Commentary
International Retrovirology Association brings together scientists and clinicians to bridge discoveries about human T-lymphotropic viruses from the laboratory to clinical trials
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* Corresponding author: Michael Lairmore lairmore.1@osu.edu
1 Laboratory Medicine and Epidemiology/Biostatistics, University of California at San Francisco and Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, California, USA
2 Viral Immunology Section, National Institute of Immunology and Neurological Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
3 Animal Models & Retroviral Vaccines Section, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
4 Gastrointestinal and Urogenital Medicine and Communicable Diseases, Imperial College, Norfolk Place, London, United Kingdom
5 Department of Pathology and Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies
6 Center for Retrovirus Research, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
Retrovirology 2005, 2:22 doi:10.1186/1742-4690-2-22
Published: 29 March 2005Abstract
Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and HTLV-2 were among the first human retroviruses discovered in the early 1980's. The International Retrovirology Association is an organized effort that fostered the efforts of scientists and clinicians to form interdisciplinary groups to study this group of retroviruses and their related diseases. The Association promotes excellent science, patient education, and fosters the training of young scientists to promote "bench-to-bedside" research. The International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Viruses sponsored by the Association supports clinicians and researchers in the exchange of research findings and stimulation of new research directions. This years conference will be held from June 22 to 25, in Montego Bay, Jamaica http://www.htlvconference.org.jm/ webcite. Since its inception in 1988, these conferences have provided a highly interactive forum for the global community of HTLV scientists. This is of particular importance as HTLV research enters its third decade and a new generation of scientists takes over this important work. Many of the scientists attending the meeting will be from developing countries where HTLV is endemic, consistent with the history of international collaborations that have characterized HTLV research. The International Conference on Human Retrovirology provides a unique opportunity for researchers of all disciplines interested in HTLV infections to meet their peers and to address the questions facing clinicians and scientists who study retroviruses, like HTLV.