Meningitis update - training seminar in Bristol for health professionals
19 June 2009
Bristol charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) will host a seminar for south-west health professionals at the Bristol & West building, Temple Quay, on 23 June 2009 from 9.30am - 4pm.
Delegates from Bristol Children's Hospital, University of Bristol and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) will attend to hear advancements in research, treatment and support for those with meningitis. Places are available for journalists wishing to report on the developments at the seminar and interview health professionals working with those who are suffering from meningitis and septicaemia.
Key highlights include:
- Dr Elizabeth Shiferaw, GlaxoSmithkline - monitoring the safety of vaccines after implementation.
- Dr Ros Hollingsworth, Wyeth Vaccines - immune system and how vaccines work.
- MRF member Aaron Phipps speaks about living with the after-effects of meningitis and septicaemia. Aaron recovered from meningococcal septicaemia with double amputations and is now an accomplished wheelchair racer.
- Prof Adam Finn, Professor of Paediatrics at University of Bristol and Honorary Consultant Paediatrician, Bristol Children's Hospital - prospects for prevention of pneumococcal meningitis beyond currently available vaccines.
- Dr Mary Slack, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections - comparative look at guidance for public health management of Hib, pneumococcal and meningococcal disease.
- Doctor Caroline Trotter, Epidemiologist and Research Fellow, University of Bristol - the fight against meningococcal group B (MenB) and rarer strains of the disease. MenB causes two thirds of cases in the UK and as yet is not vaccine preventable.
The seminar is free for health professionals and journalists. To book a place, contact:
Health professionals: Shirley Gieron - Head of Helpline and Membership - 01454 281811 or shirleyg@meningitis.org
Journalists: Harpinder Collacott - Head of Communications and Campaigns - 014545 281811 or harpinderc@meningitis.org
Media Contact:
Harpinder Collacott (Meningitis Research Foundation) 01454 281811 or 07711 057875
Notes to Editor:
Full agenda:
Bank of Ireland, Bristol & West Building, 1 Temple Back East, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6DX
09.30 Coffee and Registration
10.00 Welcome Chris Head, CEO Meningitis Research Foundation
10.15 Living with the consequences of septicaemia and meningitis - Aaron Phipps, Member, Meningitis Research Foundation
11.00 Introduction to the immune system: how vaccines work - Dr Ros Hollingsworth, Wyeth Vaccines
11.30 Coffee
11.45 Prospects for prevention of pneumococcal meningitis and septicaemia beyond the current pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) - Prof Adam Finn, University of Bristol
12.30 Pharmacovigilance - how pharmaceutical companies monitor safety of vaccines after implementation - Dr Elizabeth Shiferaw, GSK Vaccines
13.00 Lunch
14.00 MRF Services for people and families affected -new resources / programmes and update including befriending, members' days, advocacy, new disability rights and benefits information, Book of Experience Shirley Gieron, Meningitis Research Foundation
14.30 Comparative look at guidance for public health management of Hib, pneumococcal and meningococcal disease Dr Mary Slack, HPA Centre for Infections
15.15 MenB - problem solved? - non-vaccine preventable meningitis: MenB, neonatal, nonVT pneumococcal, TB, and rarer types, and the likely remaining burden after MenB vaccine. Dr Caroline Trotter, University of Bristol
16.00 Close
About Meningitis Research Foundation
- Meningitis Research Foundation is currently funding 24 research projects into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. The Foundation has spent £15.6 million on research since its inception in 1989.
- Meningitis Research Foundation operates a Freefone 24 hour helpline - 080 8800 3344 - providing information on meningitis and septicaemia to the general public and health professionals.
- Information on meningitis and septicaemia is also available on the Foundation's world-renowned website - www.meningitis.org - in 22 languages. An interpretation service in 150 languages is available through the 24-hour helpline.
* The Foundation offers support for those affected by meningitis and septicaemia. Trained helpline staff are available 365 days a year. A befriender service links people with experience of meningitis and septicaemia to share their experiences and counsel each other.