This minicourse will highlight new technologies in genetics and genomics that build on the mapping and sequencing of human and model organism genomes to define the function of genes and their clinical importance in normal health and disease.

Genetic Analysis of Hematopoiesis and Cancer
Leonard I. Zon, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA

Genetic Polymorphisms for Linkage and Association Studies
Aravinda Chakravarti, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Gene Expression: Expression Profiling and Microarray Technology
Jeffrey M. Trent, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

This 3-hour minicourse will help the primary and subspecialty care providers understand better the changing field of diabetes mellitus: its pathophysiology, epidemiology, and advances in management. The availability of new treatments and devices for the care of patients with Type I diabetes has changed dramatically over the past decade. The rising prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, closely linked to the obesity epidemic, is bringing a formerly "adult" disease into the pediatricians' offices. This minicourse will provide an overview of four pertinent areas, by speakers who are leaders in the field.

Cell Biology of Human Pancreatic Islets
Alberto Hayek, University of California San Diego Medical School, La Jolla, CA

Much attention has been given to advances in molecular biology, the genome project, immunobiology and rational drug design based on sound scientific discoveries. While there has been much excitement generated by such areas, an often expressed concern is "Where's the beef?" This session will attempt to describe several examples of how advances in laboratory science are now being translated into more effective treatments for diseases that have evaded more conventional therapeutic approaches.

Overview

AML as a Model for Novel Cancer Therapeutics
Robert J. Arceci, Director, Pediatric Oncology, Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, MD

Nonmyeloablative Transplants and Novel Conditioning Approaches
Stella M. Davies, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

New Therapeutic Approaches for Sickle Cell Disease
James F. Casella, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Discussion

Two cases of children with asthma will be presented. The group will work through these cases formulating a plan for diagnosis and management. Objectives Include: Recognize warning signs of asthma, determination of asthma, class severity; identification of asthma triggers; familiarity with concepts of pulmonary function testing and peak flow monitoring; understanding of the role of inflammation and anti-inflammatory therapy; recognition and comprehension of potential side effects of medications and the disease patterns, development of asthma action plans using peak flow measurements and formulation of environmental control measures based on history and allergy testing.

Diane Schuller, Penn State College of Medicine, Jay Selcow, AAP Section on Allergy and Immunology

This symposium will provide a broad overview of the state of the pediatric AIDS pandemic. The results of recent trials investigating approaches to prevention and treatment of vertical HIV transmission in the developing world will be discussed. Collaborative approaches and opportunities for partnership in international pediatric AIDS treatment, education, and research will be highlighted.

Overview
Mark W. Kline, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Pediatric AIDS: State of the Pandemic
Meg Gwynne Ferris, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Approaches to Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in the Developing World
Lynne M. Mofenson, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Rockville, MD

Collaborative Approaches to International AIDS Training and Research
Kenneth Bridbord, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Models of Partnership in Pediatric AIDS Treatment, Education and Clinical Research: Romania and Botswana
Mark W. Kline, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

It has long been hypothesized that tumor expansion is dependent on the growth of new blood vessels. Recently, a new understanding of the molecular mechanisms of vascular development and growth has been achieved and has suggested new targets for cancer treatment. This program will clarify the role of novel growth factors in vascular development and tumor growth and review the novel strategies currently being developed to interfere with tumor growth.

Cellular Interactions During Vascular Development
Patricia A. D'Amore, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Angiopoietins and the Regulation of Vascular Growth
Jocelyn Holash, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY

Tumor Angiogenesis at the Cellular Level
Lance Munn, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Quality improvement activities are intended to close the gap between desired evidence-based structures and processes of health care and what is actually delivered. The Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ, formerly the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research) continues to encourage and support rigorous research so that quality improvement efforts can themselves be evidence-based. In this workshop, AHRQ awardees will explain how they successfully applied for grants for quality improvement research, and how they are conducting quality improvement research in real world settings. The grantees will discuss the theoretical and conceptual QI frameworks that informed their approaches, the interventions they designed and implemented, the tools they used and developed, the importance of collaborations with health systems, the real world barriers and opportunities they encountered, and how they handled IRB requirements. Panelists' projects concern jaundice (Palmer, funded in 1998): timely delivery of surfactant to high-risk neonates (Horbar, funded in 1999); and pediatric asthma (project(s) to be funded in 2000). The workshop will include substantial opportunities to address participants' questions about individual research projects and the overall QI theme.

D. M. Dougherty and M. Miller (co-chairs), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD; R. Heather Palmer, Harvard University; Jeffrey D. Horbar, M.D., University of Vermont College of Medicine; other awardees of AHRQ quality improvement grants.

The Human Genome Project is impacting every aspect of medicine. Dr. Craig Venter, President of Celera Genomics, one of the chief architects of this venture, will discuss the accomplishments of the human genome project and implications for future impact on health and disease in this special one-hour state of the art lecture.

Sequencing the Human Genome
J. Craig Venter, President, Celera Genomics, Rockville, MD

Supported in part by an educational grant from the Columbus Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH

Previously we have thought that most infections are the circumstance of "bad luck". This session will highlight the exploding information on our innate immunity, subtle defects that cause susceptibility to certain pathogens, and the remarkable mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis.

Toll-like Receptors, Innate Immunity and Responses to Microbial Antigens
Moshe Arditi, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Evading Host Defenses: Lessons from Bordetellae
Jeff F. Miller, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections: Acute or Chronic?
Scott Hultgren, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

A major challenge of daily professional life is keeping abreast of the rapid changes in infectious diseases — pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, therapies and prevention. Four topics are selected because of their timeliness and the importance of new information.

Vaccines: The Good, Bad and Ugly
Jon S. Abramson, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem NC

Meningococcal Vaccine: Experience and Experiment
Dan M. Granoff, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, CA

The MRSA Shows No Mercy
Betsy C. Herold, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY