Dear Colleagues

On behalf of the ASM Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting Program Committee and the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), we invite you to participate in the 8^th ASM Biodefense Research Meeting to be held in Baltimore, MD February 21-24, 2010.

Since October 2001, ASM has focused many efforts on policy issues, legislation, and gaps related to biodefense. ASM's first four meetings on biodefense research received overwhelming positive responses. The continued success of this meeting and ASM's efforts in this critical area will require the best and brightest scientific talent in academia, government and industry.

The purpose of this meeting is to bring together individuals who are carrying out research to defend against the growing threat of bioterrorism and decision makers shaping the future biodefense research agenda, recognizing that emerging infectious diseases serve as a paradigm for handling the public threat of bioterrorism.

This meeting is intended for scientists, public health researchers and policy makers who need to be informed about the latest scientific developments. The meeting will include a series of keynote addresses by leaders in the field of biodefense and poster sessions presenting up-to-the-minute cutting-edge research on biothreat agents, vaccines, detection and diagnostic procedures, animal and plant pathogens, global surveillance, and other vital topics.

The Program Committee invites you to participate in ASM's Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting by submitting an abstract of your work to be considered for presentation in Baltimore. A few abstracts will be selected for oral presentations. Interactions with colleagues on research endeavors are the cornerstone to building communications that allow all of us to improve our understanding of these agents and our defense against them.

Your presentation at the 8^th ASM Biodefense Research Meeting would be an excellent opportunity for you to share your work with the scientific community.

Theresa M. Koehler, PhD, ASM Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting Co-Chair	Connie Schmaljohn, PhD, ASM Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting Co-Chair