Program 2019

Program at a Glance

Meeting Objectives:

Human viruses are associated with ~17% of human cancers. EBV, KSHV, and HPVs infect a large percentage of humans by adulthood and play complex co-factor roles in a variety of malignancies. These include Kaposi’s sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman’s disease for KSHV. These cancers are elevated in HIV-AIDS and other forms of immunosuppression, including treatments for organ transplantation. Several therapeutic approaches have been explored, including vaccination. However, KSHV is a complex virus with >90 open reading frames, as well as a number of non-coding RNAs. Some of these viral factors have been characterized and we understand some of their contributions to pathogenesis, but research studies continue to shed light on the complexity of this virus, warranting an annual meeting. In addition, mortality as a result of KS, PEL and MCD continues to be high (by some measures over 50%), especially in developing countries. Thus, additional preventive interventions, vaccines and anti-viral therapies to achieve protection from KSHV and other agents, ideally specifically targeting virally induced oncogenic mechanisms, are needed for these virus-associated malignancies. Development of these therapeutic modalities requires a deep understanding of basic mechanisms of pathogenesis, which are provided by related animal viruses (i.e. MHV68, RRV, HVS) that allow for in vivo studies in a natural host.

The KSHV meeting originated soon after the discovery of KSHV in 1994 as the causal agent of KS, PEL and MCD. Some of the first scientific presentations on this virus were on the Conference on AIDS Related Kaposi’s Sarcoma sponsored by the NCI. The first KSHV Workshop was held in 1998 at UC-Santa Cruz. Meetings have been held annually since then, largely rotating among the US west coast, US east coast, and Europe. These have allowed for the broadest possible participation nationally and internationally at least every three years. Exceptions to this rule have been a meeting in Puerto Vallarta Mexico in 2013 (representing the West Coast) and Beijing, China in 2014 (representing an overseas meeting). Attendance has ranged from 80-175, with some scientists attending both the EBV and KSHV meetings. In 2012, the first, highly successful, joint EBV & KSHV meeting was held in Philadelphia, with 327 scientists, physicians and trainees in attendance. A second joint EBV and KSHV meeting was held in Madison, WI in 2018. Participation in the joint meetings has typically been 250-350 research and physician scientists and trainees. Eight of the previous meetings were supported by the NCI through a R13 grants. The 2019 meeting marks the 25^th anniversary of the discovery of KSHV by Drs. Patrick Moore and Yuan Chang at Columbia University in New York City, and the selection of this city was intentional to commemorate this event. Co-Chair, Dr. Cesarman, also participated on that discovery (Chang, Cesarman, et al, Science 266:1865, 1994).

The 22^nd International Conference on Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus and Related Agents will serve as the premier forum for the exchange of new research developments in the field of gamma-herpesvirus biology and disease as it relates to Kaposi’s sarcoma virus (KSHV). Researchers in the vibrant KSHV field meet annually to enhance interactions and promote interdisciplinary communication and collaborations among gamma-herpesvirus researchers with expertise that span molecular virus biology, innate and adaptive immunobiology, animal models of pathogenesis, pathology, epidemiology and therapeutic strategies to facilitate a cross-fertilization of ideas, techniques, and reagents.

The KSHV conference has a historical precedent of not having keynote talks. Instead, we aim to provide the opportunity for trainees and PI’s to present their research as short oral presentations to strengthen the education and professional development of trainees, spanning graduate students, medical students, post-doctoral fellows and clinical fellows, as well as pre-tenured junior faculty; with added emphasis for those under represented in biomedical research or coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. Opportunities for networking and discussing unpublished data will be encouraged through unstructured time, poster sessions and networking events, enabling open discussion and feedback from a field of experts with the intention of fostering collaborations and advancements in the field in addition to fostering the development of scientific communication skills. Structured networking opportunities for trainees to interact with senior faculty at academic institutions and scientists from industry and government will be built into the program.

The regional organizing committee (ROC) and scientific advisory committee (SAC) will formulate an innovative and thematic format for the meeting to be hosted in New York City throughout June 30^th – July 3^rd of 2019 with the objective to bring together the numerous investigators who do research on oncogenic DNA viruses to foster new collaborations and ways of thinking about Kaposi’s sarcoma virus and to explore new therapeutic strategies for treating patients with ailments associated with this oncogenic virus.

Preliminary Program

Important Dates:

• 1 February, 2019, Online Abstract Submission & Registration Site opens
• 25 March, 2019, Abstract Submission Deadline
• 25 March, 2019, Early Bird Registration Deadline
• Week of May 13, 2019, Email decisions regarding talk vs. poster presentation to all conferees
• 28 May, 2019, Notify session chairs of decisions and send copies of abstracts for their sessions
• 29 May, 2019, Registration Fee increases to “onsite registration”
• 29 May 2019, Deadline for cancellation of registration without penalty
• 29 May, 2019, Hotel room rate cut-off Date.  A limited hotel room block of 100 rooms will be held at a discounted rate of $189 through this date based upon AVAILABILITY at time of booking. If the room block is filled before the deadline, the hotel may charge their going rates, or may be sold out. A small number of rooms have been reserved for the night of July 3rd & 4th for those wishing to experience the 4th of July Fireworks and Holiday in NYC!

Download Announcement:Last Meeting: Please view the KSHV 2018 Program