The 15th edition of the International Symposium on Schistosomiasis
Is the main scientific meeting specifically devoted to this important disease worldwide. It will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1 to 3 August 2018 at the Rio Othon Palace Hotel Copacabana.
The topics range from innovations in genomics, immunopathology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and epidemiology to recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, as well as prevention and control strategies including the intermediate host, within the guiding theme of elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem.
The Symposium program seeks to address the range of knowledge both "from molecular to social" and "from discovery to delivery". This approach requires close collaboration among research groups of different areas of expertise, and interaction of those groups with the formulators of public health policies and the managers of control programs.
Our purpose is that, at the end of this Symposium, be clear to all parties involved that there is no "magical formula" for the elimination of schistosomiasis; that no isolated measure leads to transmission interruption. Both the development of vaccines, more effective drugs or more appropriate drug formulations and more sensitive diagnostic methods, as well as the improvement of the strategies of Information, Education and Communication (IEC), and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) should be highlighted to strengthen the arsenal of weapons to combat schistosomiasis. We will be providing an invaluable service to the people affected by demystifying the idea that this and other infectious diseases of poverty can be overcome with a "silver bullet".
The symposium lasts two and a half days. The program includes eight conferences and ten roundtables (with simultaneous translation English ⇌ Portuguese), plus four oral presentations and one poster session. It also includes two short courses, one of which is mainly targeted at managers of control programs.