It is a great pleasure to welcome everyone to the 5th World Congress of the WFNR. This is the first time we have held a congress in South America and we are very lucky to be able to hold our meeting in the beautiful and exciting city of Brasília. I would like to thank Lucia Braga and all her colleagues in the SARAH Network for a great job in organising this congress. They have put together, with colleagues on the WFNR Management Committee, a broad ranging, interesting programme. There certainly should be something on the programme to interest everyone. I would like to think that our previous congresses have not only been educational but have also been fun. I am sure that our 5th congress will continue this tradition. I really look forward to meeting old friends once again and saying hello to new colleagues in the developing field of neurological rehabilitation. Welcome to Brasília!

Michael P Barnes MD FRCP
President, World Federation for
NeuroRehabilitation
April 2008

The SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals and the WFNR have joined forces to bring you the first WCNR in South America: The 5th World Congress for NeuroRehabilitation. One of the main goals of this year's congress is to address how manipulation of the internal neurobiological and external physical and psychosocial environments can facilitate recovery from neurological insult and improve long term outcome and quality of life.

This year's program focuses on approaches and interventions in rehabilitation with the aim of fostering greater awareness of the need for improved communication and collaboration both within and between professions. There will also be workshops and training sessions to provide essential updates on specific techniques and disorders. We have worked hard to put together a diverse, stimulating program with pertinent topics and prominent international speakers.

The venue, originally planned for Rio de Janeiro, has been moved to Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. Some health concerns have prompted this change (for additional information, please click here*), and we are confident that the new location will help make this event an even greater success! Brasilia is a beautiful city, with Lake Paranoá at its center, and the exciting energy of a young capital…We invite you all to attend the 5th WCNR in Brasília, Brazil!

Lucia Willadino Braga PhD
President, 5th World Congress for
NeuroRehabilitation
President, SARAH Network of Rehabilitation
Hospitals
April 2008