Ninth Research Conference on Recent Advances in Otitis Media

描述（由申请人提供）：2007年“中耳炎媒体最新进展研究会议”将于6月7日至8日在佛罗里达州圣彼得海滩举行，这将是由匹兹堡大学医学中心的House耳研究所和耳鼻喉科共同主办、由NIDCD资助的一系列四年一度的会议中的第九次会议。这些会议的目的是通过交流与中耳炎（OM）相关的最新发现和进展，以及这种疾病病因的分子机制，来提高我们的知识，促进生物医学研究的进展。OM研究是一个迅速发展的领域，开始涵盖各种学科，特别是遗传学、微生物学、免疫学、分子生物学和疫苗学。对先天免疫、toll样受体、信号通路和生物膜的作用的研究无疑将产生可能具有重要转化研究和临床应用的结果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The 2007 "Research Conference in Recent Advances in Otitis Media", to be held on June 7-8, in St. Pete Beach, Fl will be the ninth of a series of quadrennial conferences co-sponsored by the House Ear Institute, the Department of Otolaryngology of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and funded by the NIDCD. The purpose of these conferences has been to advance our knowledge and to facilitate progress in biomedical research through the exchange of current findings and advancements related to otitis media (OM), and the molecular mechanisms underlying the etiology of this disorder. OM research is a rapidly expanding field that is beginning to encompass a wide variety of disciplines, particularly genetics, microbiology, immunology, molecular biology and vaccinology. Research into the role of innate immunity, Toll-like receptors, signaling pathways, and biofilms will undoubtedly produce results that may have important translational research and clinical applications. Because of the multidisciplinary nature of the OM research field, these conferences provide a venue for the exchange of information that will ultimately lead to the understanding of this disease at the molecular level and pave the way for the rapid development of treatment options and vaccines for OM. Scientific contributions at previous conferences have come from such disciplines as epidemiology, microbiology of OM pathogens, immunology, molecular and cellular pathogenesis, animal models, and vaccine development. The ninth research conference (and symposium) holds promise into delivering a similar level of interaction with various multidisciplinary groups and introducing new and emerging areas of research. The hallmark of the previous eight conferences has been their ability to draw together the disciplines and specialties essential to the advancement of the field and understanding OM. Another point that these conferences have in common is that they continuously attract young investigators from such varied fields as microbiology, molecular and cellular biology, immunology, epidemiology, etc - a critical factor, considering that any expectations in managing and treating OM will undoubtedly come through a concerted and multidisciplinary effort.