Annual Symposium of the Colorado Alphaherpesvirus Latency Society

Colorado Alphaherpesvirus Latency Societ, Aurora CO

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Colorado Alphaherpesvirus Latency Society (CALS) was established in 2011 to provide a venue for open exchange of unpublished data from leading clinical and research scientists, with the aim of understanding alphaherpesvirus latency. Alphaherpesviruses include human herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus (VZV), as well as significant pathogens of nonhuman primates (simian varicella virus) and cattle and poultry (bovine herpesvirus and Marek's disease virus). Reactivation of HSV from latency produces serious disease, including encephalitis, keratitis and genital herpes, while VZV reactivation produces zoster (shingles), postherpetic neuralgia (chronic pain), meningoencephalitis, myelopathy, vasculopathy, and multiple ocular disorders, including retinal necrosis. The 3-day CALS meeting format involves 30+ concise presentations, each followed by extended discussions. A significant innovation that increased the impact of CALS is a plenary presentation by a world-class researcher involved primarily in neuroscience or related fields, not virology. This talk provides new and unique perspectives to initiate novel areas of research in alphaherpesvirus latency. The 11-member CALS board of directors (all non-paid, highly productive and established alphaherpesvirus researchers located in the US, UK, the Netherlands and Germany) participate in selecting plenary speakers and guide the Society in all important decisions. CALS is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt educational organization. The annual symposium does not charge a registration fee and has been financed, in part, through charitable contributions from corporate sponsors. CALS has no paid employees, charges no overhead and 100% of all funds go directly to support the annual symposium. Funds are now requested to maintain the high caliber of the meeting and to expand our scope to mentorship and education of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, the next generation of herpes virologists. Specifically, conference support (travel and lodging) for 30 senior investigators and 30 students/young investigators is requested. Especially important is conference support for minority individuals and others requiring family child day-care. The recognized success of past CALS symposia has made this meeting the premier venue for highly focused discussion of key issues in alphaherpesvirus latency, and with the proposed extension, CALS promises to be the training ground for future investigators as we maintain our high symposium standards.