The 3rd World Allergy Organization (WAO) International Scientific Conference (WISC 2014) and the XLI Annual Congress of the Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology (ASBAI) recently came together in Rio de Janeiro between December 6 – 9, 2014. Heralding from 63 different countries, 2,313 participants gathered for the meeting to discuss research and new treatment approaches for allergies and asthma.
“On behalf of WAO, I want to thank the 163 speakers who took the time and effort to attend the conference and stimulate meaningful dialog and discussion throughout the program,” said the President of the World Allergy Organization, Lanny Rosenwasser, in a press release. “Our appreciation also goes to our sponsors for their generous support which makes a conference of this magnitude possible, and our heartfelt thanks go to the delegates and the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro.”
The conference included an opening ceremony with Carlos Enaldo de Araujo Pacheco — the Counselor of Regional Council of Medicine of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CREMERJ) — followed by three keynote lectures by Rosenwasser along with Brazil-based Vascular Surgeon Dr. Jorge Kalil, and Dr. John Cambier, the Distinguished Professor & Chairman, Department of Immunology & Microbiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine.
In addition, six plenary sessions included: Immunotherapy and Immunological Aspects of Allergic Disease, Clinical Aspects of Sublingual Immunotherapy and Subcutaneous Immunotherapy, Innate Immunity in Allergy: Sentinel role of the Epithelium and Microbiome, Biologics and Novel Treatments for Allergic Disease, The Evolving World of Food Allergy, Food Allergy 2014 and into the Future. The conference also featured twenty seven symposia, 23 postgraduate sessions, twelve practical courses, twenty seven travel grants awarded to WAO Junior Members and 348 abstracts presented through poster sessions. The 25 best posters were distinguished with Conference awards.
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The theme of this years’ conference was Advancing the borders of allergy: From treatment to prevention by targeting the environment, infections, and the susceptible patient. Dr. Rosenwasser concluded: “The WISC 2014 program was outstanding. It allowed clinical and scientific experts to present on a wide range of topics that reflect the clinical challenges we are facing from increased allergic disease, and also the new ways to address it through integrated diagnostic, management, and prevention approaches. This kind of information exchange is needed to help expand the knowledge and practice of allergy.”