8th International Symposium on NeuroVirology

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks support for the 8th International Symposium on NeuroVirology that will be held as a 3.5 day meeting scheduled for October 29 - November 2, 2007 in San Diego, California, USA, and sponsored, in part, by the International Society for NeuroVirology (ISNV). This symposium will be the eight in a series that was initiated in 1997. Specifically, the application requests funding to cover the costs of (1) plenary session speakers, (2) travel grants for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and clinical fellows, (3) preparation of on-site registration packet materials, (4) poster session costs, (5) rental of audiovisual equipment, (6) rental of rooms for workshop and poster sessions, (7) administrative effort associated with registration, program preparation, abstract processing, and general meeting preparation activities, and (8) web-based management of all meeting activities. The specific aims of the 8th International Symposium on NeuroVirology are to provide a forum for the dissemination of new information related to (1) CNS response in NeuroAIDS (2) Co-pathogens in NeuroAIDS (3) Drugs of abuse, aging, and other comorbidities in neuroAIDS (4) Antiviral therapy: Emerging modalities and CNS implications, (5) Non-viral pathogens and CNS disease (6) Innate and adaptive immunity in CNS disease (7) Immune cell trafficking and blood brain barrier (8) Host gene expression in neurologic infections (9) Neurogenesis and neuroprotection (10) Animal models and viral pathogenesis (11) RNA viruses, CNS disease, and biodefense and (12) Stem cell biology, nanomedicine, and therapy. The 8th Symposium will also (1) enhance cross-fertilization of basic/clinical science concepts concerning prevention and treatment of neurologic disease caused by HIV and a number of other viral and non-viral pathogens, (2) facilitate the attraction of young investigators to an important and growing multi-disciplinary field of investigation (Investigators-in-Training sessions and networking lunches), (3) stimulate collaborations with an international scope including the nurturing of research in underdeveloped regions of the world, (4) emphasize the development of basic scientific concepts and dogma (Scientific Paradigm Building Lecture), and (5) emphasize the major contributions of outstanding women in the development of biomedical science (Women's Excellence in Science Lecture). Overall, the 8th International Symposium on NeuroVirology will seek to update investigators working in the field of neurovirology and related disciplines with leading edge information so that important gaps in knowledge can continue to be identified. Armed with this information, attendees will work toward formulating new questions and experimental directions to enhance the development of new strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat neurologic disease associated with prions, HIV, and other viral and non-viral pathogens. It is anticipated that approximately 350 individuals will attend the 8th International Symposium on NeuroVirology with more than 250 abstracts and greater than 50 oral presentations. The research presented and discussed at the 8th International Symposium on NeuroVirology will focus on the development of new strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases of the human nervous system caused by viral and other non-viral infectious disease agents. In particular, the presentations, discussion, and strategic planning and collaborative science developed at this meeting will be directed at identifying new strategies to control the immune system to optimize the prevention and treatment of neurologic disease in humans of different ages, gender, and ethnic/racial backgrounds. The Symposium will also overview ongoing international research efforts in NeuroAIDS, neurovirology, and diseases caused by other non-viral CNS pathogens.