- Academic Life
Emerging infectious diseases, vaccination, antibiotic resistance, and cheating in science are among the topics to be discussed by leading bacteriology, virology, and mycology experts in Montreal at the three International Union of Microbiological Societies congresses (IUMS) from July 27 to August 1, 2014.
Some 2,000 participants from more than 80 countries are expected at the 14th International Congress of Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology, the 14th International Congress of Mycology and Eukaryotic Microbiology, and the 16th International Congress of Virology. This is the first time Canada is hosting this major scientific event highlighting recent advances in basic, clinical, and industrial research with a view to preventing and treating microbe-related health problems and using microbes for the good of humanity.
“We aim to promote international dialogue and cooperation and stimulate discussion on advances in microbiology research and the outlook for the field in the 21st century. These congresses bring together the largest and most well-rounded group of microbiology researchers.”
Pierre Talbot from INRS–Institut Armand-Frappier, national organizing committee chair
Renowned lecturers
The scientific program covers a wide range of topics and is notable for its high-profile invited speakers. The opening lecture “Living in a Microbial Universe” will be delivered by Professor Julian Davies from the University of British Colombia Life Sciences Institute. Professor Philippe Sansonetti from Institut Pasteur in Paris will look at the effects of the human microbiome on health and immunity in the closing lecture “Gut Microbiota: After Metagenomics, Experimentomics.”IUMS is also hosting two Nobel-prize winners—professors Aaron Ciechanover from the Israel Institute of Technology and Rolf Zinkernagel from the University of Zurich—who will take part in the Nobel symposium.
Other well-known researchers will also be presenting, including outspoken vaccine advocate Dr. Paul Offit from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Professor Gerry Wright from McMaster University, who has developed a new generation of antibiotics; and Professor Arturo Casadevall from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, whose work on cases of scientific misconduct has garnered attention. Speakers will describe new avenues for treating C. difficile (Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, University of Guelph) and beating cancer using oncolytic viruses (Dr. John Bell, University of Ottawa). Camilla Urbaniak, lead author of a highly acclaimed article on the possible link between breast cancer and the presence of bacteria, will also be in attendance.
Media accreditation
Media accreditation is required for all journalists wishing to attend any IUSM 2004 congress event. They must complete the online form and return it to the organizing committee.
About the International Union of Microbiology Societies (IUMS)
IUMS is one of 31 scientific unions of the International Council of Scientific Unions. Its mission is to promote the study of microbiological sciences and scientific cooperation around the world, organize conferences and promote the publication and dissemination of research, and maintain contact with other international organizations. It also helps young researchers and scientists in developing countries participate in the IUMS international congresses.
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