Health Protection 2009 conference – programme announced

20 July 2009

The conference programme focuses on the three key areas of the HPA's work - preventing and controlling infectious diseases, protecting against radiation, chemical and environmental hazards; and preparing for potential and emerging threats to health - and features expert contributions from a number of public and private sector organisations involved in public health work.

Justin McCracken, Chief Executive of the HPA, said, "The annual health protection conference is a leading event for those involved in public health and I'm delighted to be announcing a programme that offers such a wide range of presentations on issues that are at the heart of our work.

"With such a diverse programme and with contributions from experts in such a variety of fields, the conference will be a great opportunity for health professionals and scientists to broaden their knowledge of issues that are at the forefront of health protection."

Highlights of the four track programme include symposia on:

• Responding to health emergencies (with presentations from experts at the HPA, Civil Contingencies Secretariat and the Office for Security & Counter Terrorism);
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (featuring lectures from experts at the HPA, Health Protection Scotland, the National Chlamydia Screening Programme, the Scottish Consortium and St. George's, University of London);
• Protecting the health of healthcare workers (organised with Health Protection Scotland)

Attendees of the conference will also have the opportunity to be briefed on the latest swine flu developments, from experts at the HPA, whose guidance for the government, health professionals and the public has been instrumental in shaping the country's response to the current pandemic.

Other highlights include a session on assessing and valuing health risks, with speakers from the HPA and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; and a session on translating science in to novel interventions, with input from Baxter Innovations.

Professor Gordon Dougan, Head of Pathogen research and a member of the Board of Management - the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge, will give the Turnberg Lecture on Monday 16th September. His lecture will be on "selective evolution in microbial genomes; implications for infection control".

This conference will be attended by well over 1,200 specialists, in all fields of health protection. Those interested in attending should visit the conference website - http://www.healthprotectionconference.org.uk - for a full programme and to book a place.
Email: hpaconference@hpa.org.uk

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The Health Protection 2009 conference will be held at Warwick University from 14th to 16th September. To book a place and for further information, visit www.healthprotectionconference.co.uk
2. Journalists are welcome to attend the conference and can call the HPA Press Office on 020 8327 7750 to book a place.
    

Last reviewed: 20 July 2009