Advances in Malaria Research: In the Lab and the Field
Groundbreaking Science in the Fight Against One of the World's Deadliest Diseases
Thurs., November 12, 2009 at 12:30 pm EST
Each year more than 300 million malaria cases occur world-wide. Nearly one million people die of malaria every year, most of them are children. In Africa, malaria is responsible for one in five childhood deaths.
Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute (JHMRI) are on the cutting edge of world-class basic science and clinical research to treat and control malaria, develop a vaccine, and find new drug targets to prevent and cure this deadly disease.
During an interactive web summit, participants will hear the latest findings in the fight against malaria from top researchers at JHMRI and have the opportunity to ask questions in real time. In addition, participants will be able to visit remotely the JHMRI insectary where mosquitoes are bred, raised and studied at the heart of the Institute's scientific operations in Baltimore, MD. Participants will virtually meet researchers who use NASA data to map the movement of deadly malaria carrying mosquitoes. They'll also hear from researchers based at the Macha study field site in Zambia, a living laboratory for mosquito and human behavior in malaria-stricken areas.
UMBC students are invited to participate in this Web Summit to learn more about Malaria research and may gain an edge in applying for Summer 2010 Research Internships with JHMRI. If there is sufficient student interest, the Shriver Center will host a "big screen" viewing of the Web Summit. To reserve a spot, email Kerry Kidwell-Slak at kerryk@umbc.edu by Friday, October 30.
Students may also register individually to participate in the Web Summit via their personal computer. Please visit: http://malaria.jhsph.edu/register/registration2009.html for more information.
Information about internship applications to JHMRI will be released by the Shriver Center later in the Fall Semester.
Read below the break for more information on panelists for this exciting event and the work of JHMRI.
Moderated by:
Peter Agre, MD, Nobel Laureate; Director, Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute; President, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Speakers:
Mosquito Immunity to Malaria
- George Dimopoulos, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena, PhD, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (by video)
Mapping Mosquito Migrations
- Gregory Glass, PhD, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Tracking Resistant Malaria and Non-Invasive Diagnosis
With video from researchers based at the Macha study field site in Zambia
- Sungano Mharakurwa, PhD, Scientific Director of the Malaria Institute at Macha
- Phil Thuma, MD, Clinical Director of the Malaria Institute at Macha
To learn about JHMRI, visit: http://malaria.jhsph.edu/