Experts share knowledge at Meningitis UK conference
30.03.11
LEADING figures from the world of meningitis research are gathering in Bristol on Friday.
Experts from as far afield as Boston will be meeting at Meningitis UK's Vaccine Forum, being held at the city's Novotel.
The high-profile day looks set to attract over 60 top researchers and medical experts, many of whom work with the Downend-based charity to help find a vaccine for the killer disease.
There will be representatives from the Health Protection Agency, the NHS, universities around the country and pharmaceutical companies.
The conference is followed by a special information day in Falfield, South Gloucestershire, on Saturday, where over 100 of the charity's supporters from across the country will be updated on the latest developments and the work of the charity.
Bristol mum Sarah Johnson will be sharing her own tragic experiences of the disease at the Friends' Day, explaining how her son Ryan fell ill with the disease last April and how her family are working with Meningitis UK.
The three-year-old, from Downend, had shown no signs of ill health the day before he died but his parents Sarah and Tyrone rushed him to hospital at 6.30am the next morning after he was sick in the night and showed signs of being delirious.
A small rash started to appear in hospital as the bacteria spread through his small body and sadly doctors were unable to save him.
The Johnson family and their friends have now raised almost £30,000 in Ryan's memory towards Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign to eradicate the deadly brain bug.
Professor Neil Williams, a professor of immunology at the University of Bristol, will also be speaking at the Friends' Day, giving the meeting an update on the Meningitis UK-funded project he's working on which looks at the interaction between natural immunity and vaccination to improve the effectiveness of a future Meningitis B vaccine.
Meningitis kills more under-fives than any other infectious disease despite existing vaccines for Hib, meningitis C and pneumococcal meningitis.
Meningitis UK's Chief Executive Steve Dayman, who lost his son Spencer to the disease in 1982, said: "We're anticipating some encouraging news at the Vaccine Forum, which should be a great arena for experts to share their knowledge to help us in the fight against this terrible disease.
"The Friends' Day provides us with the opportunity to update our supporters on all the good work their support has enabled us to do and the progress being made.
"Every week, six families have to face the sudden tragedy of losing a loved one to meningitis and the experiences of families like Sarah's highlight the importance of finding a vaccine to protect future generations."
Meningitis UK's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign aims to raise £7million to help fund cutting-edge research to find a vaccine for all forms of meningitis.
For more information about Meningitis UK, or to support the charity's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, call 0117 373 7373 or visit www.meningitisUK.org.
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
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