Conference: Options for the Control of Influenza VI

This was the website for the Options for the Control of Influenza VI Conference held in Toronto in 2007.
Content is from the site's archived pages.

 

Background

For over 20 years, the Options conference has been the premier meeting on influenza, providing a forum for scientists and policy makers from diverse disciplines working towards global control and prevention of influenza.

Since the inaugural Options conference in 1985, Options meetings were held in 1992 (Courchevel, France), 1996 (Cairns, Australia), 2000 (Crete, Greece), and 2003 (Okinawa, Japan). We are pleased to announce that Options VI will be held in 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Each Options conference has grown in size, and with the current interest in influenza pandemic preparedness, we anticipate that the 2007 conference will draw the largest attendance yet. As an international city, Toronto offers the perfect venue to host this large gathering of scientists from around the world to participate in a conference exclusively devoted to all aspects of influenza from basic science to healthcare policy.

The key objective of Options VI is to showcase the most recent advances in influenza research, control, prevention, and treatment. Options VI will provide a forum for information exchange among scientists from academia, clinical research, government, and industry to enhance progress against this challenging adversary.

 

Program Objectives

The key objectives of Options VI include:

• Provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art scientific information for all disciplines involved in influenza prevention, control, and treatment, including seasonal and pandemic planning
• Promote genuine international and multidisciplinary collaboration supporting the full spectrum of influenza research, from basic science, to the development of new vaccines and antiviral agents, to epidemiology and control programs
• Provide a collegial atmosphere within which scientists working in public health and scientists working in agricultural or veterinary agencies may exchange information to develop collaborative approaches to the control and prevention of pandemic influenza
• Maximize the opportunities for informal discussions and exchange of ideas between representatives of government agencies, academia, and industry

 

 

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Options for the Control of Influenza VI Conference summary

Published online 2007 Oct 22.
Jacqueline Katz, Theresa Turski, and Ann Moen

In June 2007, Toronto, ON, Canada was the site of the Options for the Control of Influenza VI Conference, an international scientific forum exclusively devoted to influenza. Since its inception in 1985, the Options series of meetings, held every 3€“4€ƒyears, have continued to grow in scope and size. The Options VI Conference was the largest in the series to date, with 1600 delegates from over 66 countries in attendance. While half of the delegates came from North America, just over 40% were from Europe and Asia, with the remaining delegates coming from South America, Oceania, the Middle East and Africa. This record attendance reflects the expanded interest in influenza, in part because of the continuing circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, and ongoing pandemic preparedness efforts. Dr David Heymann, Assistant Director€General of the World Health Organization, Communicable Diseases, opened the Conference with a keynote address that focused on the newly revised International Health Regulations that have been updated to ensure that any international public health concerns are rapidly detected and managed in today€™s highly mobile and interconnected world. The welcome reception on Sunday evening was held in the main ball room of the historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Guests were greeted with welcome addresses from Canadian Health Officials and dined on epicurean delights prepared by the Fairmont€™s world€renowned chefs.

The Scientific program included 30 invited international experts in public health and basic research who presented their state€of€the€art knowledge on influenza. A new feature of the Options meetings was the morning Translational Sessions designed to provide meeting participants with a broad understanding of concepts and issues in public health, the latest advances in basic or clinical research, and their application for the control and prevention of influenza. Topics included communicating science to the public, molecular targets for antiviral drugs, immunity and pandemic vaccines, effective use of mathematical models in influenza research and pandemic preparedness, and clinical and pathologic findings and treatment options for human H5N1 virus infections. Translational Sessions were followed by Plenary Sessions, showcasing recent advances in epidemiology or basic research in a specific field of interest. Plenary Session topics included discussions on the international challenges for pandemic preparedness and response in both developed and developing nations, virus structure, replication and receptor€binding, the control of influenza in animals, and interactions of the virus and the host including the molecular basis of virulence and transmissibility. Translational and Plenary Session presentations can be viewed until June, 2008 at http://www.controlinfluenza.com/.

