Current research on respiratory viral infections: Fourth International Symposium.

The Fourth International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections was convened by The Macrae Group (New York, NY) in Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles on 29 November–2 December, 2001. This symposium provides an annual forum for virologists, vaccinologists, clinicians, pharmacologists, and public health specialists to discuss recent advances in respiratory virus research in an interdisciplinary fashion (Kaiser et al., 1999; Munoz et al., 2000; Schmidt et al., 2001). The spectrum of discussion ranged from basic virology and pathogenesis to epidemiology, immunology, and management strategies, with particular attention to vaccines, antivirals, and economic issues. The meeting was chaired by Frederick Hayden (University of Virginia) and Albert Osterhaus (Erasmus University). Additional members of the meeting’s Scientific Advisory Board were Robert Belshe (St. Louis University), Robert Chanock (National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases), Robert Couch (Baylor College of Medicine), John Mills (Burnet Institute), Peter Openshaw (St. Mary’s Hospital), and Maria Zambon (Public Health Laboratory Service). Invited speakers included: Larry Anderson (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Reinhard Glück (Berna), Jack Gwaltney, Jr. (University of Virginia), Frederick Hayden (University of Virginia), Terho Heikkinen (University of Turku), Sebastian Johnston (National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine), Arnold Monto (University of Michigan), Kristin Nichol (Minneapolis Veterans’ Administration Medical Center), Peter Openshaw (Imperial College School of Medicine at St. Mary’s), Albert Osterhaus (Erasmus University), Peter Palese (Mt. Sinai School of Medicine), Amy Patick (Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), Dan Pe* Corresponding author E-mail address: [email protected] (M.G. Ison).