Aims of the Society

The aim of the Society is to foster the study of inherited metabolic disorders and related topics. The Society, founded in 1963, exists to promote exchange of ideas between professional workers in different disciplines who are interested in inherited metabolic disease. Pursuing this aim by arranging scientific meetings, publications and in other ways considered appropriate by the Council. The Council is also supported by corresponding members who provide advice and meet with the Council at the annual symposium.

The Society, a registered charity, accepts donations from sponsors sympathetic to its aims. The Council, within its financial resources, is willing to spread interest and study in inborn errors around the world by selectively supporting membership and attendance at conferences from areas of the world where financial resources are more limited. Not funding research, but offering on request, advice to other organisations who do. The Society is also a limited company and the liability of members in the event that the Society is wound up is limited to £1 per member.

History of the SSIEM

The origins of the SSIEM may be traced to an informal meeting held in England at the Manchester Royal Infirmary in 1962 when an enthusiastic group of biochemists and paediatricians met to discuss phenylketonuria. In May of the following year, the same group held a symposium in Sheffield which was entitled "Neurometabolic disorders in childhood". The Society was constituted formally in October 1963. The first symposium organised by the newly formed SSIEM was held in Liverpool in 1964 on the subject of "Biochemical approaches to mental handicap in children".

The history of the SSIEM is one of steady development. In 1967 the first corresponding members were appointed to provide communications with the wider membership. The first symposium to be held overseas was at Zurich in 1968.

Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disorders (JIMD)

Perhaps the most tangible achievement of the SSIEM has been its publication. Every one of its symposia has been published and this has provided invaluable review on specific topics in the field of inborn errors of metabolism. In 1978 the Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease (JIMD) was launched. Membership now stands at over 1000 and is truly international with members from over 60 different countries