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ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
Claire Panosian (Dunavan), MD, DTM&H
Dear Fellow ASTMH Members,
Greetings from southern California on a beautiful summer afternoon. It’s one of those days that takes me back to my 1950s childhood not far from here. As I noted in a recent global health lecture at UCLA, however, for many children in the 1950s, life was far from charmed. Back then, measles plus smallpox caused as many deaths per year as HIV/AIDS does today — while an equal number of children’s lives were lost every year to simple diarrhea and dehydration.
How far we’ve come, I told my wide-eyed audience — and how far we still have to go.
Which brings me to one of ASTMH’s greatest strengths: its members’ long-term commitment to fighting infectious diseases of the world’s poor — young and old. To each of you in the field, lab, clinic, classroom and boardroom: Bravo!
And now, because “summertime … and the living is easy” is far from true for any of us, I suspect, I’ll jump right into highlights of the last quarter at ASTMH.
The Name Change Debate
A few months ago, several members sent a letter to editor Bill Collins proposing that ASTMH change its name to the “American Society of Tropical Medicine and Global Health.” I responded with some personal reasons for opposing this change; the newsletter also provided readers with an electronic “straw poll” opportunity. Thus far, we have received 21 votes in favor of retaining the current name and 4 votes in favor of a name change.
Needless to say, this represents a tiny sample — and we would like more feedback. If you have not yet registered your views, please complete the brief survey.
Or — before you do — take a look at the pros and cons presented in the Spring newsletter as well as thoughtful comments (see Letters to the Editor) from Past-President Don Burke and long-time member, David Hill, who participated in similar “name change discussions” in the UK.
Mid-Year Council Meeting
In early May, the ASTMH Council, subgroup leaders and ASTMH staff met in Washington, D.C. for a jam-packed mid-year Council meeting. The agenda included a secretary-treasurer’s report presented by George Hillyer, a management report presented by Sally Finney, finances and audit, subgroup reports, fellowship updates, and discussions around our newly-revised mission statement, the Journal, annual scientific program, education agenda, public relations, and Web site redesign.
One key decision unanimously approved by Council was the advancement — as of September 1, 2008 — of Sally Finney, our current executive director, to 100 percent time with ASTMH. We welcome Sally to her expanded role and wish her much success in helping our Society prosper and grow.
As previously reported, 2008 also marks the final year of George Hillyer’s second and concluding term as ASTMH secretary-treasurer. We are now actively seeking candidates for his successor to begin in January 2009. Potential applicants, please read the following job description and feel free to contact me with further questions.
The secretary-treasurer (ST) is appointed by the Council to serve a three-year term. He or she works with the elected officers and councilors and with the Society’s professional management group — assisting in budget preparation , providing institutional memory, communicating with members, reviewing the composition of committees, serving as parliamentarian at Council meetings and conducting the members’ annual business meeting. In the next term, the ST will also play a key role in membership activities focused on retention and recruitment.
The secretary treasurer is an ex officio member of the ASTMH Council and the ASTMH Executive Committee and is required to attend all in-person and teleconference meetings of both groups.
All current professional members of ASTMH are encouraged to apply for this position. Applicants will be selected based on their willingness and ability to perform duties and creatively contribute to the Society’s various programs; their academic credentials and breadth of experience in tropical medicine; recommendations from past or current Council members; and demonstrated ability to complete tasks as a volunteer working on a team. Preference will be given to applicants who have previously served in a significant volunteer capacity with ASTMH. Compensation includes reimbursement of expenses for attending the mid-year Council meeting and a possible stipend. Deadline for submission: Sept 15, 2008. Please submit a curriculum vitae and statement of interest to George Hillyer at ghillyer@rcm.upr.edu.
ASTMH on Capitol Hill
Immediately following the mid-year council meeting, Jim Hughes, Alan Magill, Tom Wellems, Sally Finney and I — accompanied by representatives of Drinker, Biddle and Reath (ASTMH’s government affairs group) — visited the Washington, D.C. offices of Senators Durbin (D-IL), Isakson (R-GA), Chambliss (R-GA), Mikluski (D-MD), Cardin (D-MD), Boxer (D-CA) and Feinstein (D-CA); and Representatives Lewis (D-GA), Waxman (D-CA) and Van Hollen (D-MD). There we discussed FY 2009 malaria spending and answered other questions about tropical and emerging infectious diseases.
Having joined these Capitol Hill rounds on two previous occasions, I am happy to report that the visits are clearly bearing fruit for the short- and long-term. At this point, not only do Congressional staffers appear to have more knowledge and interest in yearly malaria appropriations, they are also getting to know the unique expertise and mission of our Society. Kent Campbell deserves kudos for his continued guidance of this Capitol Hill initiative, which will soon encompass strategic issues beyond malaria.
(Note: since our last newsletter, ASTMH also submitted a grant to support an expanded policy and advocacy program. If the grant is funded, the Society will organize 100 visits to Capitol Hill by ASTMH members over the next three years. In addition, we will mount regional policy meetings and aquire new Web site tools. Bottom line: in coming years, we anticipate many opportunities for ASTMH members to participate in policy and advocacy. Stay tuned!)
Back to the present. A final event this spring was ASTMH’s oral testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations chaired by Senator Daniel Inouye. In his June remarks, Past President Mike Levine addressed FY 2009 funding for malaria vaccine and drug development research by the U.S. military. Read his full testimony.
New Orleans Here we Come!
According to Program Chair Ed Ryan and Judy De Acetis, the call for abstracts and symposia for the 57th annual ASTMH conference (Dec 7-11, Sheraton New Orleans) has yielded a record outpouring of high-quality submissions. A good omen for attendance!
Here’s a quick head's up on our confirmed keynote speakers:
Other highlights include a pre-meeting course on malaria eradication co-chaired by David Brandling-Bennett (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), Kent Campbell (PATH Malaria Control and Evaluation Partnership in Africa), and Bernard Nahlen (President’s Malaria Initiative, USAID) and special presentations by ASTMH colleagues in New Orleans.
Membership Matters
The heart of ASTMH is its members. Although we are more than 3,000-strong, attracting new members to the ASTMH community — especially young people — is a vital priority, and one which President-Elect Tom Wellems and Executive Director Sally Finney intend to emphasize in the coming year.
At the same time, a recent e-mail from Kevin Baird was a pleasant reminder to honor (in Kevin’s words) our “members extraordinaire” — those who have been ASTMH members for four or five decades or more.
Members extraordinaire, how many of you will be in New Orleans? It would be great to hear a few words from each of you at this year’s opening student reception, describing how you first became an ASTMH member.
A Final Thought — “Reach out and Touch Someone”
Not long ago, I wrote a letter to all first-time attendees of last year’s meeting and was rewarded with — among other responses — a delightful exchange with Betzana Zambrano of Sanofi Pasteur Research and Development, Montivideo. Betzana is now our fifth member based in Uruguay. Betzana, I look forward to meeting you in New Orleans!
Another friendship blossomed when Dr. Jong-Yil Chai of Seoul National University wrote to me this year. Dr. Chai is the president of the Organizing Committee of ICTM 2008, which will be held in Jeju Island, Sept 29-Oct 3, 2008. Although I am unable to attend this meeting (Past-President Don Krogstad and others will represent ASTMH), I was happy to learn that Dr. Chai and I will cross paths at the Asian Pacific Congress for Parasitic Zoonoses in Taiwan. Dr. Chai came to our ASTMH meetings in 2006 and 2007 and also plans to join us in New Orleans.
All of us know someone — in our own institution or half-way around the world — who would be a terrific addition to the ASTMH community. Please consider an early New Year’s resolution to encourage them to join.
