Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium: Latest Developments in the Field of Infection Diagnostics

Infectious diseases, ie diseases caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi or viruses, are still among the world's most relevant medical challenges today. About 22% of all deaths worldwide are directly attributable to infectious diseases. In the industrialized countries, many infectious diseases could be suppressed and excluded as a cause of death in the course of the 20th century through improved general living conditions and hygiene as well as medical progress. Nevertheless, it remains a global issue. Climate change and the steadily growing international travel volume mean that transmitters of tropical and subtropical pathogens are increasingly spreading worldwide. The development of antibiotic resistance as well as the adaptation strategies of many pathogens,

The most important prerequisite for treatment, but also for the study of infectious diseases, is a correct and specific diagnosis. Therefore, it is imperative that diagnostic procedures are consistently developed and new methods of analysis are explored.

On 8 and 9 November 2017, the Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium invites internationally renowned researchers, physicians and companies, as well as committed young scientists, to discuss current developments in the field of diagnostics. Nearly 180 researchers from Germany and ten other nations present new insights in lectures and scientific posters and discuss their ways into application and commercialization.

The entire scientific program for both event days at: www.fs-leipzig.com/program .

• Luisa Barzon *, University of Padova, (Italy)
  Lecture Topic : Next Generation Sequencing in Diagnostics
  
  The sequencing of the human genome from the late 1990s to 2003 was still associated with immense human and financial expenditures. To date, technology has been steadily improving, making it significantly more efficient, faster, and cheaper. Professor Luisa Barzon talks about the status quo of the use of so-called Next Generation Sequencing Technolgies in diagnostics. In addition to possible applications, both limitations and future potentials are addressed, and what effects these will have on future medical care.
  
   
• Ralf Ehricht , Alere Technologies GmbH 
  Lecture topic : The development of new infection diagnostics from the perspective of a company. 
  
  Alere Technologies GmbH is one of the leading companies in the development and marketing of so-called point-of-care (on-site) diagnostics. Using the example of various developments for the diagnosis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it will be shown which hurdles a company has to overcome in the development, approval and marketing of new diagnostic methods. It also addresses the potential of cooperation between companies and public research institutions.
  
   
• Eugen Ermantraut , Blink dx GmbH
  Lecture Title : Bringing New Point-of-Care Diagnostics to the Market - Not for Afraid Bunnies ! 
  
  Although more and more developments in the field of point-of-care diagnostics (ie on-site analysis) are available, the majority of diagnostic procedures still require a central laboratory infrastructure. Especially for time-critical investigations but also in structurally weak regions, this condition is sometimes unsatisfactory. The example of a successfully introduced point-of-care cytometry system for HIV diagnostics in resource-poor regions discusses hurdles, risks and possible success factors for decentralized diagnostic solutions.
  
   
• Marion Koopmans *, Erasmus MC, (The Netherlands)
  Presentation: Challenges of Infection Diagnosis in Times of Globalization
  
  Infectious diseases can lead to unexpectedly drastic effects in times of globalization characterized by travel, trade, migration, high population density and life expectancy. The pace at which infectious diseases spread both regionally and internationally continues to increase steadily. This poses enormous challenges for modern medicine, especially regarding the speed with which infections must be detected and treated. In her presentation, Professor Marion Koopmans presents various approaches to meet new developments and challenges.
  
   
• Jürgen Popp , Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies
  Title: Infection diagnosis using photonic technologies
  
  The increasing number of antibiotic-resistant germs increasingly poses problems for medical care. A quick and meaningful diagnosis, which indicates not only the type of the pathogen but also resistance to antibiotics, saves lives in intensive care medicine. Time is a deciding factor. However, conventional culture-based analysis methods take several days, since the pathogens must first be cultivated and examined for possible resistance.Prof. Jürgen Popp presents the potential of photonic, ie light-based, technologies for diagnostics. The example of Raman spectroscopy in sepsis diagnostics demonstrates how the analysis time can be significantly reduced.
  
   
• Michael Bauer , University Hospital Jena
  Lecture
  
  Title: The History and Future of Sepsis DiagnosisSespis (blood poisoning) is a complex inflammatory reaction of the body as a result of an infection, very often with a fatal outcome. Sepsis is one of the major causes of treatment delays and excessive use of antibiotics in healthcare. Due to an improved understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms, in 2016 the criteria for the clinical diagnosis of sepsis were redefined. In his lecture, Professor Michael Bauer will present the changes in diagnostics, new development approaches and their impact on future therapeutic procedures.
  
   
• Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit , Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
  Lecture Title : Latest Findings in ZIKA Diagnostics
  
  Viral infectious diseases in humans and animals transmitted by mosquitoes are becoming increasingly important worldwide, fueled by climate change and globalization. The ZIKA epidemic in America once again demonstrated the growing need for reliable diagnostics. In particular, in viral agents such as Zika, which is very similar to other viruses such as yellow fever virus or dengue virus or West Nile virus, the medicine still pose great challenges. Professor Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit shows why the cross-reactivity of these pathogens leads to wrong diagnoses and thus to wrong therapeutic approaches.
  
   
• Heike Sichtig , US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA
  Lecture Title : The Role of the FDA in Establishing a Microbial Genome Reference Database
  
  National regulatory procedures are essential for the commercialization of new diagnostic procedures and related access for patients. Dr. Heike Sichtig explains in her presentation the role of the FDA in the establishment of a reference database for microbial genomes. This will be used by researchers and developers of new diagnostics to improve their own development work as well as the scientific review of new tests.

We will gladly arrange for you an interview partner from the scientific program or our scientific committee. Please send us your questions in writing to presse@izi.fraunhofer.de

* Please note that interviews with our international speakers can only be conducted in English.