A -- Controlling Pathogen Evolution Workshop

Special Notice SN07-21: Controlling Pathogen Evolution; Date: March 27, 2007; Registration Deadline: March 16, 2007; Technical POC: Dr. Michael Callahan, DARPA/DSO, Ph: (571) 218-4537 URL: http://safe.sysplan.com/sn07-21 Controlling Pathogen Evolution, SN07-21. The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is sponsoring a workshop to discuss techniques to first predict pathogen evolution and then direct it to a less virulent form. Pathogens, particularly RNA viruses, are well known for the high rate of mutation that enables them to escape primary or secondary immune responses. Additionally, many viruses undergo recombination events that alter their proteins more dramatically. This workshop will investigate tools for predicting protective epitopes, pathogen evolution and protein structure, and then review strategies to force pathogens into an evolutionary trap that prevents escape through mutation. From there, vaccines and therapies can be developed against the particular pathogen strain. The workshop will be held at 3811 N.Fairfax Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22203. The goal of the workshop is to explore 1) the potential of computational methods to precisely predict pathogen evolution, and 2) vaccination and/or therapeutic strategies to control direction of pathogen evolution. The workshop will address the development of successful proposals for submission; attendees should have specific expertise in infectious disease, epitope prediction (computational and/or immunomic), vaccinology, mathematical modeling, protein structure, pathogen evolution, drug design, and/or animal modeling. Workshop participants are strongly encouraged to prepare posters describing previous or potential research in the area in order to facilitate discussions and/or formation of well-rounded teams. For poster submissions, a detailed description of the poster must be submitted by March 16, 2007, 4pm ET. A maximum of 20 3ft x 3ft posters can be accommodated. There is no fee for any workshop activities. Details on the workshop, including registration and poster information, can be found here: http://safe.sysplan.com/sn07-21 Registration is limited by the venue capacity (maximum of 50 people, maximum 2 from each institution). The registration cutoff date is March 16, 2007, or at attendance capacity whichever comes first. If there is additional space available after the registration deadline, institutions will be permitted additional participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please refer to the "Controlling Pathogen Evolution Workshop" in correspondence. This announcement is not a request for proposals. Material presented at the workshop, including posters presented at the poster session, DARPA presentations, and any response to clarification inquiries and administrative questions, will also be available by emailing SN07-21@darpa.mil for those interested but unable to attend. Technical Point of Contact: Michael Callahan, DARPA Program Manager, Phone (571) 218-4596, Fax (703) 807-4945