BALTIMORE, May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders in the field of infectious diseases and immunization presented data on the state of today's vaccine research, development and policy at the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases' (NFID) Ninth Annual Conference on Vaccine Research (ACVR), being held in Baltimore from May 8-10.
ACVR is the world's largest scientific meeting devoted exclusively to research on vaccines and associated technologies for disease prevention and treatment through immunization. This year's conference highlights include a keynote address from Richard Klausner, MD, chairman and managing director of the Column Group, and a presentation by Gregory A. Poland, MD director of the Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, upon being honored with the Dr. Charles Merieux Award.
The conference offers a series of scientific symposia, with presentations led by internationally renowned authorities on infectious diseases and immunization strategies. Among other topics, the symposia address adolescent immunization, with a focus on newly recommended and future vaccines for adolescents as well as vaccine policy; herd immunity and indirect protection from vaccines; and immunization in developing countries.
"Once again, the scope of vaccine research presented at this meeting is exceptional and holds promise for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases," said Susan J. Rehm, MD, medical director of NFID. "This year's agenda covers everything from vaccines in the era of genomics to live mycobacterial vaccines to the differing immune responses to the same vaccines in industrialized versus developing countries."
Addressing the Foremost Challenges in Global Public Health
Dr. Klausner kicked off the meeting with a keynote speech on global health challenges. He stated that success in meeting the challenges of global health rests with a continued commitment to vaccine development, biomedical research and improvement of the delivery infrastructure.
"For a long time, I've had a love for how science and technology can be integrated with public policy to solve unbelievably difficult and important problems about the human condition," he said. "Immunization has saved millions of lives and can be counted as one of the major successes in medicine. Yet, we still have a long way to go; millions of children die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases, but I am incredibly optimistic."
Dr. Klausner is the former director of the National Cancer Institute and recently led the global health program for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Addressing a broad range of global public health concerns, his speech included discussions on the engagement of science in solving significant global health problems, the key role of "deliverable technology" and the importance of innovations in biomedical research and immunization in combating newly emerging diseases.
Dr. Charles Merieux Award
The Dr. Charles Merieux Award is being presented to Gregory Poland, MD, Director and the Mary Lowell Leary Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic and Foundation in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Poland was presented the award in recognition of his commitment to science-based medicine and research in infectious diseases, proven excellence in clinical and research activities and dedication to improving public health. In a presentation delivered to the attending scientists titled "The Passions of a Vaccinologist," Dr. Poland focused on vaccine science as a calling. He discussed the importance of guiding the next generation of scientists to careers in vaccinology, noting that "this will benefit the world."
Dr. Rehm, who is to present the award, said, "Dr. Poland's extensive contributions to the field of vaccinology, clinical research and biodefense make him an excellent choice as NFID's recipient of the Dr. Charles Merieux Award. He is one of our country's leading advocates on the importance and benefits of immunization to our society."
Dr. Poland has been on the faculty of the Mayo Medical School since 1988. He chairs the International Society for Vaccines and Armed Forces Epidemiological Board, and is a long-time member of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The award, presented each year at the ACVR, is named in honor of Dr. Charles Merieux and made possible by a grant from sanofi pasteur to NFID. Dr. Merieux was a French humanist and entrepreneur who devoted his life to the prevention of infectious diseases. He continued the work initiated by his father, a former student and assistant of Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux.
About NFID's Annual Conference on Vaccine Research
NFID's vaccine research conference provides current, high-quality reports of scientific progress featured in both invited presentations and submitted abstracts. These presentations cover the most recent scientific advances that contribute to progress in vaccine development and identify research opportunities as well as scientific challenges associated with vaccine development, production and distribution.
ACVR is held in collaboration with the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Vaccine Development of the University of Maryland, Fondation Merieux, International Society for Vaccines, International Vaccine Institute, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, The Netherlands Vaccine Institute, and United States Department of Agriculture.
Founded in 1973, NFID is a non-profit organization dedicated to public and professional educational programs about infectious diseases.
Contact: Jennifer Corrigan
732-382-8898
National Foundation for Infectious DiseasesCONTACT: Jennifer Corrigan, for National Foundation for InfectiousDiseases, +1-732-382-8898
