Join PATH at the 66th American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting

October 18, 2017 by PATH

Infectious diseases Vaccines

PATH experts to share latest research and innovations to tackle malaria and other Neglected Tropical Diseases, underscore critical role of US in global health

Media contact: Kate Davidson | media@path.org

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Over 80 PATH staff will travel to Baltimore, Maryland, November 5–9, to learn and share with the world's top experts at the 66th annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Attracting more than 4,400 tropical medicine and global health professionals from a range of sectors, the conference is regarded as a leading forum for sharing the latest research, clinical discoveries, and best practices in the field.

PATH executives David Kaslow and Amie Batson will speak on the full public health value of malaria vaccines and the US future role in global health, respectively; other PATH experts from around the world will present new research and join discussions on malaria, neglected tropical diseases, and enteric and diarrheal diseases. With more than 70 presentations, posters, and panels, PATH staff will share key findings on topics including malaria control and elimination efforts; developments in diagnostics and vaccines; and public health insights from Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Peru, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, and other countries.

PATH presentations include updates on:

An integrated approach to malaria elimination

Innovations in prevention, case management, diagnosis, and treatment are paving the way to malaria elimination. These innovations—many of which PATH pioneered—have saved approximately 7 million lives since 2000. Elimination is crucial as the malaria parasites and the mosquitoes that transmit them are developing resistance to current tools. At this critical juncture, we have an opportunity to curtail emerging threats and recurring costs and end the devastation of this disease on families, communities, and countries.

Through dozens of poster and presentation sessions, PATH will share exciting advancements in our unparalleled portfolio of malaria projects under the umbrella of PATH's Center for Malaria Control and Elimination (CMCE)—including projects across diagnostics, vaccines, drugs, system and service innovations, and groundbreaking strategies for accelerating elimination.

David Kaslow, Vice President of Essential Medicines and symposium co-chair, will speak at a session on the full public health value of malaria vaccines. Other presentations will highlight the development of tools to evaluate transmission-blocking vaccines, new tools for improved diagnosis, data visualization, and targeted strategies to stop the disease's spread (including an impact evaluation analysis of reactive case detection, a look at engaging communities through nationwide campaigns, and a comparative analysis of focal drug administration and focal test and treat).

Taking on Typhoid

If caught early, typhoid is easily treated with antibiotics, but can be fatal if left untreated. Each year there are nearly 12 million cases and more than 128,000 deaths from typhoid. In high burden settings, prevention through safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and vaccines is key.

As part of the Typhoid Vaccine Acceleration Consortium (TyVAC) project, PATH will be co-hosting a side event: Integration and Innovation to Take on Typhoid. The event will feature brief remarks regarding drug-resistant typhoid and the importance of WASH interventions alongside vaccines. Additionally, PATH will be supporting the TyVAC / Take on Typhoid Stick It to Typhoid booth all week, showcasing what it takes to deliver integrated WASH and vaccination programs. For more highlights, follow #TakeOnTyphoid on social media or visit www.takeontyphoid.org.

Imagining the future of global health

This year marks PATH's 40th anniversary. As we reflect on 40 years of breakthroughs in global health, we also look ahead to what is possible—from innovative approaches to some of the world's most challenging health issues to novel finance mechanisms and creative partnership models.

Reflecting back on achievements, the MalariaCare project will share lessons learned from five years of country support to improve the quality of malaria case management in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.

Looking to the future, Amie Batson, chief strategy officer, will discuss the United States' future role in global health and Thomas Wierzba, senior scientist with the Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access (CVIA), will present on the role of nonprofit product development partnerships in vaccine development.

A full schedule of PATH's participation at ASTMH can be found here. For additional details on the conference schedule, visit the ASTMH online program planner.

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Posted October 18, 2017.