Grant: Planning Grants - Priority Announcement: Infection and Immunity

This application requests support for a scientific research conference entitled 26th International Papillomavirus Conference and Clinical Workshop to be held at the Palais des congrès in Montreal, Canada from July 3-8, 2010 for an equivalent of 2 Clinical Workshop days and 4.5 actual conference days. The theme of the conference is Sharing Knowledge for Global Health. The International Papillomavirus Conference is the most important event worldwide on the topic of papillomaviruses and their associated diseases in humans, most notably cervical cancer. We expect between 2,000 and 2,500 participants for this conference. Approximately, 15% of attendees will be from Canada, 15% from the United States and the remainder from overseas. It is quite unique that a conference can bring together new and seasoned scientists from all domains of HPV research and practice: basic, clinical, epidemiology, public health, screening, vaccinations, capacity building etc. In the case of HPV, it is a necessity to join professionals from all disciplines in order to improve global healthcare through screening and vaccination programmes against cervical cancer and other HPV-associated diseases. We will welcome a truly international blend of expertise from all corners of the world, paying special attention to attendees from emerging countries who wish to gain expertise on cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, the two most prominent themes to be showcased in the conference. Our reason for choosing Sharing Knowledge for Global Health is two-fold: we want to make the shift from knowledge transfer to capacity building and we want to enhance the participation of delegates from countries where the burden of disease is high due to lack of / or insufficient screening and vaccination programmes to be able to make progress towards global health.