All best,
Claire
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
Responses to the letter in the April issue of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene News arguing in favor of a name change:
Colleagues,
Debates about the name of our Society, and especially the term "Hygiene," are not new to our Society; the recent open letter to the Tropical Medicine and Hygiene News, and the response by ASTMH President Panosian, are a revisitation of a long-simmering debate. Indeed, for a few moments during its inception in 1951, our name was the "American Society of Tropical Medicine and Public Health," and only later was our current name adopted. For a historical background on the topic, I commend to the ASTMH membership and News readership my history of our Society, delivered at the 2003 Centennial meeting and available online. The key section is reprinted here, below:
Selection of the name for the new amalgamated society [dsb note: merger of the "National Malaria Society" and the "American Society of Tropical Medicine" ] proved to be the focal point for a clash of identities. Members of the National Malaria Society, most of whom were engineers and sanitarians concerned with operational vector control, were clearly unhappy with the unqualified term "Tropical Medicine." An early draft of the constitution listed a variety of options for a new name for the amalgamated society:
* The American Society (Association) of Tropical Medicine (Diseases) and Public Health
* American Society of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases
* American Society of Tropical Diseases and Hygiene
* American Society of Tropical Diseases (Medicine) (Health) and Sanitation
When amalgamation was put to a vote of the two societies in mid-1951, the ballots sent to members of both societies (and semi-final draft of the Constitution and By-Laws) listed the name of the new organization as
* The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Public Health
Both memberships approved the amalgamation. However, the issue of the name for the new Society was not yet resolved, for several influential members of the former National Malaria Society refused to accept the proposed name. On October 31, 1951, G. Robert Coatney at the National Institutes of Health, Editor of the Journal of the National Malaria Society, wrote a letter to S.W. Simmons, Secretary-Treasurer of that Society. The letter, which was co-signed by 13 of his colleagues, read as follows:
"Dear Sam, We understand that there have been very few expressions of opinion from the membership of the Society regarding the name of the organization after amalgamation with the American Society of Tropical Medicine. We have had considerable discussion about the point here, and are in general agreement that the proper name for the Society should be: The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. We object strenuously to such titles as Tropical Public Health or Tropical Medicine and Public Health. We feel that the term Hygiene encompasses all those aspects of public health which are not included in the term "medicine" and that there is ample precedent for such a name as we propose, such as the eminent British Journal."
Lest there be any ambiguity in the letter, Coatney appended a hand-written note to it:
"Sam, Just to let you know that we are not going to take this lying down. Bob"
An identically worded letter was sent on that same day to Quentin Geiman of the ASTM by D. Jane Taylor from the NIH on the letterhead of the Tropical Medicine News, co-signed by Leon Jacobs and 12 other colleagues. Five persons were co-signatories to both Coatney's letter to Simmons and Taylor's letter to Geiman (Coatney, Wright, Tomlinson, Wake, and Haas).
Although further written records are lacking, it is evident that diplomacy prevailed, for at the organizational meeting in Chicago 17 days later (November 17, 1951) the new "American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene" was established, with Martin D. Young as its first President.
Donald S. Burke, M.D.
Dean, Graduate School of Public Health
University of Pittsburgh
__________________________________________________________________
Great societies and schools must think alike, because the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, have both undergone extensive reviews of their name and branding. Both have considered whether to change the name, and specifically drop the hygiene portion. Both have decided to retain their historic and well-branded names. The RSTMH has changed its logo and revised its mission statement, much as the ASTMH. There is no question that the RSTMH is focusing increasingly on global health, as evidenced by its centennial meeting last September. The School has always focused on the broader aspects of health and hygiene and will be improving its marketing and fund-raising capacity, as you are well-aware, to let the world and stakeholders know of its accomplishments.
What’s in a name — perhaps tradition, recognition, respect and familiarity. Yes all three (RSTMH, LSHTM, ASTMH) could successfully change their names. But it would take money, effort and time for the new name to permeate. Perhaps it is more important that we/they spend their time and money on working for health for all. If we can achieve that, then the name will certainly matter less than the work we do.
With best wishes,
Prof. David R. Hill
Director, National Travel Health Network and Centre
Hospital for Tropical Diseases
We welcome correspondence from the membership on matters of their concern, whether regarding Tropical Medicine and Hygiene News, or any other aspects of the Society. We'd like to hear from you.
For publication consideration in the next issue of the newsletter, send your letter to the editor to mlesh@astmh.org by October 1.
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
In June, Myron “Mike” Levine appeared before the Senate Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations to deliver a message on behalf of ASTMH about the need for increased funding to support malaria research activities conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense.
