There were multiple events now occurring simultaneously. A crucial one was that the use of the cells became of interest to a Yugoslavian virologist by the name of Drago Ikić who ran an institute on immunology in Zagreb. Ikić was a significant figure because he became so convinced that the use of these cells would replace primary monkey kidney and other primary cell populations, like primary chick cell populations also used for some vaccine production, that he took it upon himself to promote this idea internationally.

And one of the first things he did, which was critically important, was to organise a conference in a resort town in Yugoslavia called Opatija, O-P-A-T-I-J-A, I believe. And that was a very important and, to some extent, famous meeting in respect to all the events that occurred subsequently. At the Opatija meeting, to whom were invited leading world figures in cell culture, including Charles Pomerat, Harry Eagle, several others whose names escape me at the moment, major figures in the field of virology, all assembled by Drago Ikić to create an atmosphere of acceptance for these... for the cells.

And he essentially achieved that result at that meeting, which is why it was so significant. There were vaccine manufacturer representatives there who saw the future that included the use of these cells and so, that also underlined the importance of that conference.