Annual Conference on Tularemia

土拉热弗朗西斯菌是A类生物威胁剂自2001年9月11日以来，研究这种微生物的实验室数量急剧增加。因此，重要的是，调查人员（新的和有经验的领域）每年举行会议，分享他们的研究结果，并确定未来的研究目标。拟议的土拉菌会议将每年为土拉菌研究人员提供一个互动和分享知识的国际论坛。本次会议的具体目标是为兔热病社区的成员，包括新的研究人员和学员，提供一个机会，介绍和讨论他们的 研究，交流思想，发展合作。该会议之前已经举行了五次，其中四次（间隔3-4年）为“兔热病国际会议”，最后一次是2003年在英国巴斯举行的。第五次会议，NIAID Tularemia研讨会在落基山实验室，汉密尔顿，MT，于2004年10月举行，以促进新的和有经验的调查人员之间更及时地交流信息。2003年在英国巴斯举行的会议包括来自世界各地的大约125名与会者。2004年在蒙大拿州汉密尔顿举行的会议约有115人参加。下一次会议将于2005年11月6日至8日在马萨诸塞州汉考克的吉米尼峰山度假村举行。预计2005年会议将有来自美国和其他国家的125名与会者参加。 国家随后将于2006年11月举行一次土拉菌病国际会议，并在此后举行一次年度会议/讲习班。这些会议的重点将是F.土拉热感染和发病机制，以及疫苗的发展。本申请中要求的资金将主要用于允许资源有限的新研究者（例如，R21受益人）以及受训人员参加这些会议。

Francisella tularensis is a category A biothreat agent. Since 9/11/2001, the number of laboratories studying this organism has expanded dramatically. Thus, it is important that investigators (new and experienced in the field) meet on an annual basis to share their findings and define future research goals. The proposed Tularemia Conference will provide, on an annual basis, an international forum for tularemia researchers to interact and share their knowledge. The specific goal of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for members of the tularemia community, including new investigators and trainees, to present and discuss their research, exchange ideas, and develop collaborations. This conference has occurred five times previously, four times (at 3-4 year intervals) as the "International Conference on Tularemia", the last occurring in 2003 in Bath, England. The fifth meeting, the NIAID Tularemia Workshop at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT, was held in October of 2004 to facilitate a more timely exchange of information between new and experienced investigators. The 2003 meeting in Bath England included approximately 125 participants from around the world. The 2004 meeting in Hamilton, MT, had approximately 115 participants. The next meeting will be held November 6-8, 2005, at the Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, MA. It is anticipated that the 2005 meeting will include over 125 participants from the United States, as well as other countries. This will be followed by an International Conference on Tularemia in November, 2006 and an annual meeting/workshop thereafter. The focus of these meetings will be on mechanisms of F. tularensis infection and pathogenesis, as well as vaccine development. Funds requested in this application will be used primarily to allow new investigators with limited resources (e.g., R21 recipients) as well as trainees, to participate in these meetings.