Come and learn about the evolution of influenza viruses from Cambridge experts and enjoy an evening of informal science and chat on 10th February.
It’s Darwin’s 200th birthday!
Please come and join us for an evening of informal science and chat.
Date: February 10th 2009
Time: 6pm
Venue: The Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies. Henry Wellcome Building, Fitzwilliam Street Cambridge.
This event is free! Refreshments will be provided.
Dr Colin Russell will give a short presentation on the evolution of influenza viruses: seasonal flu and vaccines. The talk will be followed by an informal discussion facilitated by Dr Christopher Smith from the Naked Scientists. The audience in Cambridge will be joined by one from Bulgaria via a videoconference link.
Talk Summary: On average, influenza viruses infect ~600 million people worldwide resulting in ~500,000 deaths each year. Influenza viruses are able to infect so many people year after year because of their seemingly endless capacity to “change their coats” to evade immunity built up through previous infections and vaccinations to infect us repeatedly during the course of our lifetimes. Influenza viruses evolve rapidly and although the influenza vaccine is normally very effective the viruses used to make the vaccine must be updated almost every year to keep pace with virus evolution. To understand and eventually predict the evolution of influenza viruses and to make better influenza vaccines we must understand where new viruses are most likely to arise and the factors that drive and limit virus evolution.
Colin Russell is head of epidemiology at the Center for Pathogen Evolution, University of Cambridge and a fellow of Clare College. His research focuses on how epidemiology shapes the evolution of viruses and he is actively involved in influenza vaccine strain selection and pandemic preparedness at the World Health Organization. His work on influenza viruses has been featured in New Scientist, National Geographic, the New York Times, and was recently ranked #14 in Discover Magazine’s “Top 100 Science Stories of 2008”.
Chris Smith is a doctor and a clinical lecturer in virology at Cambridge University. Deciding that medicine wasn't soaking up enough of his free time, he started the Naked Scientists radio show, podcast and website.Chris also makes weekly appearances on ABC Radio National, Australia, and on BBC Radio Five Live; he also fronts the Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemistry World podcast, and presents the Nature Podcast for the journal Nature. Now and then he also pops up on telly, usually when the feathers hit the fan during a bird flu outbreak.
This event is suitable for people aged 16+
We are grateful for the support of The Leverhume Centre for Evolutionary Studies.
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