In his testimony, Dr. Levine, a past president of the Society, educated committee members about the connection between malaria and troop readiness. He also explained the role that the DOD plays in drug development and vaccine research and urged appropriators to consider the importance of these activities, not only as they relate to military needs but also because of their potential to safeguard U.S. citizens traveling abroad and improve global health.
“Because the U.S. military operates in so many tropical and developing regions on the globe, preventing or being able to promptly diagnose and treat tropical diseases is often critical to mission success,” explained Dr. Levine.
Military malaria researchers based at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) and the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) as well as the overseas military labs have seen an overall decrease in funding over the last ten years. ASTMH is asking Congress to increase DOD malaria funding from $27.8 million to $30 million in federal fiscal year 2009, with planned adjustments that would allow this appropriation to reach $76.6 million by FFY 2015.
The timeline for approval of next year’s federal budget remains uncertain, with some pundits predicting that final numbers may not be approved before the end of the current calendar year.
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
William E. Collins, PhD and Geoffrey M. Jeffery, ScD
Tropical Medicine and Hygiene News Editor William E. Collins
The use of insecticide-treated bed nets is now one of the major means of controlling malaria in Africa. In a recent article in the Malaria Journal by R. A. Khatib and associates, a study was made on the use of bed nets following their acquisition either by free distribution or through their purchase from the private sector. The cost of purchasing these nets in Tanzania in 2005 was approximately $5.00 (U.S.).
The use of bed nets for protection against malaria has been used for over a century. I recently saw this advertisement in the April, 1903 issue of the Quarterly Journal of Climate, Health and Travel.
It reads: “In view to the recent discovery of the danger of the Mosquito Bite, WHITE & WRIGHT have devised and placed on the market two kinds of Mosquito Nets, made in consultation with MAJOR ROSS, F.R.S.” “The Folding Hood Mosquito Net” and “The Mosquito House.” Their cost of 38/- and 48/- indicates that protection against malaria, yellow fever and elephantiasis was not cheap, even 105 years ago. Obviously Major Ross’s discovery had given him enough notoriety to be quoted in advisements so soon after the announcement and award of the Nobel Prize. One wonders if he also deserved a commission on the sale of the nets.
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
The ASTMH 57th Annual Meeting, Dec. 7-11 in New Orleans, will offer the leading research and unparalleled networking opportunities that attendees have come to expect from the premier global conference on tropical medicine and hygiene. Oral and poster presentations, topical symposia and invited lectures highlight this unique forum for scientific advances for global health.
This year, the annual conference also provides attendees with a rare opportunity to explore a one-of-a-kind city with a rich history, vital culture and a plethora of dining and entertainment options.
New Orleans is a singular American city, representing more than 250 years of French, Spanish and American culture. Experience the living history in the French Quarter, visit extraordinary homes in the Garden District and the plantations along the Mississippi River, and experience world class restaurants and nightlife.
New Orleans is famed for its Creole and Cajun cuisine — cuisine that is more of an art form than mere food. Sample jambalaya, seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, beignets and po-boys.
Explore New Orleans online for details.
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
ASTMH Communications Award Nominations Due Aug. 5
Download the full application guidelines.
The ASTMH Communications Award will recognize exceptional achievement in tropical medicine journalism with the potential to educate readers and inform public policy regarding diseases and health conditions specific to poor and underserved populations. The ASTMH Communications Award will honor an individual author (or authors contributing to a body of work) as opposed to an employer, publisher or institution. Eligible entries will include feature-length newspaper articles, magazine articles or series. Articles published solely on-line and broadcast journalism will not be considered at this time. Original research or technical reports, newsletter articles and promotional copy are not eligible for the award.
ASTMH will award a cash prize of $2,000 to the winner of the ASTMH Communications Award. The 2008 award will be presented at the ASTMH 57th Annual Meeting, to be held December 7-11, 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Reasonable travel and hotel expenses of the principal author of the award-winning article will also be reimbursed.
Gorgas Memorial Institute Research Award Nominations Due Aug. 5
For complete details, and to apply online, visit http://www.astmh.org/funding/index.cfm.
