COST Action B22 on
"Drug development for parasitic diseases"
2003-2007
Organisation
Annual
Conference
Expert
Meetings or Workshop
Scientific
Missions
Network
Links
Research
Teams
The aim is to launch
the new COST Action in 2002. The first Management Committee (MC)
meeting will be held as soon as possible to plan the first Annual
Congress in 2003, to organise Expert Working Groups and to discuss
proposals for the first Expert Meetings. The MC will also nominate
members with responsibilities to maintain contact with other COST
Actions, EU and international programmes.
The place and organiser of
the first meeting is dependent upon the countries that initially
participate in the COST Action. Subsequently, each Congress will
be planned at least one year in advance. The Conference aims to
attract a wider participation of scientists, companies and NGOS in
anti-parasitic drug development.
Top
Five areas of focus have been defined for Expert Meetings (above). An initial list of priorities for consideration by Expert Group Workshops is:
1. Genetic approaches to validate potential drug targets
2. Strategies to avoid and reverse drug resistance
3. Modelling and drug design (with specific target examples)
4. Application of novel
oral and topical drug delivery systems
There will be at least two/three Meetings of Workshops per annum.
The maximum number of participants should be 25 - 30 scientists
for Expert Meetings and 10-15 for Workshops (which will include
technical sessions) to ensure informality and full exchange of
results and opinions.
The documents that result from workshops will be prepared in such a way that they can be used as reference documents for both workers in anti-parasitic research, tropical medicine and public health policy makers. The COST MC will be responsible for the distribution of the reports that should include:
- an overview of the current disease and treatment situation
- new drugs identified or under development
- experimental drugs in the process of being tested
- areas of research that may lead to new drugs
See also Section above for
the restriction levels on Reports.
Top
Short term scientific
missions for junior scientists and technicians will be supported
for training in specific skills, development of joint research
projects, development of contacts for furtherance of research
careers in Europe The Short term missions will be discussed by the
MC and prioritised if necessary. Reports will be reviewed by the
MC. Participants will be encouraged to present results at the
Annual Congress.
Top
A WebSite will be
established at the beginning of the COST Action on which all
activities will be posted. Links will be established to other
related Sites, for example, to WHO/TDR, EC Programmes, MMV, and
other COST Actions. A notice board will be provided for comments
on activities, job adverts, techniques, and requests for
materials.
Top
It is recognised that
research work is not just about building on knowledge and skills.
Effective teams also develop through "personal chemistry", the
respect, trust and enjoyment that come through meetings and
contacts made as part of COST activities.
Top