Avian Influenza: Breaking News, Public Health and Surveillance Readiness A Symposium Presented by The Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Center for Strategic and International Studies March 23, 2006 - 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon Capitol Hill: Russell Office Building, Room 418

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) cordially invite you to attend a symposium providing breaking news on the global spread of avian influenza and assessing public health and surveillance readiness.

World-renowned speakers will include:
* Nancy J. Cox, Chief, Influenza Branch, and Director, WHO
Collaborating Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Control of Influenza, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
* Robert A. Lamb, HHMI Investigator and John Evans Professor of
Molecular and Cellular Biology at Northwestern University, Evanston, and Professor of Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University School of Medicine;
* Matthew Lorence, Associate Director, Emerging Markets, Affymetrix,
Inc.
* Farzad Mostashari, Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of
Epidemiology Services, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;

* David Nabarro, Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Avian and
Human Influenza for the World Health Organization;
* Jeffery K. Taubenberger, Chair, Department of Molecular Pathology,
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Speakers will discuss how the 1918 influenza pandemic may serve as a model for understanding the impact of a 21st century global influenza pandemic.
Presentations will also address the adequacy U.S. and global public health infrastructure and surveillance systems.

This symposium is the first in a series of sessions examining the current state of the global avian influenza threat and U.S. and international vulnerability to this and other infectious diseases. Subsequent sessions are scheduled for April 6, May 11 and June 8.

If you would like to attend the March 23 symposium, please RSVP by email to biotech@csis.org with your full contact information. Questions can be directed to Torrey Shallcross at (202) 775-3181.

The Russell Senate Office Building is located Northeast of the Capitol on a site bounded by Constitution Avenue, First Street, Delaware Avenue, and C Street, N.E.