Description
We are excited to once again have assembled many of the leading clinicians and scientists from around the world to drive forward the scientific and medical research agenda in Aspergillus and aspergillosis for the 4th 4th Advances Against Aspergillosis conference. There was an overwhelming feeling of success from the first Advances Against Aspergillosis meeting in 2004, in San Francisco where we had 364 attendees from 28 countries, the second meeting in 2006 in Athens with 464 attendees from 44 countries, and the third meeting in 2008, in Miami, with 351 attendees from 48 countries. The meetings were very productive for exchanging clinical and research ideas and forging new collaborations. This conference has now clearly established itself as the premier forum for detailed and dedicated discussion of all aspects of Aspergillus infection and research, and previously published proceedings from the three prior conferences have been very well-received.
The Aspergillus field is in a state of rapid advancement, including the publication of numerous post-genomic papers and substantial advances in translational and diagnostic research. Additionally, the launch of several newer antifungals in the last few years and anticipated clinical trials of others is an important therapeutic step forward, without precedent in mycology. Itraconazole resistance has emerged, and combination therapy is now in clinical trials. Despite the incidence of invasive aspergillosis increasing and disease being the leading fungal cause of patient mortality, prior to the 2004 4th Advances Against Aspergillosis meeting, there had been limited communication among experts in the area. This is another chance to gather the world`s aspergillosis experts in one venue. A fundamental tenet of this research colloquium continues to be to engender collaborative relationships amongst clinicians, scientists, and industry to further advance the field.
