The 29th Asia-Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Congress will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 25–29 August 2027. APLAR and the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology welcome clinicians, researchers, nurses and allied health professionals from across the region and beyond.
The congress aims to advance understanding, diagnosis and long-term management of rheumatic diseases. Its invitation emphasises collaboration across healthcare systems and the need to bridge gaps in knowledge, access and clinical practice in high-, middle- and low-resource settings. Scientific exchange is therefore linked to the practical challenge of improving care in diverse environments.
The organisers plan a programme featuring international and regional experts together with substantial contributions from the Malaysian host community. Research abstracts are an important part of this approach, providing a route for emerging work and regional innovation to enter the congress programme alongside invited contributions.
Keynote speakers named on the 2027 page include Prof Andrea Doria, Prof Chris Edwards, Prof Gulen Hatemi, A/Prof Paulo Lorenzo, Prof Susanna Proudman and Prof Lai-Shan Tam. Their listed institutions span Italy, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, the Philippines, Australia and Hong Kong, reflecting the international scope of the meeting.
Assoc Professor Dr Fariz Yahya is congress chair. Professor Dr Syahrul Sazliyana Shaharir is local scientific chair, and Dr Shereen Ch’ng is local scientific co-chair and president of the Malaysian Society of Rheumatology. The local organising committee brings together additional Malaysian rheumatology colleagues.
For the 2027 congress, abstract submissions close at 11:59 pm AEST on 11 March 2027, with acceptance notifications scheduled for May. The early-bird registration period runs until 9 April 2027; standard registration follows from 10 April to 19 August, with late registration beginning on 20 August.
The congress offers a setting for sharing scientific advances while discussing how they can be made relevant to patients across different health systems. Delegates should consult the dedicated 2027 information for programme and participation updates.
