The 2012 International PRRS Symposium (IPRRS) will be held Nov. 29-30 at the Marriott KC Downtown in Kansas City, MO, in conjunction with the National Swine Improvement Federation (NSIF) annual conference and Boehringer-Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. The deadline to book your hotel room is October 30.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is the most economically significant disease of pigs in the world. The IPRRS brings together an international group of researchers, students, swine health specialists, companies and producers.

The 2012 meeting will focus on the latest discoveries in the genetics of the host and the virus.

Topics include pig genomics, viral genetics and their applications to improvements in pig breeding and vaccines. The remainder of the symposium will be devoted to a broad range of relevant topics, including immunity, epidemiology and the control of virus in the field.

This year’s meeting will be held in conjunction with the National Swine Improvement Federation (NSIF) and includes satellite meetings hosted by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. and others.

The PRRS Coordinated Agriculture Project will host a half- day workshop on PRRS vaccines: past, present and future.

Registration is $100 and includes lunch on Thursday and both breakfast and lunch on Friday. The deadline for abstract submissions will be Oct. 12, 2012. Online registration and abstract submission are now open; those requiring visas are encouraged to register as early as possible so visa letters can be processed.