The Gorgas Memorial Institute sponsors and manages awards, to be awarded by ASTMH, to fund collaborative investigations, as well as short-term visits of young investigators between research institutions within the Americas and the United States. The Gorgas Memorial Institute Research Award program is intended to allow young scientists within this region the opportunity to acquire new techniques or develop new approaches for the study and control of tropical diseases, and to establish new scientific linkages for the purpose of initiating cooperative studies and programs.
Applicants should have Ph.D. or M.D. level training in a relevant field. Exceptions may be made for outstanding candidates with demonstrated equivalent expertise. They should be citizens or permanent residents of the Americas, and hold a position at a research, medical, public health or teaching institution in that country. The applicant must have the endorsement of the home institution in order to participate in this program. Award applicants are investigators in training or junior investigators (and not established senior scientists), although exceptional cases may be considered. Previous award recipients will not be considered.
Certificate of Knowledge Examination in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health
Applicants who apply before August 15, 2008 will recieve a discounted exam fee!
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) will administer an examination to assess and recognize individual excellence in training and knowledge in clinical tropical medicine and travelers' health. Passing this examination leads to a Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health (CTropMedTM).
The exam will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 8 a.m. - noon at the Sheraton New Orleans, immediately preceding the ASTMH 57th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Applicants can qualify for the exam via the practice pathway or diploma course pathway. For full exam information, visit http://www.astmh.org/certification/index.cfm. A detailed brochure and application form for the 2008 exam are now available for download.
Intensive Update Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health
ASTMH will hold an Intensive Update Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health on October 23-24, 2008, in Washington, D.C., immediately preceding the IDSA/ICAAC Joint Annual Meeting. This course provides a broad overview of core topics in clinical tropical medicine and travelers' health.
Presented in a two-day condensed format, it is an excellent review for physicians and all other health care providers working in tropical medicine or travelers' health. This course is also targeted to individuals planning to take the ASTMH Certificate of Knowledge Examination.
Click here for more information on the Intensive Update Course.
Contact info@astmh.org with questions.
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
John Baker
R. S. Bray, 1923–2008
Photograph by R. Killick-Kendrick; reproduced by permission.
Robert Stow Bray, universally known as Bill, died peacefully in hospital in Cherbourg, France, on May 23, 2008 at age 84.
Bill was born in Australia and gained his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Adelaide. Wartime service in the Royal Australian Air Force, as a navigator in Halifax bombers during World War II, interrupted his university study and culminated in his aircraft being shot down over Germany and his incarceration in a prisoner of war camp. After liberation in 1945 by the advancing British 5th Army led by Field Marshal Montgomery, with whom he was photographed.
Bill at the age of 22, with Field Marshal Montgomery after the latter’s 5th Army had liberated Bill’s prisoner of war camp in Germany in April 1945.
After demobiliaztion, Bill joined the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Organization (UNRRA) and spent another period in post-war Germany. Bill then returned to Australia and joined the scientific staff of Imperial Chemical Industries’ alkali plant. In 1949 he emigrated to England and entered the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSH&TM), becoming junior lecturer in the Department of Parasitology (then led by Professor H. E. Shortt) and gaining his PhD degree in 1954 under the supervision of Professor P. C. C. Garnham. Bill’s PhD thesis, with additions, was published by H. K. Lewis (London) as LSH&TM Memoir no. 12 in 1957 (Studies on the exo-erythrocytic cycle in the genus Plasmodium), a rare distinction for a young worker since previous authors of Memoirs included such distinguished and senior figures as P. A. Buxton and Sir Philip Manson-Bahr.
About one year after gaining his PhD, Bill joined the Liberian Institute of the American Foundation for Tropical Medicine in Harbel, Liberia, of which he subsequently became assistant director, followed by a further eight years at the LSH&TM, which included research visits to the Far East and Baghdad in Iraq, where Bill added leishmaniasis to his scientific repertoire.
He continued to work on Leishmania, as well as his first love, Plasmodium and any parasites of birds and other wild animals which he happened to find (a lifelong interest). After being appointed director of the newly formed Wellcome Parasitology Unit no. 2 at Haile Selassie I University in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, and a period as research director and then director of the UK Medical Research Council’s (MRC’s) Laboratories in The Gambia, West Africa (1973–1978).
