An E-Training Course on Mucosal Immunity and Vaccine Development will be held on November 6th – 7th, 2009 in the University Teaching Hospital, Fayoum, Egypt. The workshop will blend web-based learning through the 2 day there will be interactive, case-based & face-to-face sessions.

Worldwide, most infectious bacteria and viruses are transmitted predominantly through mucosal surfaces. Factors which control infectivity in mucosa, especially in the genital and rectal tracts are still poorly understood. While many argue that preventive vaccines should induce protective immunity at these surfaces, it is unclear for most important infectious agents, including HIV, Mycobavcterium tuberculosis, herpes simplex, which immune responses are needed. Moreover, the ideal characteristics and routes of delivering immunogens capable of eliciting promising innate and/or adaptive responses are ill-defined. Given these issues, investigators face a number of challenges as well as opportunities to explore these questions in the search for safe and effective mucosal vaccines.

The purpose of the workshop is to engage new scientists and investigators interested in this area. Also the goal is to maximize participant learning and foster new developments in influenza vaccine assessment, therefore, all "Before the workshop" materials will continue to be available for your perusal after the workshop has concluded for a period of at least one year. In addition to the "Before the Workshop" materials, after the workshop has concluded we will post "After the Workshop" materials to further your learning and hope to create a "List Serve" for future communications.

To prepare for the workshop, we encourage you to visit the Fayoum portal at http:/fu.bio.med.ch. When you arrive at the site, you will need to register. Click "Register" on the upper right hand corner, and you will be prompted to enter your name, email address and an institution code. For the institution code, please enter, "FAIS09". A username and password will be sent to your email. Threes will be required to login to the site. If you have any difficulty with the login process, please contact Pascal Py for assistance (pascal.py@hset.org). Once logged in, you can view the program, short bios of the speakers, and list of selected scholars. We ask that you send us a photograph of you and a brief paragraph describing your background and research interests. Please email your photograph and bio to Jean-Pierre Kraehenbuhl (Jean-Pierre-Kraehenbuhl@hset.org)by October 31, 2009.

The learning activities are divided into those that are completed before, during, and after the workshop.
We have compiled a lot of related information, articles, SOPs, and exercises for your perusal at the elearning portal. While all items listed are considered important for participants to review in order to reinforce learning at the workshop and enhance everyone's experience, we recommend the following prioritization.

PRE-WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES:
The participants will have to carry out a number of pre-workshop activities:
1. Please test your knowledge in basic immunology concepts and mucosal immunity (after reviewing required content) by completing the two self assessments Basic concepts and mucosal immunity quizzes).
2. Review the annotated paper on Influenza vaccine trial.
3. Review the laboratory methodology material.
4. Review the protocol-based learning.

During the workshop, you will have the opportunity to hear presentations in the morning of November 6 and then participate in interactive sessions.

For questions/ problems concerning navigation of the e-learning portal, please contact:Pascal Py pascal.py@hset.org
For questions/ problems concerning content on the e-learning portal, please contact: Jean- Pierre Kraehenbuhl jean.pierre.kraehenbuhl@hset.org

Please remember, each participant has been asked to send a short biography and digital picture to JeanPierrre Kraehenbuhl orgjean.pierre.kraehenbuhl@hset.org as soon as possible, for posting on the e-learning portal.

Proposed Venue: Fayoum University Teaching Hospital, Fayoum, Egypt

• Speaker:
- Prof. Jean-Pierre Kraehenbuhl, MD, PhD, Executive Director, HSeT Foundation, E-mail: Jean-Pierre.Kraehenbuhl@HSeT.org.
- Prof Farag Ibrahim , Professor & Head of Allergy/Immunology Unit SCU, Head of Allergy Unit Vacsera, Head of Allergy Unit International Medical Centre, Senior Allergy consultant – Omega Laboratories LTD Canada. E-mail: ffarag112@yahoo.com.

• Participants:
25- 30 scientists and early career investigators are invited to participate in this unique training activity.

• Course Certificates:
Participants who attend the workshop will receive a course completion certificate.

• REGISTRATION AND TUTION FEES: 400 L.E.
Registration includes access to lectures, morning tea, working lunch and evening tea.
Registration fee/ tuition fee can be paid by local cheque or bank transfers.

• ACCOMMODATION:
Participants will have to make their own living arrangements. However, reasonably priced hotel rooms have been blocked out for your convenience.

• HOW TO APPLY:
Please log on to our website www.faisoc.com
Go to preconference workshops and download the application form for registration.