First Announcement of the Colloquium on Neglected Tropical

First Announcement of the Colloquium on Neglected Tropical Diseases of Latin America 12 to 14 November 2009, Lima Peru http://upchmed.com/coloquioweb/index.html Scope This colloquium focuses on neglected tropical diseases of Latin America. The burden in this region caused by helminth infections, Chagas disease, dengue fever and leishmaniasis. estimated at 1 to 5 million disability-adjusted life years, exceeds that of better known diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis or malaria. Nevertheless, the available information on neglected tropical diseases is limited due to a lack of investment and planning in human and material resources. Different disciplines of the health sciences should therefore join efforts to better understand and control these diseases. This colloquium is an important opportunity to focus attention on the considerable experience and achievements of many Latin American countries in the research and control of neglected tropical diseases. Particular interest will be devoted to work that integrates clinical and epidemiological aspects with molecular biology, microbiology, human genetics and immunology. The overall objective is to generate new insights that can contribute to the control of neglected tropical diseases in Latin America. In addition, we will review and discuss the list of neglected tropical diseases proposed by the World Health Organization and other institutions from a Latin American point of view. 1/6 Apart from drawing the attention to the public health importance and the intriguing scientific features of neglected tropical diseases, this event will promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise between major research groups from Latin America and elsewhere. Furthermore, the colloquium looks at how these research efforts can be integrated and benefit from new resources for the world-wide fight against neglected diseases. Therefore, the meeting does not only address Latin American scientists. Researchers, clinicians and experts from other continents are also invited to present relevant data, e.g. on specific features of neglected diseases in their own region, or similarities, relations or differences with infections that are not found in Latin America. The colloquium is envisaged to be the first of three regional meetings on neglected tropical diseases. The two others will be held in Africa (2011) and Asia (2013), as similar joint ventures between the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine and its partner institutes. Preliminary programme The colloquium programme will be based on three levels: the central question of the colloquium, one more specific question for each of eight sessions, and one specific question per presentation. Each presentation will thus be part of the answer to the question of its session and ultimately, the central question of the colloquium. This special format should stimulate interaction between researchers and coherence between presentations. 2/6 Colloquium question Which new insights can contribute to the understanding and control of neglected tropical diseases in Latin America? Sessions 1. How can we better estimate the impact of neglected tropical diseases? 2. Are the diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases well established? 3. Are vaccine strategies applicable to neglected tropical diseases? 4. How could the prevention of transmission and disease be improved? 5. Where treatment is available, what are the obstacles to optimal treatment efficiency? 6. What are the prospects regarding new therapeutic agents including natural products? 7. Why and how can we promote local research? 8. How can we narrow the gap between researchers and policy makers? Approximately two thirds of the presentations will be given by invited speakers. The remaining time is reserved for participants of the call for abstracts. There will also be time and space for poster presentations. Representatives of major funding agencies will be invited to participate in the colloquium, not only to present funding opportunities but also to interact with participants on the definition of research priorities. 3/6 Topics Emphasis will be put on research that integrates clinical and epidemiological aspects of disease with molecular biology, microbiology, human genetics and immunology. The following diseases will be discussed during the colloquium: - Bartonellosis - Brucellosis - Chagas - Dengue - Helminth infections (particularly cysticercosis, fasciolasis and strongyloidiasis) - Human herpes virus 8 and Kaposi sarcoma - Human T-lymphotropic virus - Leishmaniasis - Leptospirosis - Malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax - Mycoses - Other neglected diseases: infections by free-living amoebae and diseases caused by atypical mycobacteria (Buruli ulcer) among others HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum are not within the scope of this colloquium. 4/6 Organizing committee Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt, Lima Chairpersons Eduardo Gotuzzo Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp Bruno Gryseels Marleen Boelaert Jorge Arévalo Organizing committee Dionicia Gamboa Tine Verdonck Jan Coenen Jean-Claude Dujardin Dirk Van der Roost Ann Verlinden Scientific committee Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt, Lima, Peru Beatriz Bustamante, Juan Echevarría, Coralith García, Humberto Guerra, Pedro Legua, Alejandro Llanos, Ciro Maguiña, Martín Montes, Teresa Ochoa, Frine Samalvides, Carlos Seas, Angélica Terashima Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium Marleen Boelaert, Philippe Büscher, Umberto d’Alessandro, Jan Jacobs, Katja Polman, Daniëlle Swinne, Erwin Van den Enden Latin American experts (To follow) 5/6 Dates 30 June 2009: First announcement of the colloquium Opening of call for abstracts Opening of scholarship programme 15 August 2009: Second announcement of the colloquium Start registration 10 September 2009: Abstract submission deadline Scholarship application deadline 30 September 2009: Communication of results to authors of abstracts Communication of results of scholarship programme 12-14 November 2009: Colloquium Sponsors Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von Humboldt at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium Colloquium website http://upchmed.com/coloquioweb/index.html For additional questions or comments, please write to: coloquio2009@yahoo.com. 6/6