Finally, Bill again returned to England and worked at Imperial College (London, U.K.) as an MRC External Staff member. During this period he became a member of the team, led by W. Krotoski and containing in addition to Bill such eminent scientists as W. E. Collins, P. C. C. Garnham, R. Killick-Kendrick and R. E. Sinden, which found the elusive hypnozoite of P. vivax, thus solving the mystery of delayed relapse in that species.
Bill was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science of London University in 1961. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (RSTM&H) in 1953 and served as local secretary for The Gambia in 1969–1973 and 1977–1978, as a member of Council in 1978–1981 and 1982–1983, and as vice president in 1983–1985. He was a Fellow of the Institute of Biology and an Honorary Member of both the Society of Protozoologists (now known as the International Society of Protistologists) and the British Society for Parasitology. Bill was also made a Knight Great Band of the Most Humane Order of the African Redemption by President Tubman of Liberia for his services to tropical medicine.
After his retirement, Bill moved to a country house on the Cotentin peninsula of Normandy, France, accompanied by his beloved second wife Betty, who sadly predeceased him by several years. While there, he acquired two mute swans, one of whom survives him as do his son Michael, his daughter-in-law Brigitte and his granddaughter Geraldine, all of whom live in Basel, Switzerland.
Bill will be remembered by his many friends, not only as a distinguished scientist but also as a true renaissance man (one of the probably few parasitologists to have read Marcel Proust’s "À la Recherche du Temps Perdu" – though presumably not in French!), a generous, thoughtful and kindly host who lavishly entertained many friends, and a bon vivant and gourmet who could have written a definitive guide to the restaurants of the Cotentin region, in which he shared many memorable meals with his friends.
Apart from writing numerous scientific papers and the memoir referred to above, Bill co-edited with K. P. Chang the textbook "Leishmaniasis" (1985: Amsterdam, Elsevier) and, during his retirement, wrote a book on the history of epidemic diseases, "Armies of Pestilence" (1969: The Lutterworth Press, Cambridge, U.K.).
Bill with his granddaughter Geraldine in France, October 2003.
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
The ASTMH 56th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia last December featured a compelling program and awards ceremony, as the Society gathered to meet colleagues, learn and teach the latest scientific advances, and honor its members.
As you make plans to attend the 57th Annual Meeting, Dec. 7-11, in New Orleans, take a moment to reflect back and enjoy these images from last year.
ASTMH Past President Kent Campbell
Michele Barry presents Robert Gilman with the Ben Kean Medal
Peter Hotez presents David Molyneux with the Donald Mackay Medal
(L to R) Kent Campbell; Tadataka Yamada; and Regina Rabinovich
(L to R) Young Investigator Recipients and Honorable Mention Winners Marc Hubner, Godfree Mlambo, Kristin Smith, Shannon Takala, Lisa Purcell, Christine Hsiao, and Claire Marie Filone
ASTMH Student Travel Scholarship Recipients
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
In 2008, the work of one of ASTMH’s own, Dr. William Petri, Jr., was featured in the Association of University Technology Managers’ Better World Report, The Art of Collaboration: The Relationships that Bring Academic Innovations to the Marketplace. In “From Diagnostic to Vaccine: The Fight Against Tropical Disease Continues,” Petri discusses his decades long work on Entamoeba histolytica at the University of Virginia and how the university’s collaboration with TechLab, a medical diagnostic manufacturer based in Blacksburg, Va., made possible a much-needed diagnostic test for the organism. E. histolytica is the parasite that causes amebic dysentery, and often leads to malnutrition, which in turn is the most common cause of death in children in the developing world. Developing an effective vaccine is the next step.
An image of E. histolytica from "Pictorial Presentation of Parasites"
The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) is a nonprofit association with a mission to advance the field of technology transfer, and bring academic and nonprofit research to people around the world. AUTM launched the Better World Project in 2005 to promote public understanding of how academic research and technology transfer have changed our way of life and made the world a better place. The annual Better World Report books, available at www.betterworldproject.org, highlight these innovations.
The 2009 edition of the Better World Report will focus on global health. To have your institution’s innovations considered for publication in the book, check out the Web site and submit your story idea by August 15 to Jodi Talley, jtalley@autm.net.
