Serageldin joined a record number of world leaders in science, society and industry, who gathered in Lyon for the BioVision conference to debate the role and contribution of life sciences to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDSs). The conference was attended by 2,285 delegates (1,639 in 2005) representing 75 countries. The total number of participants including those joining parallel events was 3,550 including 132 patient associations, NGOs, representatives from agriculture especially from countries in the South.