November 2005
Experts join forces in bid to combat CJD and BSE
Researchers studying devastating brain diseases which affect humans and animals are to meet in Edinburgh today, Friday, 25 November to discuss the latest developments in the battle against Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) which include both BSE and variant CJD.
Experts from the University of Edinburgh, the Roslin Institute, the Institute for Animal Health, the National CJD Surveillance Unit, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and other organisations will gather for the inaugural meeting of the Scottish Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Network (STN).
Topics under discussion will include:
- evaluating and managing the risk of CJD transmission by blood and tissues
- medical instrument decontamination and contaminant detection
- TSEs and dentistry
- natural disease in sheep and sheep as models for human disease
- TSE epidemics
The full-day meeting will be held at the Royal Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh and is open to members of the media.