Committes

Members of this Committee are:

Prof. Giuseppe Benagiano, Director of "Istituto Superiore di Sanità", Rome;

Dr. Alberto Beretta, Scientific Director of Centre Intégrè de Recherches Biocliniques sur le SIDA (CIRBS) Paris;

Dr. Volker Erfle, GSF Institute of Molecular Virology, Neuherberg, Oberschleissheim, Germany;

Prof. Enrico Garaci, President of CNR Area at University of Tor Vergata, Roma;

Dr. Giuseppe Ippolito, Scientific Director of IRCCS "L. Spallanzani", Roma

Prof. Auguste Kadio, Director of the Institute of Infectious Illness of the University Hospital Centre of Treichville, Abidjan, Cotre d'Ivoire;

Prof. Thomas Lehner, Division of Immunology Guy's Hospital, London, UK;

Prof. Luc Montagnier, President of World Foundation on AIDS Research and Prevention, Paris;

Prof. Mauro Moroni, University of Milan Clinic Infectious Diseases L. Sacco Hospital, Milano;

Prof. Luigi Ortona, University "Cattolica del Sacro Cuore", Roma;

Prof. Sergio Romagnani, Institute of Medical Clinic, III University of Florence;

Welcome of the High Commissioner of the IRCCS "L: Spallanzani, and illustration of the Institute activities (Dr. E. Melaragno , Dr. G. Ippolito)

Presentation of the International Scientific Committee of ICAERI

Illustration of the UNESCO Network on AIDS (Prof. L.Montagnier)

Illustration of the Organization & Structure of the ICAERI (Prof. V. Colizzi)

Presentation of the Research Projects of the ICAERI (Prof. V. Colizzi, Dr. F. Poccia, Dr. A. Amendola, Dr. F. Martini)

General discussion and concluding remarks.

Chairperson : Prof. Luc Montagnier

Each member introduced himself to other Members.

Prof. Vittorio Colizzi, presents the story of the International Centre for AIDS and Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious L. Spallanzani (ICAERI).
He pointed out the major objectives of the Centre. Introduced the personnel who works at the Centre and listed the Agreements which have been established with the Centre and other partners, in particular it was presented the Agreement between the IRCCS and the Hospital Monaldi, Neaples, with the aim to create an extra-mural unit of Tuberculosis.

Prof. Colizzi explains all the technical services, which ICAERI could provide together with the Spallanzani Hospital including "Cytoflurimetry, Electron Microscopy and DNA sequencing.
Moreover he gives details on the Documentation Centre headed by Dr. C. Costa and on its focal role within the activities of the Spallanzani Institute.

After this introduction, Prof. V. Colizzi, presents 5 scientific projects undertaken by the Scientific Team of the ICAERI.

Prof. V. Colizzi illustrates the first scientific project "Finalised Research Project of Health on Infectious Diseases "Escape mechanisms of the anti-microbial immune response and a new vaccine & immunotherapeutic strategies"

The researchers of the ICAERI Team have illustrated the other four projects: Dr. Fabrizio Poccia, Head of the Laboratory illustrated the projects:" AIDS and Tuberculosis of the National Institute of Health ISS: Role of the anti-nef T helper immune response in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infections" and CNR-UNESCO Innovative Project on AIDS : Immunotherapy with nonpeptidic antigens in SIV - infected macaques"

Dr. Federico Martini illustrated the research project of the Ministry of Health on Immunology: Characterisation of T cell anergy in HIV+ patients, and development of new immunomodulant strategies" and Dr. Alessandra Amendola finally illustrated the EU Copernicus project : New methods for detection of CD4 cell depletion by apoptosis in AIDS and implications for therapeutic strategies.
After the presentation of the scientific projects started the scientific discussion .

Prof. L. Montagnier as Chairman of this Committee congratulated the ICAERI Team for being undertaken so qualified scientific research in spite of the limited number of researchers. All members agreed with Prof. Montagnier and congratulated the research work undertaken.

The scientific discussion occupied the rest of the available time. Altogether, the members of the ICAERI committee recommends:

a) the extension and development of the research projects concerning the specificity and function of gd T cells, analysing the possible applications of non-peptidic antigens in immunotherapy;

b) the continuation of the studies concerning the development of new methods for detection of CD4 cell depletion by apoptosis in AIDS, considering that the results obtained may have also implications for other pathologies;

c) the development of the research project on the role of the anti-nef T helper immune response in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infections, focusing on the Th epitope mapping.