Pandemic Influenza: Addressing an Unrelenting Threat

Emory University
Thursday, 18 December 2003

National experts in the prevention, control, and treatment of influenza from public health, medicine, and government will address the continuing threat of a flu pandemic at a day-long symposium hosted by Emory University and the Southeastern Center for Emerging Biologic Threats. The symposium will be held Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at the Emory Conference Center.

The Southeastern Center for Emerging Biologic Threats (SECEBT) is a partnership among universities, state public health departments, and government agencies. Conference participants will share a wide array of current knowledge about influenza, including clinical features and pathogenesis of influenza viruses as well as southeastern and state experiences with influenza infection.

They also will identify best practices, prioritize key research questions, and develop research strategies for the region. The participants will discuss supporting regional collaborations that leverage the national efforts of state public health programs and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The program includes speakers from the National Center for Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the Task Force for Child Survival and Development; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the South Carolina Department of Health; the Florida Department of Health; the Mississippi State Department of Health; the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology; the University of Rochester, Vanderbilt University; Mount Sinai School of Medicine; and Emory University.

Emory University founded SECEBT in 2002 as a partnership to combat biologic agents with increasing potential for harm, believing that the war against dangerous biologic agents is fought with knowledge, research and communication. The center's members collaborate on basic research; vaccine development; pathogen surveillance; biomedical engineering; pharmacology; veterinary medicine; food safety; clinical recognition and treatment; and communication and training of scientists and health professionals. There is no charge for individuals affiliated with SECEBT partner institutions to attend the conference.

Emory University School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide 6.25 hours in Category 1 credit toward the AMA PRA for this activity. To register online, visit www.secenterbiothreats.org. For questions or more conference information, call 404-712-2366, or email lorejud@emory.edu.

Pandemic Influenza: Addressing An Unrelenting Threat

8:00 ­ 8:05 am
Introduction
James Hughes, MD,
Director, National Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC

8:05 ­ 8:30 am,
Influenza: Current Status
Keiji Fukuda, MD, MPH
Chief, Epidemiology and Surveillance Section, Influenza Branch
National Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC

8:30 ­ 9:30 am, History of Pandemic Influenza
Walter Dowdle, PhD
Director, Global Polio Eradication Program, Task Force for Child Survival & Development, Emory University

Ann Reid, MD
Molecular Biologist, Cellular Pathology and Genetics, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

9:30 ­ 10:00 am
Pandemic Influenza: A Dynamic Modeling
Ira Longini, Jr., PhD
Professor, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

10:15 ­ 12:00 pm
Influenza at the Gates: State/Partner Experiences & Planning (Panel Session)
Jerry J. Gibson, MD, MPH
State Epidemiologist and Director, Bureau of Disease, South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control

Landis Crockett, MD
Director, Division of Disease Control, Florida Department of Health

Brian W. Amy, MD, MHA, MPH
State Health Officer, Mississippi State Department of Health

12:00 pm ­ 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm ­ 2:00 pm
Pathogenesis of Pandemic Influenza

Terrence M. Tumpey, PhD
Microbiologist, Influenza Branch, CDC

Richard Webby, PhD
Assistant Member, Division of Virology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
2:00 pm ­ 3:00 pm
Surveillance, Immunity & Diagnosis Issues of Pandemic Influenza

Nancy Cox, PhD
Chief, Influenza Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC

Pascale Wortley, MD, MPH
Epidemiologist, Immunization Services Division, National Immunization Program, CDC

3:15 pm ­ 4:45 pm
Development of Vaccines for an Influenza Pandemic

John Treanor, MD
Professor and Director, Vaccine Evaluation Unit, University of Rochester

Peter Wright, MD
Professor of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program, Vanderbilt University

Peter Palese, PhD
Professor & Chair, Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

4:45 pm ­ 5:00 pm
Closing Remarks

David S. Stephens, MD
Executive Director, Southeastern Center for Emerging Biologic Threats, Emory University

Jeffrey Koplan, MD
Senior Advisor, Southeastern Center for Emerging Biologic Threats, Emory University

For more information, or to contact Emory University, see their website at: whsc.emory.edu