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Experts examine problems and advances in blood supply safety and screening

Leading virologists, microbiologists and pathologists convene at the New York Academy of Sciences

Some 14 million units of blood are transfused in the US every year. Routine blood screening protocols test for several common pathogens, including Hepatitis B and C, HIV types 1 and 2, and syphilis, but not others such as XMRV, a retrovirus that has been linked to chronic fatigue syndrome. A symposium at the New York Academy of Sciences on March 29 will reveal recent advances in the testing and screening of the blood supply, diagnose the current problems, and explore future efforts to maximize the safety of this vital resource.

WHAT: A Scientific Symposium: Pathogens in the Blood Supply

WHO:
Organizers
Lorrence H. Green, PhD, Westbury Diagnostics
Jennifer S. Henry, PhD, The New York Academy of Sciences

Speakers
Gail Moskowitz, MD, Healthcare Consultant
Susan L. Stramer, PhD, American Red Cross
W. Ian Lipkin, MD, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University
Judy A. Mikovits, PhD, Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease
Debra Kessler, RN, MS, New York Blood Center
Sanjai Kumar, PhD, FDA

WHEN: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Networking Reception to Follow

WHERE: The New York Academy of Sciences
7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St., 40th floor, New York, NY

This symposium is presented by Academy's Emerging Infectious Diseases & Microbiology Discussion Group and the Translational Medicine Initiative with support from the Josiah Macy Jr Foundation and the Mushett Family Foundation, and sponsorship from the New York Blood Center and Cerus Corporation.

For more information see www.nyas.org/BloodSupply

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide since 1817. With 25,000 members in 140 countries, NYAS is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. NYAS' core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Visit us online at www.nyas.org.

Cerus Corporation is focused on commercializing the INTERCEPT Blood System, a product designed to reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases by inactivating a broad range of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites that may be present in donated blood. See www.cerus.com for more information.

Media Must RSVP: Carmen McCaffery, (212) 298-8642 cmccaffery@nyas.org

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