The Second
NIAID Workshop in Medical Mycology:
Molecular and Immunologic Approaches to the
Diagnosis and
Treatment of Systemic Mycoses
University of Arizona
(Northern Arizona
University)
Flagstaff, AZ
June 8-11, 1994
Introduction
Status
and Limitations of Diagnosis and Therapy of
Systemic Fungal Infections
Targets
for Inhibiting Proliferation or Virulence
Immunologic
Approaches and Metabolite Detection
Molecular
Approaches and New Diagnostic Test Development
Biologic
Response Modifiers with Therapeutic Potential
Drug
Discovery
Private,
Public and Academic Partnerships and Antifungal
Drug Development
Topic
Summary and Speakers
The NIAID
recognizes medical mycology as an area in need of
development. An Institute-sponsored workshop on
"Mycology Research in the 1990's" in
Chicago, Illinois, 28-29 September 1991 addressed
the increasing importance of medical mycology.
Twenty medical mycologists from throughout the
United States were invited to discuss the issues
and to conceptualize and condense the active
research areas into topic areas in need of
development.
Five areas were
targeted for focus. These were molecular
mycology, diagnosis and treatment, immunology,
antigen structure and function, and epidemiology.
Each of these five topic areas was targeted for
development into a separate
workshop/minisymposium, co-sponsored by the NIAID
and educational grants raised by the medical
mycological community.
"Molecular
Medical Mycology," the first workshop in the
series, was held in Minneapolis, MN on 24-26
June, 1993 and chaired by
Dr. Paul T. Magee. One hundred and
forty-seven mycologists attended and exchanged
ideas. A key to the success of information
exchange was the utilization of "break
out" sessions that provided an informal
setting for free exchange of ideas, an
opportunity for a more active involvement for all
of the participants, and an environment fostering
new collaborations.
"Molecular
and Immunologic Approaches to the Diagnosis and
Treatment of Systemic Mycoses," the second
workshop in the series, was held on the campus of
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona,
8-11 June 1994. The workshop format was modeled
after the first in the series, and was attended
by 80 registrants.
I believe the
workshop series continues to be successful in
accomplishing the stated goals, and that this
success is representative of the field of medical
mycology whose time has come. Finally, I would
like to thank all those who contributed to the
success of this workshop, including all of the
participants, organizing and writing committees,
and especially Drs. John algiani and Michael
Pfaller who chaired and took lead roles in
organizing this outstanding event whose findings
are still timely.
John R. La
Montagne, Ph.D.
Director
Division of
Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, NIAID
