Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02387 EUROPEAN MICROBICIDES PROJECT

Kelly, Charles*
Shattock, R**; and 33 Other Investigators
*King’s College London, **St George’s Hospital Medical School London, and 27 Other Institutions

The European Microbicides Project (EMPRO) is a consortium of 35 principal investigators from 29 institutions or SMEs that has been funded by the European Union as part of the Sixth Framework Programme in the area “Confronting the major communicable diseases linked to poverty”. The programme aims to develop new topical microbicides, with defined molecular targets, that block entry of HIV at mucosal sites with the aim of establishing a pipeline of candidate microbicides while taking selected microbicides through Phase I clinical trials. Members of the consortium have expertise in analyses and design of molecular structure, investigation of mechanisms of HIV infection at mucosal sites, testing efficacy in animal models, methods for large-scale production of microbicides and the conduct of clinical trials. Novel molecules and combinatorial peptide, polypeptide and oligosaccharide libraries will be screened for inhibitors that are specifically targeted to viral envelope proteins or host receptors. Microbicidal efficacy and effect on normal microbial flora of inhibitors will be tested in vitro. The most promising candidate microbicides will be formulated and tested in animal models. The developmental process for candidate agents will be target-driven according to a preclinical selection algorithm designed to fast track the most promising candidates and/or combination. Emphasis will be placed on development of compounds demonstrating synergistic activity either with others from this programme or with first generation compounds developed by other groups that are further ahead in the developmental process. As well as identifying novel candidate microbicides, the programme should provide a rational basis for the design of 2nd or 3rd generation microbicides.

Professor Charles Kelly
Department of Oral Immunology, Floor 28 Guy’s Tower, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT
(Telephone) 44 20 7955 4966 (Fax) 44 20 7955 4455 (E-mail) charles.kelly@kcl.ac.uk