Panel I: HPAI H5N1 GOF Research and Its Implications for Global Public Health

Gain-of-Function Research on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Viruses:
An International Consultative Workshop
December 17-18, 2012


Day 1
9:00 -- 10:50 A.M. Panel I: HPAI H5N1 GOF Research and Its Implications for Global Public Health

Panelist Presentations:

The panelists will give brief presentations addressing the current state of HPAI H5N1 GOF research, including the experimental aims and designs of studies that increase transmissibility, increase pathogenicity, and/or alter host range; the public health context for this research; the current trajectory of the research; and its anticipated benefits, as well as address the discussion questions.


Discussion Questions:

1. What are the different types of HPAI H5N1 GOF experiments conducted to date that have resulted in new strains of HPAI H5N1 viruses with increased transmissibility, pathogenicity, or altered host range, and what were/are purposes of those studies?

2. Has HPAI H5N1 GOF research contributed to public health? If so, how?
a. Have the already published HPAI H5N1 GOF research findings been applied to improve biosurveillance? If so, how and how might they be applied in the future?
b. Have these findings been important for countermeasure development? If so, how?

3. Are there potential benefits to be gained from future HPAI H5N1 GOF research? If so, what are they?

4. Are there risks associated with not conducting HPAI H5N1 GOF research? If so, what are they?


Panel Co-Moderators:

Kanta Subbarao, M.D., M.P.H.
Chief, Emerging Respiratory Viruses Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, USA

Robert Webster, Ph.D.
Member, Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA


Panelists:

Tjandra Aditama, M.D. Director-General, Disease Control and Environmental Health, Ministry of Health, Indonesia

Ilaria Capua, D.V.M., Ph.D. Director, Research and Development Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Italy

Ron Fouchier, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, the Netherlands

Daniel Gerstein, Ph.D.
Deputy Under Secretary, Science and Technology, Department of Homeland Security, USA

Thomas Inglesby, M.D.
Director, Center for Biosecurity, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA

Le Thi Quynh Mai, M.D., Ph.D.
Head of Virology Department, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Viet Nam

Adel Mahmoud, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Molecular Biology and Public Policy, Princeton University, USA

J. S. Malik Peiris, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Centre of Influenza Research and the School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, China

Robin Robinson, Ph.D. Director, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services, USA

Berhe Tekola, D.V.M, M.V.Sci., Ph.D.
Director, Animal Production and Health Division, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, Food and Agriculture Organization