optimal reduction in risk of disease. The 4^th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health will discuss and develop these key themes with participants from all major areas contributing. Conference sessions will include: bioavailability, food intake and composition, effects of processing and food matrix, polyphenols and the brain, obesity and diabetes, inflammation, epigenetics, polyphenols and the prevention of cardiovascular disease, polyphenols and cancer, and an opportunity for students to present their work in a special session, in addition to sponsored sessions on particular foods or polyphenols.

Harrogate is a beautiful spa town, with the tourist centre of York and excellent shopping of Leeds with its German Christmas Market nearby. I hope you will enjoy your stay and benefit from the high scientific level of the conference.

November 2008

Gary Williamson
Chairman of the Organising Committee