The core information of the meeting was delivered through over 600 abstracts submitted to 14 workshop categories, presented in either oral or poster form that encompassed every aspect of influenza surveillance, epidemiology and research. Afternoon workshops ran in parallel with public health and basic/applied science tracks. Public health track topics included disease surveillance, developments in diagnostics and serological techniques, clinical vaccine evaluation, antivirals and resistance, and clinical guidance and policies. Two new public health track topics covered in the expanded Options VI workshop sessions were included to reflect the ongoing outbreak and pre€pandemic responses to avian influenza worldwide, and growing interest in the use of mathematical modeling to predict virus evolution and spread or guide control efforts. Basic/applied science track topics included structure/function and receptor€binding, replication and assembly, animal influenza ecology, genetic and antigenic evolution, innate and adaptive immunity, virus€“host interactions and pathogenesis, and preclinical vaccines and other intervention strategies. A book of the Options VI proceedings will be available in January 2008. Complementing the information provided by invited speakers and abstract presenters in the Options VI scientific program were the daily morning satellite symposia sponsored by industry and presenting the latest information on control measures for seasonal and pandemic influenza.

Some of the information highlights provided by the meeting included the prevalence of influenza antiviral drug resistant viruses in different countries, the evaluation of new vaccine methodologies including novel adjuvants, particularly for pandemic vaccines, the expansion of global surveillance and pandemic preparedness efforts, advances in understanding of receptor€binding of human and avian influenza viruses and their role in influenza virulence and transmissibility, and the role of the PB1€F2 protein, discovered by Jonathan Yewdell and colleagues in 2001, in influenza virus pathogenesis.

While the focus of Options VI was the science of influenza, conference participants were able to enjoy a variety of social and cultural offerings courtesy of their Canadian hosts. Monday and Tuesday evening cocktail sessions offered a casual forum to highlight approximately 500 posters which covered the 14 workshop topics. On Wednesday afternoon, midway through the conference, participants sojourned to the natural and awesome beauty of Niagara Falls, where they enjoyed the magnificence of the waterfalls and surrounding municipal area. A Canadian barbeque was the theme for the final social event, providing attendees the opportunity to wind down after the intense week of in€depth scientific sessions as they feasted on seared meats and a myriad of tempting side dishes. These social activities, juxtaposed against the comprehensive Options VI scientific program provided a balanced and enriching experience for meeting participants.

ISIRV is now the official home of the Options for the Control of Influenza Conference Series, and will play a major role in the development of the Options VII Conference scheduled for 2010.

 

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Here & now: The 2007 conference provided an intense amount of core information when you consider that over 600 abstracts that encompassed every aspect of influenza surveillance, epidemiology and research were submitted to 14 workshop categories and presented in either oral or poster form. There was a variety of social and cultural offerings courtesy of our Canadian hosts. But every night I would crash in my hotel room as soon as I checked my emails and called to say goodnight to my kids who were staying with my parents. One evening my older daughter asked if I would buy a dog bed. I was confused since we didn't have a dog when I left for the conference. It turns out that they had found a lovely stray dog which my parents were keeping until I arrived home. I asked my daughter that she send me some pics of the dog and I would consider. After a friend recommended this amazing dog bed website, I then went online looking for "dog bed from GoodNightDog.com". They offer round beds made with upscale upholstery fabric to match one's decor. I liked the concept. I called my parents to get their take on the dog. It had been well trained and was sweet and friendly according to my mother. I said I would decide when I arrived home in a couple of days. In the meantime I ordered two dog beds, one in a toile fabric that matched my living room and the other in a floral that would look good in any of the bedrooms. I smile as I laid down to sleep that night, knowing when I arrived home, the dog would be already part of the family.

 

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More Background on OptionsVIConference.com

The "Options for the Control of Influenza" conference series stands as the premier international forum dedicated exclusively to influenza prevention, control, and treatment. Since its inception in 1985, the conference has convened every three to four years, evolving into a cornerstone event for experts across various disciplines, including virology, epidemiology, public health, and clinical research. The series is organized under the auspices of the International Society for Influenza and other Respiratory Virus Diseases (ISIRV), reflecting its commitment to fostering global collaboration in combating influenza.

Historical Evolution

The inaugural conference took place in 1985, setting the stage for subsequent gatherings that have grown in both scope and scale. The second conference, held in 1992 in Courchevel, France, was instrumental in forming the U.S. Federal Interagency Group on Influenza, highlighting the conference's influence on policy development.

