An International Congress on Leishmania & Leishmaniasis
Why ? Cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral leishmaniases are serious diseases, which are vector-borne and wide-spread in more than 90 countries, putting 350 million population at risk. WHO estimates an annual incidence of 2 million and a total of 12 million current cases. The causative agents are various species of trypanosomatid protozoa in the genus of Leishmania, which are excellent models for aspects of laboratory studied in cell/molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology of host-parasite interactions.
Who ? Anyone interested in Leishmania and leishmaniasis is welcome to participate, including individuals of private and public academic institutions, charitable organizations, advocacy groups, government officials/ representatives, for-profit private sectors and their friends/affiliates.
When/where ? Every four years preferably in a country endemic to leishmaniasis.
What ? Bring laboratory researchers and field workers from all disciplinary areas together for sharing new discoveries and exchange of new ideas. Provide opportunities of international collaboration, industrial participation, charitable donation and training of the next generation.
Prof. Dr. M. Ali ÖZCEL 1931-2022
It is our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of our founder & mentor Prof. M. Ali Ozcel on June 2022.
WorldLeish 7
We congratulate Dr. Ivan Dario Vélez and Dr. Jorge Alvar, Chair and Co-Chair of the WorldLeish7 Organizing Committee, and all committee members for a successful WL7-2022 held from 1-6 Aug., Cartagena, Colombia. This is especially significant under the circumstances, as Ivan stated in the Preface of the Abstract book "..not easy at all, however .... with deep pride for the great challenge undertaken and the achievement reached." Vital statistics provided inform us the "participation of around 700 people, from 47 countries" with "536 abstracts submitted for 341 poster presentations and 195 oral communications in 44 Symposia, 8 Round Tables, 4 Special Meetings, 5 Plenary talks and 4 Successful stories." To host WL7 is indeed a "significant accomplishment for Colombia, especially the University of Antioquia and PECET where significant research has been carried out for almost 40 years to improve clinical treatment of leishmaniasis." We join Ivan and his team to thank all participants for joining the activities under challenging conditions, which will undoubtedly "lift and recharge the spirits of all leishmaniacs" in the tradition of Worldleish.
WORLDLEISH GOALS
- To re-unite leishmaniacs world-wide to share their research thoughts and discoveries
- To open the forum to all individuals and organizations in public and private sectors
- To promote cross-disciplinary interaction /cooperation from basic research to field work
- To provide impetus for solving the global problems of leishmaniasis
WL topics include, but are not limited to the following subjects:
- Molecular/cell biology·
- Virulence factors·
- Host-parasite cellular and molecular interactions in vitro
- Genetics/genomics/taxonomy·
- Drug development: Conventional and alternative·
- Alternative therapies: topical thermotherapy, etc.·
- Drug resistance/mechanisms·
- Diagnostic methodology in practice and under development·
- Clinical and experimental immunopathology/ pathogenic mechanisms·
- Clinical and experimental therapy·
- Clinical and experimental immunology·
- Clinical and experimental vaccination·
- Clinical presentation·
- Epidemiology: Incidence and risk factors·
- Ecology: Urbanization & sylvatic cycle·
- Asymptomatic infection·
- Leishmania-HIV co-infection·
- Vector biology and molecular biology·
- Reservoir·
- Canine leishmaniasis·
- Animal model/genetic susceptibility·
- Operational health·
- Control programs·
- National and international funding organizations
Founders
Prof. M. Ali ÖZCEL
1931 – 2022
Honorary President,Turkish Society for Parasitology
Prof. KP CHANG
Chicago Medical School Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
3333 Green Bay Rd, North Chicago, IL, USA KwangPoo.Chang@rosalindfranklin.edu
Prof. Yusuf ÖZBEL
Dept. of Parasitology
Ege University Medical Faculty
Bornova, Izmir, 35100 Turkey
yusuf.ozbel@ege.edu.tr
Prof. M. Ziya ALKAN
Ege University Medical Faculty
Bornova, Izmir, 35100 Turkey
m.ziya.alkan@ege.edu.tr
How to host WL
STEP 1
SUBMISSION
Leishmaniacs will be informed (e-mail past WL participants) of the guidelines for preparing the application and the submission deadline in WorldLeish website as a link to “How to apply for organizing WL”, in which applicants are asked to address issues described in the document
STEP 2
REVIEW
- All applications will be acknowledged and announced
- Review: Applications will be reviewed by the International Scientific Committee members
STEP 3
ANNOUNCEMENT
- Applications will be ranked according to reviewers’ scores and comments
- The outcome plus scores and comments will be posted anonymously in the WL website
- Applicants and all leishmaniacs/ previous WL participants will be notified
- Comments from all leishmaniacs will be welcomed for a period of one month
- Leishmaniac comments will be posted in the WL website
