Contact Dermatitis 2004 – Blending Science with Best Practice

Conference Objectives

1) To continue the collaborative activities of the Experimental Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ECDRG) and the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS). These groups will meet every 24 months to discuss the basic and applied science of experimental contact dermatitis and its relationship with the clinical world of contact dermatitis.

2) To foster scientific exchange among scientists from academia, government, and industry and regulators and clinicians working in the field of contact dermatitis.

3) For participants to gain a greater appreciation of each group’s needs which would lead to more focused and relevant research in the field of contact dermatitis.

4) To facilitate scientific exchange of information that has not yet been published. Meeting presenters will be sharing their most recent research findings. Thus, no abstracts are required nor will meeting proceedings be published.

5) To provide a format for young investigators to present their research in an informal setting which allows for a more open exchange of ideas and provides greater opportunity for meeting and interacting with other scientists.

6) To enhance the development of scientifically sound methods for use in creating improved preclinical test methods and diagnostic tools for allergic and irritant dermatitis.

7) To form a liaison with the European Research Group on Experimental Contact Dermatitis (ERGECD).

8) To expand the understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in contact dermatitis.

9) To further expand knowledge on the clinical aspects and prevention of occupational contact dermatitis.