By 1996, the third conference in Cairns, Australia, had expanded its focus, addressing a broader range of topics pertinent to influenza control. The sixth installment, Options VI, convened in Toronto, Canada, in 2007, marked a significant milestone with 1,600 delegates from over 66 countries, underscoring the conference's growing international reach.

The series continued to gain momentum, with Options IX in 2016 being recognized as the largest international conference exclusively devoted to influenza prevention, control, and treatment at that time. The most recent conference, Options XII, was held in Brisbane, Australia, from September 29 to October 2, 2024, reaffirming the event's status as a critical platform for scientific exchange.

Conference Objectives and Structure

Each Options conference is meticulously designed to provide comprehensive, state-of-the-art scientific information across all disciplines involved in influenza prevention, control, and treatment, including seasonal and pandemic planning. The conferences promote genuine international and multidisciplinary collaboration, supporting the full spectrum of influenza research—from basic science to the development of new vaccines and antiviral agents, to epidemiology and control programs.

The program typically features a blend of keynote addresses, plenary sessions, scientific workshops, oral abstract presentations, satellite symposia, and poster sessions. This diverse format ensures ample opportunities for informal discussions and the exchange of ideas among representatives from government agencies, academia, and industry.

Key components of the conference included:

• Plenary Sessions: These featured presentations by leading experts on topics such as virus structure, replication, and receptor-binding, as well as discussions on international challenges for pandemic preparedness.
• Workshops: The conference included 14 workshop categories, covering areas such as disease surveillance, diagnostics, vaccine development, and antiviral resistance.
• Poster Sessions: Over 600 abstracts were presented in poster form, allowing researchers to share their latest findings.
• Translational Sessions: A new feature introduced at Options VI, these sessions were designed to bridge the gap between basic research and practical applications.

Significance and Impact

The Options VI conference was significant for several reasons:

• International Collaboration: It provided a forum for scientists and policymakers from around the world to exchange ideas and foster collaboration.
• Pandemic Preparedness: The conference took place at a time of heightened concern about pandemic influenza, making discussions about preparedness particularly relevant.
• Scientific Advancements: The conference showcased the latest research in influenza, including advances in understanding virus structure, transmission, and pathogenesis.
• Public Health Policy: Discussions at the conference had the potential to influence global public health policies related to influenza control and prevention.

Notable Contributions and Impact

Over the years, the Options conference series has been a catalyst for significant advancements in influenza research and policy. For instance, discussions from the 1992 conference in France contributed to the establishment of the U.S. Federal Interagency Group on Influenza, illustrating the conference's role in shaping national preparedness strategies.

The conferences have also been pivotal in disseminating real-world evidence on vaccine effectiveness. At Options XII in 2024, presentations showcased studies demonstrating the effectiveness of cell-based and adjuvanted influenza vaccines, providing valuable insights into contemporary vaccination strategies.

Audience and Cultural Significance

The Options conferences attract a diverse audience of scientists, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the globe. The international composition of attendees fosters a rich exchange of knowledge and perspectives, enhancing global efforts to combat influenza.

Culturally, the conferences are known for their collegial atmosphere, facilitating interdisciplinary conversations that transcend geographical boundaries. The inclusion of social and cultural activities, such as local excursions and networking events, enriches the attendee experience and promotes a sense of community among participants.

Press and Media Coverage

The Options conferences have garnered significant media attention, reflecting their importance in the global health landscape. For example, the Options XII conference in Brisbane highlighted Australia's reputation as a science leader, with extensive coverage of the discussions and findings presented.

Future Directions

As the threat of influenza persists, the Options conference series remains a vital platform for advancing research, sharing best practices, and fostering collaborations. The ongoing commitment to hosting these conferences ensures that the global community remains vigilant and prepared to address both current and emerging challenges in influenza control.

In conclusion, the "Options for the Control of Influenza" conference series has established itself as an indispensable forum for the global exchange of knowledge and strategies aimed at combating influenza. Its rich history, comprehensive programs, and international collaboration continue to contribute significantly to advancements in influenza research and public health policy.

 

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