WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Many of the world’s foremost medical virologists from more than a dozen countries will gather in Washington, D.C. on March 1 – 3, 2011, at the invitation of internationally-renowned scientist Dr. Robert C. Gallo.
During the course of the meeting, attendees will agree upon and confirm the organization’s mandate, mission and leadership.
The announcement was made today by Dr. Robert C. Gallo, co-founder of the Global Virus Response Network (GVRN), Director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and widely known for his discovery of the first human retroviruses, co-discovery of HIV and the development of the HIV blood test.
The GVRN is comprised of a cohesive world-wide network of preeminent medical virologists from the following countries:
- Argentine Republic
- Canada
- Commonwealth of Australia
- Federal Republic of Germany
- Italian Republic
- Kingdom of Spain
- Kingdom of Sweden
- People’s Republic of China
- Republic of India
- Republic of Ireland
- Russian Federation in association with Georgia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lithuania, Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine
- Scotland
- State of Israel
- The Republic of South Africa
- United States of America
The GVRN will serve as a global authority and resource for identification, investigation, intervention and eradication of viral diseases that pose threats to mankind.
Acting as global first-responders to dangerous viruses, the GVRN will operate as an international clearinghouse to educate, inform and disseminate critical information to governments, health organizations, healthcare practitioners and the public-at-large. Of equal importance, the GVRN will work to overcome the critical shortage of trained medical virologists world-wide.
The GVRN sessions will be hosted at the Embassy of Italy in Washington by Ambassador Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata and renowned businessman and restaurateur Franco Nuschese, who will also honor the members with a private dinner at his Washington landmark Café Milano.
For media inquiries, please contact Nora Grannell at ngrannell@ihv.umaryland.edu or (o) 410-706-1954 or (c) 443-823-0613.