Scientists Worldwide Gather for Scientific Tuberculosis Conference
Dr. Marila Gennaro, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Public Health Research Institute, envisioned hosting an international scientific conference on Tuberculosis (TB) that would attract scientists in basic science, translational research, and field studies. As a result, the “Immunodiagnosis of Tuberculosis: New Questions, New Tools” will take place from September 21 through September 24 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Dr. Gennaro and Dr. T.M. Doherty, Coordinator of Research in the Department of Infectious Disease Immunology at Statens Serum Institut in Denmark, are co-directors of the conference. About 200 biologists, immunologists, clinical scientists, and test developers will travel from 45 countries to participate.
“TB claims a life every 15 seconds. Researchers from various continents across the globe will gather to identify novel approaches for fighting this devastating disease,” said Dr. Gennaro. “We will delve into discussions on progress, highlight innovative technologies and identify existing gaps in research and immunodiagnostic tools.”
The conference, which is designed to foster dialogue and collaborative research, will highlight the most recent findings related to the biology of bacteria and the human immune response. Field studies and clinical trial outcomes will be covered during plenary and poster sessions. In addition, pediatric TB and the unique diagnostics challenges that it poses will be featured.
“Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges arise because children have less specific signs and symptoms of the disease,” and Dr. Gennaro. “They have fewer positive mycobacterial cultures and they are at an increased risk for progression of disease.”
During the conference a keynote address called “Tuberculosis is a global health issue: challenges and need for new tools” will be delivered. The speaker will be Dr. Mario Raviglione, the Director of the Stop TB Department at the World Health Organization, where he is responsible for strategies and policies and works through a network of TB experts at all levels of the Organization.
Tuberculosis, a disease is caused by the airborne bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was a leading cause of death in the United States before treatments were available in the 1940s. However, in 2006, TB was the cause of death for an estimated 1.5 million men, women and children worldwide.
Following are conference sponsors: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Foundation for New and Innovative Diagnostics; Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) at the World Health Organization; and US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.