[ nfid logo ]
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases
[ cdc logo ]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[ niaid logo ]
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
[ isv logo ]
International Society for Vaccines
The First Annual Conference on Vaccine Research: Overview

The biotechnology revolution has stimulated increased activity and has witnessed a remarkable pace in the research and development of vaccines and associated technologies for disease control through immunization. Many new diseases have recently become or soon will be vaccine preventable, and improvements to existing vaccines are appearing in rapid succession.

In recognition of this growth in the field, this new 2-day conference becomes the first major, non-commercial scientific forum devoted exclusively to the presentation and sharing of data and knowledge among the diverse disciplines of vaccinology. It aims to serve as an annual forum for presenting and discussing the latest vaccine-related scientific data, results, and issues via symposia and panel discussions by expert faculty and through oral and poster presentations of submitted papers. The goal is to encourage communication among vaccine researchers and developers, public health officials, and medical personnel who administer vaccines.

Conference Objectives

At the conclusion of this conference, participants should be able to:

  • Distinguish between the efficacy and effectiveness of vaccine trials
  • Discuss at least one animal model for vaccine development with human applications
  • Enumerate and discuss at least two factors leading to decreased immune response to vaccines or one mechanism of immune evasion.
  • Discuss at least two barriers in developing combination vaccines and give two examples of combination vaccines in clinical trials
  • Discuss one model for maternal immunization to protect offspring
  • Enumerate and discuss two surrogate markers which successfully predict vaccine induced clinical immunity
  • Discuss institutional roles and response to challenges in HIV vaccine development
  • Discuss the mechanism and effect of immunomodulators and adjuvants on the immune response to vaccines
  • Discuss two alternatives to parenteral injection of vaccines which are currently in developmental or clinical trial phases

Who Should Attend?

  • Researchers and Scientists
  • Epidemiologists
  • Microbiologists
  • Immunologists
  • Molecular Biologists
  • Public Health Officials
  • Physicians and Veterinarians
  • Vaccine Manufacturers

Conference participants should have a knowledge or interest in vaccine research. An advanced degree may be beneficial but is not required.

CME Accreditation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to sponsor Continuing Medical Education (CME) for physicians. The CDC in joint sponsorship with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the International Society for Vaccines, designates this continuing medical education activity for a maximum of 16 credit hours in Category 1 of the Physician's Recognition Award of the American Medical Association. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Acknowledgments (as of February 20, 1998)

This program is supported, in part, by unrestricted education grants from:

  • Aviron
  • Becton Dickinson and Company
  • Merck Vaccine Division
  • Pasteur Mérieux Connaught
  • SmithKline Beecham
  • Wyeth-Lederle Vaccines and Pediatrics