The Canadian Society of Epidemiology and Biostatistics is the national professional organization for epidemiologists and biostatisticians in Canada promoting, advocating and enhancing the research and professional activities of these two disciplines. The CSEB has held successful biennial conferences across Canada since inception in 1990. The conference provides an opportunity for Canadian epidemiologists and biostatisticians to highlight their new and emerging research, to establish collaborative research initiatives, to discuss cross-cutting issues of importance (e.g., data access, privacy legislation, emerging disease trends, new methodology), and to discuss new initiatives relevant for epidemiologic research conducted in Canada.

The Association of Public Health Epidemiologists in Ontario is an organization of epidemiologist members and affiliates – members are those working in Ontario's public health units, and affiliates are those who have an interest and/or training in epidemiology, but may work for other health agencies. APHEO’s mission is to advance and promote the discipline and professional practice of epidemiology in Ontario public health units. Since 1994 APHEO has held annual conferences organized around themes of relevance to its members.

In 2009, in Ottawa, for the first time CSEB and APHEO are hosting a joint scientific conference. All fields of epidemiologic and biostatistical research will be represented, and sessions will span a range of issues relevant to both academic research and applied epidemiology and biostatistics. With anticipated attendance by about 200 academic researchers from across the country, 100 Ontario-based public health epidemiologists, 100 scientists from the federal government, and 50 graduate students in epidemiology and biostatistics, we feel confident that we will meet our goals:

1. To strengthen linkages between population and public health research and practice at the individual and institutional levels; and
2. To strengthen the scientific grounding for public health work, by highlighting and examining issues common to epidemiologists and biostatisticians working in all settings.