This is an application to provide support for a comprehensive international symposium? on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV is an important human respiratory pathogen? which produces severe acute illness in infants and young children as well as elderly and? immunocompromised adults. It is a pathogen for which there are no current licensed? vaccines and only one antiviral agent. The symposium is designed to bring together? international experts in RSV research and related topics to discuss topics ranging from? the basic cell and molecular biology of the virus and the host response to epidemiology,? patterns of disease expression in the human and current and future preventative and? therapeutic approaches to RSV infection. A companion aim of the symposium is to? support and foster training in RSV research by predoctoral and post doctoral fellows? through oral and poster presentations at the meeting and through the support of junior? investigator fellowships for travel to the symposium. In addition, the symposium? organizers actively support the participation of representatives from industry and? government. This symposium-RSV 2007-which will be held over 3.5 days from October? 25th-28, 2007 at Marco Island Florida, is the only scientific meeting devoted solely to the? topic of RSV and is unique in that it brings together basic scientists, epidemiologists,? clinical researchers and practicing physicians in a single venue.
