December 4-5, 2008
Public Session
Freeman Auditorium, 6 p.m., Dec. 4
John M. Barry is a prize-winning and New York Times best-selling author whose books have won more than twenty awards. In 2005 the National Academy of Sciences named The Great Influenza, a study of the 1918 pandemic, the year’s outstanding book on science or medicine, and the Center for Biodefense and Emerging Pathogens gave Barry its 2005 “September Eleventh Award.” He is also co-originator of Riversphere, a $100 million center being developed by Tulane University which will be the first facility in the world dedicated to comprehensive river research. A frequent guest on such shows as NBC’s Meet the Press, as well as on ABC, CBS, Fox, PBS, MSNBC, CNBC, NPR, and the BBC, Barry has contributed to award-winning television documentaries, and has written for such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Fortune, Time, Newsweek, and Esquire. Currently Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Center for Bioenvironmental Research of Tulane and Xavier Universities, he lives in New Orleans while spending considerable time in Washington.
Regional Biosafety Laboratory Ribbon Cutting/Building Dedication
Tulane National Primate Research Center, 18703 Three Rivers Road, Covington, LA, 9 a.m., Dec. 5
Scientific Sessions
Diboll Auditorium, 1440 Canal Street, First Floor
1 p.m., Dec. 5
1-1:10 p.m. Opening Remarks and Introduction of Dr. Colwell
1:10-1:45 p.m. (Questions and Answers 1:45-1:55 p.m.)
The Lillie and Bennie Lazzara Lecture: “Climate, Oceans, Infectious Diseases, and Human Health: Cholera as the Paradigm”
Rita R. Colwell, keynote speaker for the symposium’s scientific program, is an environmental microbiologist and scientific administrator. She became the 11th Director of the United States National Science Foundation on August 4, 1998. In 2004 Dr. Colwell left her position as Director of NSF to become the chief scientist at Canon U.S. Life Sciences, a division of Canon, the camera and printer company. As of 2008, she was the Chairman of Canon U.S. Life Sciences. She has authored or co-authored 17 books and more than 700 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film Invisible Seas.
1:55-2 p.m. Introduction of Dr. Poland
2-2:35 p.m. (Questions and Answers 2:35-2:45 p.m.)
“Vaccine Immunogenetics: Bedside to Bench to Population”
Gregory A. Poland is a national and international expert in the field of vaccinology and clinical research and a leading expert in the field of biodefense. Currently, he is the director of the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, which uses state-of-the-art research technology to investigate issues surrounding vaccine response and novel vaccines important to public health. In May 2003, he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service for serving on the Armed Forces Epidemiological Board. In 2000, he was unanimously selected as the American editor for the prestigious medical journal Vaccine.
2:45-2:50 p.m. Introduction of Dr. Levine
2:50-3:25 p.m. (Questions and Answers 3:25-3:35 p.m.)
“On the Horizon: Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever Resistant to All Antibiotics?”
Myron “Mike” M. Levine has been Director of the Center for Vaccine Development since its inception, and has created therein an environment that is unusually rich in intellectual ferment and stimulation. He is one of the most vocal advocates of mucosal immunization, i.e., the administration of vaccines by oral and intranasal routes to avoid the unpleasantness and occasional dangers of parenteral injections. He is the recipient of the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal Award for lifetime achievement in the area of vaccine development and implementation.
3:35-3:40 p.m. Introduction of Dr. Burke
3:40-4:15 p.m. (Questions and Answers 4:15-4:25 p.m.)
“How Viruses Emerge: Can We Predict and Prevent Future Pandemics?”
Donald S. Burke is one of the world’s foremost experts in prevention, diagnosis, and control of infectious diseases of global concern, including HIV/AIDS, avian influenza, and emerging infectious diseases. Burke’s career-long mission has been prevention and mitigation of the impact of epidemic infectious diseases of global importance. His research activities have spanned a wide range of science “from the bench to the bush.”
4:25 p.m. Closing Remarks – President Cowen