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USAID Symposium Highlights Global Progress Against TB and Pays Tribute to WHO TB Director Mario Raviglione

On Oct. 30, the United States Agency for International Development held the symposium, Past, Present and Future of TB, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The event marked the release of the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2017 and the retirement of Mario Raviglione, MD, the agency’s TB Programme director since 2003. Former USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health Ariel Pablos-Mendez chaired the panel of speakers, which included former ATS President Philip Hopewell, MD, Jaap Broekmans, MD, executive director of the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation and UN Special Envoy for Tuberculosis Eric Goosby, MD. WHO Global TB Coordinator Katherine Floyd presented the data from the WHO’s 2017 Global tuberculosis report showing that TB continues to be the leading global infectious disease killer, taking 1.7 million lives each year. Dr. Hopewell spoke about the need to increase engagement with the private health sector. "Private sector involvement in TB care and prevention is essential, not optional," he said. TB patient advocate Enrique Delgado, from Panama, gave a moving account of his battle to survive XDR-TB, which only a few years ago was considered a death sentence. Delgado’s seven year-long treatment battle included a lobectomy and two relapses. He said, "Despite the many lonely months of treatment, lost time with my daughter, loss of my career and financial hardship for my family, I feel lucky to be one of the only 20 percent to survive XDR-TB."

Recently Released: Patient Voices 6

ATS Patient Voices is published by the Public Advisory Roundtable. Since 2001, ATS PAR has been a core component of the Society and a mutually beneficial partnership wherein organizations that represent persons affected by respiratory diseases, illnesses requiring critical care, and sleep-related disorders, collaborate with the ATS to advance our shared educational, research, patient care, and advocacy goals. Download the 6th edition of Patient Voices and share it with colleagues today! You can also access the patient booklet by chapter.

October Podcast and Press Releases

• "Lung Transplant Rehabilitation"
• "MTPI Career Development Series: Dr. Martin Blaser Interviewed by Dr. Benjamin Wu"
• "Pursuing a Career as an Industry Scientist With Dr. Timothy Watkins"

• 10-31-17 - ATS Objects to the EPA's Move to Silence the Input of Scientists
• 10-30-17 - TB Remains Leading Global Infectious Killer: New TB Cases Increase: WHO Report
• 10-20-17 - E-Cigarettes May Trigger Unique and Potentially Damaging Immune Responses
• 10-11-17 - Clean Power Plan Repeal is Irresponsible in Face of Scientific Evidence: ATS First

FDA-Approved Drug for Pediatric PAH

In September, the FDA approved Johnson & Johnson’s Tracleer (bosentan) in a 32-mg tablet "to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension in children ages three and older." J&J acquired the treatment in its acquisition of Actelion. View more announcements and launches.

2018 Corporate Benefit Supporters

The 10th Annual ATS Foundation Research Program Benefit will be held in conjunction with the American Thoracic Society 2018 International Conference in San Diego, California. The benefit supports and celebrates the Research Program and our early-career investigators dedicated to scientific discovery and improved patient care. The Society and the ATS Foundation would like to thank Genentech for its generous Sapphire Level commitment of $100,000 in support of the event. All conference attendees are encouraged to attend. For more information on corporate opportunities, contact Lara Endreszl at lendreszl@thoracic.org.