New infectious diseases society has multidisciplinary approach

Milan, Italy – A new International Scientific Society called WAIDID (World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders) was announced this week at the Infectious Diseases World Summit in Shanghai, China.

Presided over by Prof. Susanna Esposito, WAIDID has the objective of promoting scientific research and the dissemination of information on infectious and immunological diseases both nationally and internationally while raising public awareness with regard to such diseases at both the pediatric and adult levels.

Prof Esposito says that no other association or scientific society specialized in infectious and immunological diseases brings together specialists in infectious diseases and immunology with organ specialists such as pulmonologists, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists and renal experts, on the one side, and physicians specialized in the treatment of the different age groups, such as neonatologists, pediatricians, internists and gerontologists, on the other. Among other activities, WAIDID will develop educational programs and prepare evidence-based guidelines on infectious diseases and immunologic disorders with a multidisciplinary approach across different age groups.

Some board members have already been appointed, including Prof. Iria Lutsar (Estonia), Prof. Stefan Zielen (Germany), Prof. Miguel O’Ryan (Chile) and Prof. Shabir Madhi (South Africa) and Prof. Esposito for the pediatric section, and Prof. Francesco Blasi (Italy), Prof. Stefano Vella (Italy), Prof. Albert Osterhaus (The Netherlands) and Prof. Yehuda Shoenfeld (Israel) for the adult section.

The association’s website, www.waidid.org, will be live by the end of this month, says Prof. Esposito. Visitors to the site, including healthcare professionals, the media and the public, will be able to consult information and documentation on infectious and immunological pathologies. Specific consulting on the part of specialists in the field (including pulmonologists, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists and renal experts) and by physicians specialized in the treatment of the different age groups (neonatologists, pediatricians, internists and gerontologists) will be available, plus major international events and news of the principal scientific news in the field.

Prof. Esposito says the organization also plans to host a major international conference every two years and three national conferences per year, plus local seminars. In addition, it will work on two multidisciplinary guidelines each year, along with fostering research by establishing scholarships, grants and awards. For the moment, there are no plans for launching a new academic journal.

The inaugural Congress is already being planned for 2016 in Milan (site of the association’s headquarters), and will bring together the leading experts from all over the world. Details will be announced soon on the association’s website.

Prof. Esposito encourages scientists and researchers in the fields to join in order to participate in educational programs and in guidelines development with a multidisciplinary approach. She adds there will be soon also the possibility to perform clinical research studies using the multidisciplinary network of the society.