Science Behind Anthrax Investigation Featured In ASM Biodefense And Emerging Diseases Research Meeting

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will host its 2009 Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting February 22-25, 2008 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, MD.



The purpose of this meeting is to bring together individuals who are carrying out research to defend against the threat of bioterrorism with decision makers shaping the future biodefense research agenda, recognizing that emerging infectious diseases serve as a paradigm for handling the public threat of bioterrorism.



This meeting is intended for scientists, public health researchers and policy makers who need to be informed about the latest scientific developments. The meeting will include a series of keynote addresses by leaders in the field of biodefense and poster sessions presenting up-to-the-minute cutting-edge research on biothreat agents, vaccines, detection and diagnostic procedures, animal and plant pathogens, global surveillance, and other vital topics.



The first day of the conference will be devoted concurrent sessions focusing on threat reduction, counter proliferation and microbial risk assessment. The focus sessions will be followed by a keynote address by Stuart Levy of Tufts University School of Medicine, entitled, "Studying Bacterial Transcription Factors Involved in Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance: Dual Use Research of Concern? "



OF NOTE: A plenary session on the science behind the anthrax letter attack investigation will take place on the morning of Tuesday, February 24. This session will act as a forum for scientists directly involved in the investigation of the anthrax letter attacks of 2001 to present their analyses and conclusions. Innovative science was very important part of the investigation and yet has been widely mis-represented in the popular press due to secrecy requirements imposed by the FBI. This secrecy veil is now being lifted by allowing the investigative scientists to present their finds.







Preliminary program and hotel information are available online at asmbiodefense.



Source: Jim Sliwa


American Society for Microbiology