Neuroscience of HIV Conference

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks support for the conference, "The Tenth International Neuroscience of HIV Infection: Basic and Clinical Frontiers 2002" to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany, June 19-22, 2002. Specifically, as this is an international conference to be held outside the continental United States, support is requested for mailing, printing, and the travel and lodging costs of the plenary speakers and conference organizers from the United States. The goal of this conference, formerly a satellite symposium to the International Conference on AIDS, is to bring together the world's experts in the pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical manifestations of the neurological, neuropsychological, and psychiatric complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The conference serves as an efficient means to disseminate new information on the pathogenesis, manifestations and treatment of the broad range HIV-related disorders of the nervous system. It has also proven to be extremely effective in stimulating fruitful coordinated research efforts in a collaborative, multi-institutional fashion and as an effective avenue for encouraging young investigators in the discipline. This international conference on the neuroscience of HIV has an established track record. It was conceived and developed in 1988 when the co-founders (Drs. J. Berger and R. Levy) recognized the limited forum available to neuroscientists at the International Conference on AIDS for the presentation and discussion of works related to the effects of HIV on the nervous system. The first annual meeting held in Quebec City, prior to the Vth International Conference on AIDS in Montreal, was an unqualified success with over 220 participants from around the world. Subsequent sites of the conference have included Monterey, California (1990), Padua (1 991), Amsterdam (1992), Vienna (1993), Vancouver (1994), Paris (1996), Chicago (1998), and Edinburgh (2000). Attendance at the conference has varied from 150 to 275 persons with worldwide representation. The format for the conference is a combination of plenary sessions by internationally recognized authorities in association with scientific (both platform and poster) presentations. With the maturation of the conference, by-laws and an advisory board of international experts broadly representative of the neuroscience of HIV have been established for the Conference. The upcoming conference is unique in that it will be coupled with the Fourth International Symposium of Neurovirology. Considerable overlap between these conferences exists with respect to organizing committees, attendees, and topics. The Journal of Neuroviroloqy has published both conferences' abstracts routinely. By combing the both Neuroscience of HIV meeting and the 4th International Neurovirology Society meeting allows for significant cost savings resulting from shared resources and expenses. Dr. Brian Wigdahl, international co-chair of the ISNV, is a co-investigator on this grant.