ICOPA XII

Announcing ICOPA XII:

Understanding the global impact of parasites - from genomes to function and disease

The next International Congress of Parasitology (ICOPA XII) will be held in Melbourne, Australia in 2010 (15th-20th August).

The Congress will encompass the broad area of parasitology and include diverse topics from the latest emerging veterinary and human parasite diseases, to the genomics and functional biology of parasites, and their impact on society and the environment. Make sure you mark this conference in your diaries!

Letter to all member societies from Prof. Terry Spithill

Dear WFP Society Member,

I am writing in my capacity as Program Coordinator for the ICOPA XII in Melbourne August 2010 (see http://www.icopaxii.org/) to update you on progress for the Conference and to seek your inputs for the Program. We have appointed a Conference organiser and the meeting will be held at a new Convention Centre which is situated on the river side in downtown Melbourne, close to restaurants, bars and all that Melbourne has to offer (see website for details).

The organising Committee is starting to prepare the Program and we are keen to consult WFP Society members so that we can capture everyone's thoughts and ensure that the Program is as inclusive as possible. We want parasitologists from as many countries as possible to attend the conference and seeking everyone's ideas now will allow us to create a broadly attractive and exciting Program. I would be obliged if your Society could send me:

1. Your thoughts on which elements you would like to see included in the Program, i.e. ideas for Symposia, Workshops, or Debates (Please see below for a list of some suggested topics):
Note: we are planning to hold some Workshops and Debates on topical issues, in addition to a range of Symposia. We also plan to make the Poster session a highlight of the meeting.

2. Does your Society have any specific needs during the Conference week, such as allocation of a meeting room for Society functions or meetings?
Note: there will be no charge for room hire or use of audio visual facilities for Society meetings but the local Program Committee reserves the right to schedule your meeting at a time which does not result in increased costs for the conference. Any additional meeting costs (i.e. catering, drinks, fancy audiovisual needs) are to be borne your Society.

3. Do you have any other suggestions that you feel would make the Conference attractive to members?

Please send your thoughts to me at tspithill.AT.tohotp.@csu.edu.au.

DEADLINE for replies :

My deadline for your reply is 4 June 2008: this will allow me to collate everything to present to our organising Committee in June.

I look forward to your response,

With my best regards!

Prof Terry Spithill
Strategic Research Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University
Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga
NSW 2678, Australia
Tel: +61-2- 6933 2439
Fax: +61-2- 6933 2991
Email: tspithill.AT.pkbrso.@csu.edu.au.

Suggested Topics for ICOPA XII Program

Symposia Themes

Global change and parasitism
Gates Foundation Vaccine and Grand Challenges projects
Ectoparasites and Vector borne diseases
Aquaculture and aquatic parasitology
Parasite biology and ecology
Parasite transmission
Host-parasite interactions
Host-parasite biology
Modelling host-parasite infections
Diagnostics
Immunotherapy and vaccines
Genomics and functional biology of parasites
Population molecular genetics
Application of proteomics to parasite biology and host responsiveness
Helminth molecular biology
New technologies and approaches to new therapies
Molecular Biochemistry
Cell biology
Chemotherapy and drug resistance
Public health and field studies
Emerging issues with Chagas disease and trypanosomatids

Debates

Malaria vaccine strategies: are whole parasite vaccines preferable to subunit vaccines?
Control or Eradication of malaria
Drugs or vaccines for schistosomiasis

Workshops

Anthelmintic resistance in human helminths and combination chemotherapy
In vitro transfection technologies for helminths
Genome annotation, bioinformatics and resource requirements for parasites
Polyparasitism and impact on vaccine design and delivery
Designing efficacious helminth vaccines
Adjuvant design to enhance vaccine efficacy
Cestode diagnosis and wildlife reservoirs in planning control strategies
Integration of mass treatment programs for parasitic diseases
Clean water: implications for reducing parasite transmission
Zoonoses: water and soil outbreaks
Education and Teaching in Parasitology in the context of Global Health
Educating the public about parasitic diseases
Philanthropic support and Public Private Partnerships

Go to the ICOPA XII web site.