CJD Foundation Conference

The CJD Foundation conference is rapidly approaching, and I hope that you all are planning on attending this weekend, July 10-12. I am looking forward to talking with Marisa and other staff from the CJD Foundation, and I hope that any of you in attendance will seek me out as well. While this conference is not about me, or the Association for Prion Disease Advocacy, I would appreciate any insight, opinions, or advice you can offer me about the focus and future of the APDA.

The internet has been buzzing recently over a Journal of Alzheimer's Disease article regarding the possible risk of BSE transmission through farmed fish. I largely ignored it, as the information is purely speculative; however, since I am finding references to it everywhere, I suppose it is worth a mention. The concern stems from the fact that farmed fish are sometimes fed pellets rendered from cows. The disease has not been shown to transmit to fish, although it is believed that an animal (or fish) does not have to be infected with the disease to transmit it. The abstract can be found here.

An article on grist.org points out the shortcomings of legislation currently in congress regarding the meat packing industry.

The Calgary Herald reports that the University of Calgary will be opening a research facility to investigate the causes of BSE and other prion diseases. The facility will be studying prion diseases in humans and other animals, although it seems the primary focus will be livestock and controlling the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Hopefully, the research will also provide insight into the causes of CJD.

Finally, I believe the Food Safety Working Group will be releasing its findings sometime today. If this is in fact the case, I will pore over the findings in the next few days and give you a run-down as soon as I can.