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
Mark P. Nelder, PhD
Rutgers University
The Center for Vector Biology at Rutgers University will be hosting “The International Symposium on the Asian Tiger Mosquito,” February 12-13, 2009.
The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is among the most invasive of all species, and without question the most invasive of all mosquitoes. Aedes albopictus is one of the most important biting pest in the United States and a competent laboratory vector of over 30 arboviruses. If introduced in to the U.S., viruses such as Rift Valley fever and chikungunya would have enormous agricultural and public health implications.
The Symposium’s overall goal is to set the future direction for Asian tiger mosquito research by identifying and proposing solutions to important obstacles in the study and control of these highly invasive pests. Eighteen leaders in the field of Asian tiger mosquito research have been invited from nine countries. The meeting will be strongly interdisciplinary, bringing together workers from industry, extension, government, academia, and mosquito control agencies.
Participants will identify research problems to be resolved, work out potential solutions to these challenges, and how these new solutions might be implemented through collaborative multidisciplinary team efforts. The Symposium will provide opportunities for active participation by students, postdocs and others by offering poster presentations.
For information regarding poster presentations, please contact Kristen Bartlett-Healy. For further information regarding the Symposium, please contact, Mark P. Nelder, PhD, and visit http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~vbcenter/atmsymposium.php for future updates.
ASTMH Newsletter: Volume 57 Number 3
July 2008
The Gorgas Expert Course
August 4-15, 2008
Two weeks of bedside clinical experience on a 36-bed tropical disease unit
Lima , Peru
Contact: info@gorgas.org
http://gorgas.dom.uab.edu/expert/expert.html
Phone: 205-934-1630
Fax: 205-934-5600
Introduction to Mathematical Models of the Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases: Short Course for Public Health Professionals
September 1-12, 2008
Imperial College London, United Kingdom
Contact: Ulrika Wernmark
www.imperial.ac.uk/cpd/epidemiology
Expedition Medicine National Conference
September 2-6, 2008
Washington, DC USA
Contact: Gregory Bledsoe
www.expedmed.org
Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System: Pathogenesis and Worldwide Impact Conference
September 10-13, 2008
Paris, France
www.pasteur.fr/worldneuroinfections2008
Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
2008 Annual Meeting
September 17-19, 2008
Hove, United Kingdom
Contact:: rstmh@hamptonmedical.com
www.rstmh.ukevents.org
and www.rstmh.org/events.asp
XVII Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria
South Korea
ASTMH Intensive Update Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health
October 23-24, 2008
Washington, DC, USA
Contact: info@astmh.org
www.astmh.org/events/courses.cfm
48th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) 46th Annual Meeting
October 25-28, 2008
Washington, DC USA
www.icaacidsa2008.org/
First Yale International Symposium
The Global Crisis of Malaria: Lessons of the Past and Future Prospects
November 7-9, 2008
New Haven, CT USA
Contact: Nancy Schmeidler
nancy.schmeidler@yale.edu
cme.yale.edu
ASTMH 57th Annual Meeting
December 7 – 11, 2008
New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Contact: info@astmh.org
www.astmh.org
2009
17th Tropical Medicine Expedition to Kenya
February 1-13, 2009
Contact: Kay Schaefer, MD, PhD
Cologne, Germany
Phone/Fax: +49-(0)221-340 49 05
contact@tropmedex.com
www.tropmedex.com
February 12-13, 2009
The Center for Vector Biology at Rutgers University
www.rci.rutgers.edu/~vbcenter/atmsymposium.php
15th Tropical Medicine Expedition to Uganda
February 22 - March 6, 2009
Contact: Kay Schaefer, MD, PhD
Cologne, Germany
Phone/Fax: +49-(0)221-340 49 05
contact@tropmedex.com
www.tropmedex.com
Bangkok, Thailand Tropical Medicine Course
May 12-22, 2009
Bangkok, Thailand
Contact: Ted Kuhn
intlmed@mcg.edu
www.mcg.edu/ems/com/internationalmed/thailand.htm
ASTMH 58th Annual Meeting
November 18 – 22, 2009
Washington, DC, USA
Contact: info@astmh.org
www.astmh.org
© 2013, ASTMH. All rights reserved.
