From cholera to blindness, experts present cutting-edge research at international meeting

Global health crises like the recent cholera outbreak in Haiti emphasize the need for new ways to prevent deadly diseases from becoming widespread in developing countries. International experts and scientists will present research ranging from developing a freeze-dried cholera vaccine to new methods of delivering medicines to underserved populations at the 2010 International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress (PSWC) in association with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans, La., Nov. 13-18.

Highlights include:

• A symposium, "Prevalence of Preventable and Treatable Blindness: a Global Health Perspective," which focuses on overcoming the challenges that exist in developing treatments for cataracts, trachoma and glaucoma and making them readily available in developing countries;
  
• A student poster session discussing the development of a dry cholera vaccine; and
  
• A three-part symposium, "Pharmaceuticals without Borders" that focuses on delivering medicines to underserved populations, regulatory and supply chain challenges, and ensuring integrity and quality of medicines.

For the first time, FIP's PSWC and the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition will join to hold the world's largest pharmaceutical sciences meeting to improve global health through advances in pharmaceutical sciences. An estimated 10,000 scientists from more than 60 countries will participate in 100 sessions, including 40 symposia and roundtables.

Provided by American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists