Media statement

United States/Southern Africa joint Research Forum on Tuberculosis

An international forum focused on Tuberculosis research in Southern Africa will take place on March 1-2, 2010 at the Roode Valley Country Lodge, Pretoria, South Africa. The meeting is co-sponsored by the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a component of the National Institutes of Health, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the South African Medical Research Council (MRC).  This meeting is expected to result in important collaborations that engage scientists in Southern Africa where TB is among the leading causes of death and disability. 

During the Research Forum scientists and policy makers from Africa and the US will discuss the TB epidemic in Southern Africa, present cutting-edge science, and explore opportunities for collaborative research.  Participants and speakers have been invited from public and private research institutions and companies, international organizations (including the World Health Organization), and research funding bodies such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Leading TB program officials from the Government of South Africa, as well as researchers from Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, the US, Europe and South Africa will be among the 80-90 participants.

Scientific presentations will address research needs and on-going studies in HIV-TB co-infection, childhood TB, and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) - an increasing public health concern in Southern Africa.  The meeting will offer opportunities for discussions about African and global TB research priorities, potential sources of research support, as well as collaborative opportunities to develop new TB drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics. 

The Research Forum will be followed by a two-day meeting, co-sponsored by the Academy of Science of South Africa and the US Institute of Medicine.  That meeting will focus on MDR-TB related policy and clinical care. 

DATE:              1-2 March 2010
TIME:                09:00 till late
VENUE:            Roode Valley Country Lodge http://www.roodevallei.co.za/location.htm
                        North of Pretoria near the Roodeplaat Dam and Nature Reserve
                        012 845 5000
END