Greetings from the Presidents

We  are pleased to announce that the First International Symposium on Chronic Active Epstein–Barr Virus Disease (CAEBV) will be held at Tokyo University of Science on March 20 and 21, 2026. The members of the organizing committee are dedicating their utmost efforts to making the symposium a success.

Chronic active Epstein–Barr virus disease (CAEBV) is an extremely rare and serious disorder caused by Epstein–Barr virus, which infects nearly everyone on earth. Once the disease develops, a patient suffers from persistent inflammation and , in some cases, tumor development. While CAEBV has been reported mainly in Japan and other parts of Asia, the number of reports from Europe and North America is increasing. Nevertheless, global recognition of the disease remains limited, and there is an urgent need for a better understanding of its pathogenesis and the establishment of effective treatments.

This symposium marks the first international academic meeting dedicated to CAEBV. Clinicians and researchers from around the world will gather to discuss their understanding of the disease and to build a network to drive global collaboration. We are planning a special session for the patients and families to share their voices and experiences to, foster a partnership in confronting this illness together.

CAEBV’s rarity is the major obstacle to elucidate its causes and to develop effective therapies. To overcome these challenges, we need to collaborate globally to collect data and integrate our knowledge by sharing data platforms and analytical methods. Our global collaboration shall advance our understanding of the disease, diagnostic accuracy, and treatments.

Young physicians and researchers of the next generation are helping us organize this event. We hope their fresh perspectives and passion will nurture the global community united in the fight against this challenging disease.

The conquest of this rare and devastating disease cannot be achieved by any single nation alone. We sincerely hope that this symposium will be the first step to unite our collective effort globally to overcome CAEBV.