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

02690 CONTEMPORAY MATERIAL CONCEPTS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION MICROBICIDE VEHICLES

Kiser, Patrick
Gupta, K Lee, C
University of Utah, Department of Bioengineering

In the last 20 years there has been a revolution in understanding the underlying principles of bioresponsive materials for drug delivery and formulation science. These principles, developed by material scientists and pharmaceutics researchers, are now being applied to first generation microbicides, e.g. in the pegylated active ingredients such as PEG-cyanovirin and in thermo-gelling systems. We are developing a number of approaches to create novel bioresponsive materials and formulations for drug delivery in the vagina that are potential prototypes for 2nd and 3rd generation microbicidal formulations. Our approach is to engineer new materials that are designed to undergo changes in their properties in response to interactions with biological triggers that exist in the vagina, including pH, temperature and shear fields. By utilizing contemporary materials we are able to affect significant changes in rheological and other salient physico-chemical properties in response to these triggers. We hypothesize that these changes will enhance the bioactivity of the active ingredient and the carrier, as well as the biodistribution in the vagina. We are currently designing and testing several polymer systems which leverage these bioresponsive signals to create carriers that in themselves are active, and/or modify the properties of the active pharmaceutical in the vagina.

Assistant Professor, Patrick, Kiser
University of Utah, Department of Bioengineering, BPRB Rm 506 20 South 2030 East , Salt Lake City Utah, 84102
(Telephone) 801.587.3681 (Fax) 801-581-8966 (E-mail) patrick.kiser@utah.edu