Interview with Professor Knobler
by Dr. Renato Bakos

Dr. Robert Knobler, one of the international guests of our event, is professor of the Department of Dermatology of Viena University. Recently, He gave us an interview telling a little bit more about his affinities with South America and his expectations about our event.

1. Please, could you summarize the actual scenario of Photobiology research in Europe? Which are the main fields of interest in your Department regarding to this subject?

Photobiology research in Europe is very active as evidenced by our recent meetings organized by the European Society of Photobiology in Bath as well as other meetings including the EADV (European Academy of Dermatology) meetings in Istambul and Paris.
Much work is being funded by national grants but there are numerous others funded by industry as well. Our department, headed by Prof. Hönigsmann, has very active groups doing clinical work in the areas of phototherapy, laser medicine, and extracorporeal photoimmunotherapy; subjects in which the department is ranked among the top centers in the world both by size, number of patients as well as research activities.

2. How did your connexion with Latin Americans dermatologists start and how did the idea of founding the Latin American Society of Photobiology and Photomedicine Foundation (LSPP) arise?

I was born in South America and grew up in Lima, Peru, where I spent all my high school years; so it is obvious that my attraction, continuous contact, and identification with the continent and its interests is very dear to me. Multiple encounters with Latin American dermatologists over the years during and after my training in the U.S. and Europe motivated me to get more involved. My interest and contributions in my particular areas of interest such as cutaneous lymphomas and extracorporeal photoimmunotherapy, were an ideal opportunity to share new developments with my colleagues in Latin America. After a number of invitations to contribute the bonds were strengthened; being an active member of the European and American Societies of Photobiology it was only logical to think that, with the motivation and enthusiasm of my colleagues in Latin America, it was necessary to establish such a group in the continent with its unique characteristics and properties. For obvious reason and my close friendship with dermatologists in Peru our first meeting took place in Lima, Peru, followed by the meetings in Ecuador and Chile.

3. Being one of the founders and one of the most active members of the LSPP, how do you fell just a few months from its 4th Congress?

As you can expect this is all very exciting and encouraging as with the fourth meeting taking place here in Brasil and the fifth already being planned it seems that the group is developing its own identity and momentum.

4. What do you expect from the 4th LSPP Congress? What should the participants expect?

We expect an active participation by the interested colleagues from the continent, particularly Brazil as this is the host country. Having a wonderful world renowned faculty in our group we hope that the ties and projects for future collaborations will bear fruit and the participants inspired to become more involved in this area of science and medicine. The times we live in are certainly critical in our interaction with our environment and this offers an ideal setting to becoming involved and productive in the field.

5. Some of the world´s most important researchers in Photobiology will be together in Porto Alegre. In your opinion, what could it represent for the future of Photobiology in Brazil?

As mentioned, this is the opportunity to establish new relationships and collaborations
which hopefully will provide the Latin American interest group additional motivation to move the field forward and become a leader in the field as these relationships bear fruit, particularly among the young generation of dermatologists and scientists. We hope to plant seeds in the minds of the younger generation so that they can become the future leaders in the field. The potential is enormous and I believe Brazil has an exceptionally talented and motivated group that has already begun to impact the field.