[afro-nets] Fifth AMANET Biennial Conference: First Announcement and Call for Abstracts

["Charles Wanga" <clwanga@amanet-trust.org>]

Fifth AMANET Biennial Conference: First Announcement and Call for  Abstracts
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26 February ? 1 March 2007
Zanzibar, Tanzania

http://www.amanet-trust.org/fbc

Date: 26 February 2007 to 01 March 2007
Location: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Venue: Zanzibar Beach Resort
Deadline for Abstract Submission: 30 November 2006
Deadline for attendance confirmation: 31 December 2006

BACKGROUND AND SCOPE
The African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET) in March 2002 became the legal successor to the African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network (AMVTN). The mission of AMANET is to strengthen the capacity and expertise of African malaria R&D institutions in intervention trials and networking in order to facilitate the development of cost-effective malaria intervention tools. In accordance with its constitution AMANET holds biennial conferences. Presentations and discussions at the 3rd and the 4th Conferences, which addressed theme ?Malaria Vaccines in the Pipeline for Africa?, and ?Experiences of Organizing Malaria Intervention Trials?; respectively, highlighted not only the problems, corrective actions needed, results obtained so far and the way forward with regard to intervention trials. The two conferences also underscored the need for further capacity strengthening.

The Fifth AMANET Biennial Conference will bring together scientists, researchers and other experts in the malaria field from different areas in Africa and elsewhere to present new research results, findings and perspectives on recent and future developments in malaria R&D, intervention and control, capacity building and funding.

LOCATION
The Fifth AMANET Biennial Conference will be held at Zanzibar Beach Resort on 26 February 2007 to 01 March 2007, in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

ABOUT ZANZIBAR
Zanzibar is an archipelago made up of Zanzibar and Pemba Islands, and several islets. It is located in the Indian Ocean, about 25 miles from the Tanzanian coast, and 6° south of the equator. Zanzibar Island (known locally as Unguja, but as Zanzibar internationally) is 60 miles long and 20 miles wide, occupying a total area of approximately 650 square miles. It is characterized by beautiful sandy beaches with fringing coral reefs, and the magic of historic Stone Town -said to be the only functioning ancient town in East Africa.

CONFERENCE THEME AND SUB-THEMES

The theme for the 5th AMANET Conference is:

"Results from Clinical Development and Trials of Malaria Interventions"; and the sub-themes will be:

-Candidate Antimalarial Drugs in Pre-Clinical Development;
-Candidate Malaria Vaccines in Pre-Clinical Development;
-African Experiences on Site Characterization for Malaria Intervention Trials;
-Capacity Strengthening for Development of Malaria Interventions;
-Clinical Trials of Antimalarial Drugs;
-Clinical Trials of Malaria Candidate Vaccines;
-Developments in Intermittent Preventive Treatment Initiatives;
-Developments in ITNs and other Vector Control Tools;
-Trial Site Development;
-Who is Who in Malaria Intervention Trials in Africa.

CALL FOR PAPERS
Papers are invited on the above sub-themes. Paper abstracts must be submitted electronically by 30 November 2006. The text should not exceed 300 words and where applicable should highlight the research or review rationale, objectives, methodology, results, conclusions and recommendations. The accepted abstracts will be compiled in the Conference Book to be distributed at registration. Each oral presentation including discussion time must not exceed 20 minutes.

SATELLITE MEETINGS
1. AMANET Board of Trustees
2. AMANET Scientific Coordinating Committee
3. AMANET General Assembly

AUDIOVISUAL FACILITIES
There will be projection facilities for transparencies, and PowerPoint.

THE SCIENTIFIC PANEL
Saurwein, Robert (Chairman, Netherlands)
Kironde, Fred (Vice Chairman, Uganda)
Kilama, Wen (Secretary, Tanzania)
Akumu, Achidi Eric (Cameroon)
Chilengi, Roma (Tanzania)
Diggs, Carter (USA)
Druilhe, Pierre (France)
Elhassan, Ibrahim (Sudan)
Hall, Lee (USA)
Jepsen, Søren (Denmark)
Kremsner, Peter (Germany)
Lemnge, Martha (Tanzania)
Malenga, Grace (Malawi)
Manyando, Christine (Zambia)
Marsh, Kevin (United Kingdom)
Mshinda, Hassan (Tanzania)
Ntoumi, Francine (Gabon)
Penali, Louis (Côte d?Ivoire)
Sirima, Sodiomon (Burkina Faso)
Sukwa, Thomas (WHO/AFRO)
Tesfaye Mengesha (Ethiopia)
Vincent, Robert (France)
Thor, Theander (Denmark)

SOCIAL EVENTS
Local operators will be invited to arrange for paying participants to visit various cultural and tourist sites in Zanzibar. Social events will be organized for Conference participants.

REGISTRATION FOR THE CONFERENCE
Pre-registration is necessary for the participants requiring special arrangements to be made for them and for timely estimation of the conference requirements. However, registration for the Conference will be free and will also take place at the conference venue from the evening preceding the start of the Conference.

SPONSORSHIP
There is limited funding for sponsorship of deserving participants. Priority will be given to members of AMANET governance bodies, some institutional representatives, and needy participants whose papers are accepted for presentation.

ACCOMMODATION
Most of the participants sponsored by AMANET will be booked at the Zanzibar Beach Resort. Delegates will be required to confirm their participation by 31 December 2006. All other participants are expected to make their own accommodation arrangements.

CONTACT ADDRESSES

Secretariat
African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET)
Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology Building
Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road
P O Box 33207,
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: +255 (0) 22 2700018
Fax: +255 (0) 22 2700380
E-mail: mailto:info@amanet-trust.org
Web site: http://www.amanet-trust.org

Venue
Zanzibar Beach Resort
PO Box 2586, Mazizini
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Tel: +255 24 2330208/ 2236033/ 2236044
Fax: +255 24 2230556/ 2233957
E-mail: mailto:znzbeachresort@zanlink.com and/or mailto:znzbeachresort@hotmail.com
Web site: http://www.zanzibarbeachresort.net/

--
Charles Wanga
Communications Officer
African Malaria Network Trust [AMANET]
mailto:clwanga@amanet-trust.org
http://www.amanet-trust.org