The 4th Orthomyxoviruses Research Conference will be held in Woods Hole,? Massachusetts September 21st ? 24th, 2007. The meeting is intended to provide a? platform for young scientists around the world to share their latest discoveries in? orthomyxovirus research. The first three conferences were held in Texel, The? Netherlands, in November of 2001; Florham Park, New Jersey in August of 2003;? and Cambridge, England in July 2005, and were attended by young scientists from? Europe, the U.S., Russia, Japan, and many other parts of the world. This year we? expect around 75 attendees from a similarly diverse geography to join us in Woods? Hole to exchange ideas, initiate collaborations, and foster relationships with senior? scientists in the field. Since it is the intention that experimentalists present their own? work, we encourage graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty to? present. Senior scientists are encouraged to attend the meeting to participate in? discussions and interact with other scientists. We welcome abstracts covering all? fields of orthomyxovirus research. Session topics include evolution and? epidemiology, ecology and influenza in animals, structure and replication, avian-toanimal? transmission, genetic manipulation of influenza including reverse genetics,? immunology, new approaches to vaccination, pathogenesis including virus host? interactions and viral bacterial synergism, diagnostic approaches, use of antivirals,? pandemic preparedness, and emerging fields of study. The conference will be held? at an easily accessible but exclusive site providing an intense weekend of interaction? and exchange of ideas. Worldwide problems due to influenza including the certainty? of an incipient pandemic, continuous economic loss from avian influenza, and the? threat of bioterrorism make this an important topic for present and future study. The? aging of the current leaders in the field of orthomyxoviruses speaks to the urgent? need to recruit young scientists to the field of influenza virus research. The purpose? of this proposal is to provide funds that will allow promising young investigators to? interact with their peers and develop a commitment to this area of research.
