Introduction

John Collinge,Michael P Alpers

doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0103

Abstract

Listen

Introduction

Highlights

The fundamental molecular processes involved in propagation of the transmissible agent or prion are known to be of relevance in understanding the common degenerative brain diseases and possibly normal brain ageing, and may explain a range of biological phenomena as evidenced by the emergence of the field of yeast and fungal prions
In 1977, Michael Alpers took over as Director of the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research and the field surveillance intensified; Stanley Prusiner, Robert Klitzman and Phillip Tarr attended from these years (Prusiner 2008; Klitzman 2008; Tarr 2008)
In 1996, field activities were enhanced by a collaboration between Michael Alpers and John Collinge, initially supported by the Wellcome Trust in London, and Jerome Whitfield was recruited to work in Papua New Guinea (Collinge 2008; Whitfield 2008)

Summary

Introduction

The conference celebrating ‘The end of kuru: 50 years of research into an extraordinary disease’ was held in the Kohn Room of the Royal Society, London on 11–12 October 2007. 1 Judith Farquhar 2 Michael Alpers 3 John Collinge 4 Adolf Saweri 5 Shirley Lindenbaum 6 Carleton Gajdusek 7 Lucy Hamilton Reid 8 Peter Siba 9 Stanley Prusiner 10 John Mathews

Results

Conclusion