Leading Allergy/Asthma Researchers to Gather in San Antonio

The world's leading researchers in allergic disease will gather in San Antonio, March 18-22, 2005, for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's (AAAAI's) 2005 Annual Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The AAAAI's Annual Meeting is the world's largest allergy/asthma/immunology medical meeting, gathering more than 7,000 academic and clinical leaders in the specialty.

Educational sessions will explore:

> Hot topics in allergy and asthma> Advances in peanut allergy > Treatment of asthma in early childhood> Allergic reactions to vaccines> Hygiene Hypothesis for asthma> Allergic asthma therapy> Overcoming inhaled steroid phobia> The role of IgE in allergic disease

In addition, the 2005 annual meeting has several new features, including:

Keynote speaker " Leroy Hood, MD, one of the world's leading scientists in molecular biotechnology and genomics, will present a keynote session on Saturday, March 19. With his development of the DNA gene sequencer and other automated biotechnical instrumentation, Dr. Hood has played a crucial role in contributing to the successful mapping of the human genome during the 1990s, a process originally predicted to require up to 100 years to complete.

MORE Plenary Sessions - There will be six plenary sessions at the 2005 Annual Meeting, one each on Saturday and Sunday, and two each on Monday and Tuesday. Plenary sessions are the premier educational sessions of the meeting. Topics discussed include: Management of childhood asthma, advances in peanut allergy, and curative vaccines for allergy.

NEW Pro/Con DebatesTwelve one-hour sessions featuring two presenters providing opposing views on a controversial topic. Topics debated will include sublingual immunotherapy, anti-IgE therapy for food allergy, chronic sinusitis: role of fungi

For a complete schedule of educational sessions, visit the 2005 AAAAI Annual Meeting Online Newsroom, featured in the Media Center of the AAAAI Web site, http://www.aaaai.org.

Members of the media may register without charge and have complete access to the educational sessions occurring at the 2005 Annual Meeting. In addition, daily news conferences highlighting the latest allergic disease research will be conducted throughout the meeting. A press room with interview space, computers, modem lines, telephone and fax services will also be available on-site for media representatives.

The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,000 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate to the public by providing educational information through its Web site at www.aaaai.org.