ParSCo - Eastern Mediterranean Region VIII Parasitology Summer Course

VIII ParSCo: Announcement

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Scientific Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean Region VIII Parasitology Summer Course (EMR VIII ParSCO) to be held in Isfahan, Iran, announces that the course has been postponed to 8–17 June 2021. The Scientific Committee is deeply sorry for the current situation. A call for new applications will be opened in September 2020.

 We are looking forward to a great and successful VIII EMR ParSCo meeting!

 

The EMRO-ParSCo is an intense course for young parasitologists and postgraduate students working in the field of human and veterinary parasitology. This course is mostly focused on practical activities in the field and laboratory, with theoretical lectures.

 

 

The eighth edition of the Parasitology Summer Course (VIII ParSCo) is organized by the Parasitology Unit of the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari (Italy) and School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Science (TUMS) and Iranian Society of Parasitology (ISP) with the support of the European Veterinary Parasitology College (EVPC), of the World Health Organization (WHO) and of Parasites & Vectors.

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

This program is to increase transboundary collaboration within EMRO and with young parasitologists from anywhere with the specific aim to promote the concept of One Health. EMRO-ParSCo will be focused on vector-borne diseases (VBDs) of zoonotic importance for the region. The EMRO-ParSCo will be an intense, nine-day long course for young parasitologists and postgraduate students working in the field of human and veterinary parasitology. This course will mostly focus on practical activities in the field and laboratory, with theoretical lectures making up less than 40% of the whole program.

The program consists of oral lectures and practical activities with sample collection, aimed at isolation, identification and diagnosis of parasites such as Leishmania Infantum, L. major, L. tropica and their natural vectors along with the examination of a range of host animals to detect other parasites such as cestodes, trematodes, Trichinella and Filarioids.

 

PROGRAM MAIN GOAL

The main goal of the course is to provide attendees with updated information on the biology and ecology of arthropods such as sand flies, ticks and other vectors of pathogens in the EMRO.

 

METHOD OF INSTRUCTION

  • Oral lectures (40%) 

  • Practical activities (60%)

 

CONTACT

 

Secretariat

Scientific Organizer in Iran

Jairo Mendoza-Roldan

Department of Veterinary Medicine

University of Bari

Bari, ITALY

Tel: (+39 80) 4679839

Email: parscobari@gmail.com

Dr. Gholamreza Mowlavi

Department of Medical Parasitology and Medical Mycology

Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Tehran, IRAN

Tel: (+98 21) 42933333

Email: molaviva@tums.ac.ir

 

 

PLACE

The course will be held in Isfahan city.

 

DATES

June 8th - 17th, 2021

 

ACCOMMODATION

Tehran

Boulevard Hotel (to be paid on site)

Tehran, No. 108, Keshavarz Blvd, 1511733911, Iran.

 

Isfahan

Isfahan Health Research Station (EHRS) affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Laleh Sq., Zeynabiyeh Av., Isfahan, Iran

 

WEATHER IN IRAN

The area features the general characteristics of the typical central Iran climate. In June the temperature is from 18° to 35° C, and you are advised to bring an ordinary jacket or a jumper and also sufficient sun protection.

 

USEFUL LINKS

1) MFA eVisa requirements https://e_visa.mfa.ir/en/

2) Isfahan introduction https://www.lonelyplanet.com/iran/central-iran/esfahan 

3) Tehran introduction https://www.lonelyplanet.com/iran/tehran

4) Weather forecast websites such as: https://weather.com/weather/today/l/03f54a7ed5ff350ccb2288152ea14760d39532bd31776ae1641e231b71342d25 or https://www.accuweather.com/en/ir/tehran/210841/weather-forecast/210841 for both Tehran and Isfahan cities. 

5) Bari Parasitology Website http://www.bariparasitology.it/ 

6) Boulevard Hotel in Tehran https://www.persiantouring.com/hotels/boulevard-hotel-tehran/ 

7) Imam Khomeini Airport https://www.ikac.ir/en 

 

To find out more about this course, please click here.

 

PRE-REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

-     Basic knowledge of veterinary and/or medical parasitology

-   Selected papers will be sent to the attendees one month before the course initiation

 

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

English Proficiency skill is needed. All the applicants will undergo a Skype interview with the organizers (Dr Jairo Menzdoza-Roldan will contact you for interview).

 

CANDIDATE SELECTION

The course is open to researchers and students from any country of the world with a particular interest in parasitology, including those who intend to apply for an EVPC Alternative Training Program and all peers who would like to delve in nine intense days of field parasitology in EMRO.

The course organizers will select the candidates based on a motivation letter, CV, date of application, skype interview and training level.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Course applicants are requested to complete the provided registration form, include a CV, a motivation letter and a recent passport photo, and send them to the Organizing Committee at parscobari@gmail.com. The maximum number of participants is 20 and will comprise 10 from Iran and/or neighboring countries (i.e., Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kirgizstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Iraq, and Turkey) and 10 from any other country in the world. In the case of many applications received the organizers will guarantee a gender quote (i.e., a minimum of 50% of female attendees) to ensure gender equality.

 

PARTICIPATION FEE

The total cost for participation is € 1000.

  • € 1000 is to be paid to Società Italiana di Parassitologia (SoIPa) (includes venue, teaching and laboratory material, transportation to field sites and others).
  •  The participation fee does not include the costs of accommodation and dinner for the first night in Tehran (about € 70) and should be paid on site in cash.

 

Note 1: Applicants (up to 10) from Iran and/or neighboring countries (i.e., Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Iraq, Turkey) may request a reduced fee, which will be granted based on the CV assessment, the motivation letter, the entire final budget and number of applicants.

 

Note 2: Iranian applicants can pay their registration fees by visiting the website of Iranian Society of Parasitology (http://parsco.tums.ac.ir) with the account number that will be addressed on time.

 

OBTAINING VISA

Every applicant is the only responsible for getting visa. For those of you that are eligible, for obtaining the Visa upon the arrival to Tehran airport (total cost about 80 Euro), the organizers will provide you with the electronic Visa.

Accepted participants should provide the following documents for obtaining the electronic VISA:

  • copy of the passport

  • 150 words biographical sketch

  • recent face photograph.

Citizen from Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, Iraq, Jordan, Nepal, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, US, UK have to obtain their Visa at the Iranian embassy in their Country. For further information please visit: https://e_visa.mfa.ir/en/

 

DEADLINES

A call for new applications will be opened in September 2020.