Oral Immunology/Microbiology Research Group Annual Meeting

口腔免疫学/微生物学研究小组（OIMRG）成立于1991年，旨在促进对口腔免疫学和微生物学，特别是与口腔疾病（龋齿和牙周病）相关的研究人员之间的互动和合作。人们普遍认为，像IADR/AADR大会这样的大型会议不能提供一个适合亲密对话和合作的论坛，OIMRG的成立是为了回应这一普遍看法。OIMRG由来自美国和国外48所大学、研究中心和商业组织的120名研究人员组成。该小组每年召开一次年会，其中包括三次科学会议，每次会议侧重于口腔免疫学和微生物学的一个不同领域。主要但不完全是通过年度会议来实现调研组的目标。这些目标包括：1)促进对口腔免疫学和微生物学感兴趣的科学家之间的互动和合作；2)促进从事口腔健康和疾病基础和临床研究的院士及其私营部门同事之间的信息交流和合作；3)提供一个论坛，让新的独立调查人员与联邦和非联邦机构的代表建立联系，这些机构可能是未来研究的潜在资金来源。OIMRG第17届年会已定于2007年2月2日至5日在佛罗里达州那不勒斯的那不勒斯海滩酒店和高尔夫俱乐部举行。会议主题将包括：1)宿主对口腔细菌的反应，2)口腔细菌的微生物致病机制，以及3)宿主介导的口腔组织损伤机制。邀请了三位客座讲师，一位讨论与粘膜免疫广泛领域有关的主题，一位与细菌毒力因子有关，第三位与遗传学有关。口腔健康和疾病监测小组及其年度会议的延续大大加强了口腔健康和疾病监测小组在口腔健康和疾病方面的目标。因此，本申请要求为2007年会议以及随后四年的会议提供资金。2007年以后的年会将按照与过去16年成功举办的会议相同的原则和目标进行管理和组织。口腔免疫学/微生物学研究小组每年举行会议，就微生物如何引起人类口腔疾病以及人体对抗这些疾病的机制的最新科学发现进行演讲和讨论。本次会议上讨论的研究对公众很重要，因为它构成了转化研究的基础，从而改善了口腔健康的预防和治疗策略。此外，口腔健康的改善与整体健康的改善有关，尤其是心脏健康。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Oral Immunology/Microbiology Research Group (OIMRG) was founded in 1991 as a means of promoting collegial interaction and collaboration among researchers interested in the immunology and microbiology of the oral cavity, particularly as related to oral diseases (dental caries and periodontal disease). Formed in response to a general perception that large meetings such as the IADR/AADR General Sessions do not provide a forum suitable for intimate discourse and collaboration, the OIMRG is comprised of 120 investigators representing forty-eight universities, research centers and commercial organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Once each year, the group convenes for an annual meeting which consists of three scientific sessions, each focusing upon a distinct area of oral immunology and microbiology. It is primarily, but not exclusively, through the annual meeting that the objectives of the OIMRG are achieved. These objectives include the following: 1) to foster interaction and collaboration among scientists interested in oral immunology and microbiology, 2) to promote information exchange and collaboration between academicians and their colleagues in the private sector who are engaged in basic and clinical studies pertaining to oral health and disease, and 3) to provide a forum through which new independent investigators establish contact with representatives of federal and non-federal agencies which may be potential sources of funding for future studies. The 17th annual meeting of the OIMRG has been scheduled for February 2-5th, 2007 at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club in Naples, Florida. Session topics will include: 1) host responses to oral bacteria, 2) mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis employed by oral bacteria, and 3) mechanisms of host mediated injury to oral tissues. Three guest lecturers have been invited, one discussing a topic related to the broad area of mucosal immunity, one pertaining to bacterial virulence factors, and a third pertaining to genetics. Perpetuation of the OIMRG and its annual meetings greatly enhances the goals of the OIMRG as related to oral health and disease. For this reason, this application requests funding for the 2007 meeting as well as funding for the subsequent four years. Annual meetings post 2007 will be administered and organized subject to the same principals and goals as the previously held meetings that have proven successful over the past 16 years. The Oral Immunology/Microbiology Research Group meets annually for presentations and discussions concerning their most recent scientific findings about how microbes cause diseases of the human oral cavity and the mechanisms used by the human body to combat these diseases. The research discussed at this meeting is important to the public because it forms the basis for translational research that leads to improved prevention and treatment strategies for oral health. Additionally, improved oral health is associated with improved overall health, particularly the health of the heart.