Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute To Host 4th International Malaria Research Conference

Main Category: Tropical Diseases
Also Included In: Conferences;  Genetics
Article Date: 04 Mar 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute is hosting its Fourth International Research Conference at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Md. March 17 -18. The two-day conference will explore the latest developments from many fields of malaria research, including discussions of malaria parasite genetics and strategies for controlling mosquitoes without insecticides.

"Nearly half-a-billion people worldwide are infected with malaria. Each year, over 1 million die from the disease, many of whom are children. Basic research is needed to find new approaches for bringing malaria under control," said Peter Agre, MD, Johns Hopkins University Professor and director of the Bloomberg School's Malaria Research Institute. "This conference is unique because of the diversity of research presented, which covers aspects of malaria transmission and the lifecycle of the malaria parasite, as well as studies of new treatments and prevention strategies."

Presenters include David Roos, PhD, the Merriam Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; and Brendan Crabb, PhD, head of Australia's Burnet Institute.

The keynote speaker will be Thomas Wellems, MD, PhD, chief of the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health.

Founded in 2001 as a state-of-the-art malaria research facility, the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute has 19 full-time faculty dedicated to the search for medical and scientific breakthroughs in malaria prevention and treatment through the advancement of basic science along every stage of the malaria parasite's lifecycle.

Registration for the conference is available online at http://malaria.jhsph.edu/.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Source: Tim Parsons
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health