Workshop 1 : New developments in TSEs of domestic and wild animals (22 September 2009).

Organized by EU funded projects NeuroPrion and goatBSE.

Download Workshop 1 Agenda here

It is a pleasure to again announce a workshop on natural TSEs in animals. The occurrence of TSEs in the field and farms carries potential risks of the agents in the environment and food. The ease of CWD spread and the shedding of CWD prions among cervids as well as the examples of prion infections in goat herds, and the transmission of scrapie through milk all argue for better containment and eventual eradication of these diseases.

As a follow-up to previous workshops, participants of NeuroPrion, BSEgoat and CWD research TSE projects again are organizing a workshop to bring researchers together to discuss these veterinary and public health issues. Presentations will be actively sought by the organizers and further selections will be made from interesting abstracts sent to the Prion2009 conference.

Therefore, we invite you to join this meeting and participate in the discussions. Lectures will be 20 minutes duration including the possibility for questions. Further details of the programme will be announced before August 24.

• Mick Stack, Veterinary Laboratories Agencies, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
• Jan Langeveld, Central Veterinary Institute of WageningenUR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
• Edward Hoover, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA

Further details or answers to question regarding presentations can be obtained from:

Mick Stack
Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Woodham Lane, Addletone, Surrey
KT15 3NB United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1932 357320, Fax: +44 1932 357659
e-mail: m.j.stack@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk

Workshop 2 : Prion Risk 2009: Risk Assessment and Management Workshop (22 September 2009).

Organization in Charge: PrioNet Canada

Download Workshop 2 Agenda here

Description: Risk assessment and risk management have played a significant role in attenuating the global bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak.

Significant efforts have been made by national governments and international organizations to respond to this disease challenge. Waning animal epidemiological numbers reported for BSE, a fatal neurological disease of cattle, suggests the risk of the disease is at a lower level but still remains.

Continued vigilance, ongoing risk assessment and appropriate management actions are required as the epidemic declines over time. Ongoing management requires careful consideration of secondary and unresolved risk issues.

Building on the work of PrioNet Canada in managing prion disease risks, the goal of the proposed half day satellite session is to review pertinent BSE country case studies and discuss the approaches for continued BSE and TSE risk management in the face of a reduced number of reported BSE cases. The target audience includes academics, research scientists, international scientific experts, government officials dealing with TSEs, policy makers, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations and the public.

Coordinator:
Michelle Wong, PhD
Director of Scientific Programs and Training
PrioNet Canada
Tel: 604-222-3608, Fax: 604-222-3606
e-mail: mwong@prionetcanada.ca

Workshop 3 : Young Researchers Event: Training in scientific communication (19-22 September 2009).

Organization in Charge: Neuroprion

Note: This Workshop will not open for registration!

Description: The 4th NeuroPrion Young Researchers training in scientific communication will be held from Saturday, September 19, 2009 to Tuesday, September 22, 2009 in NIKITI - ELIA BEACH, Greece, just before the Prion2009 conference in a near location.

This training will teach to 30 PhD, MD, PostDoc, Students of the NeuroPrion network how to make a successful scientific presentation and how to communicate in front of a public. Two young researchers will be selected during this training to present their work in a plenary session of the Prion2009 conference.

Coordination: Neuroprion