Font Size
+A
-A

Discounted registration available through
March 1st, 2010!


 


111 days since Microbicides 2010.
Home

About Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is located in the northeastern United States of America.  Whether it's the vast rivers seamlessly flowing throughout the downtown area; the rich culture, including outstanding museums, assorted entertainment, and open air markets and festivals; or the breathtaking views of the mountains and eclectic architecture, Pittsburgh offers something for everyone to enjoy, experience, and appreciate. It is a beautiful city filled with lots of pleasant surprises.

 

Most relevant for the 2010 International Microbicides Conference (M2010), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has become a world center for biomedical research.  A little more than 50 years ago, Dr. Jonas Salk and his team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh developed the polio vaccine. This was one of the most significant milestones in medical history and a legacy that to this day takes form in the university's many global health initiatives, most notably in the area of HIV and microbicide research.  With 45,000 employees and 19 hospitals, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is the region's largest employer.  The University of Pittsburgh, UPMC's academic partner, ranks 6th among academic institutions and their affiliates in funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) - a universally recognized benchmark of research excellence.

 

Pittsburgh has a strong tradition in and an ongoing commitment to microbicide research.  Recognizing the development of microbicides as an important priority in HIV/AIDS research, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH established the Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) in 2006, as its newest of six NIAID-funded HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks.  Leadership for this global effort was given to Sharon Hillier, Ian McGowan, and Connie Cellum. Both the MTN core and its network laboratory are based at the University of Pittsburgh-affiliated Magee-Womens Research Institute, which houses a number of other NIH-funded microbicide research programs.  Strong ties with the School of Medicine's Division of Infectious Diseases and the Graduate School of Public Health allow for a rich exchange among multiple disciplines devoted to HIV prevention.  With this prestigious history, it was suitable to identify Pittsburgh as the location for M2010.

Interesting and Fun Facts

Following are some interesting and fun facts about Pittsburgh, according to Visit Pittsburgh, the city's official tourist promotion agency of Allegheny, County:

  • Pittsburgh is safer than 82 out of 100 metro areas in the United States, according to Places Rated Almanac.
     
  • Pittsburgh has 446 bridges, more than any other city in the world.
     
  • Pittsburgh is named one of the Top Travel Destinations for 2008 Worldwide by Frommer's, a leading publisher of international travel guides.
     
  • Pittsburgh is ranked among the Top 10 of the World's Cleanest Cities, Forbes magazine (2007).
     
  • Pittsburgh boasts the second-most beautiful nighttime view in the United States, according to USA Today.
     
  • Pittsburgh is a leader in the environmental movement, with 33 green-certified buildings. The David L. Lawrence Convention Center is the first - and largest - certified green convention center in the world.
     
  • Pittsburgh is home to the world-famous Andy Warhol Museum, named after Pittsburgh native and renowned pop artist.
     
  • Pittsburgh is sometimes referred to as the "San Francisco of the East Coast" for its hills and beautiful vistas.
     
  • Pittsburgh is the only city in the United States with the distinction of being named "America's Most Livable City" twice by Places Rated Almanac.
     
  • Pittsburgh is the birthplace of Heinz Ketchup.
     
  • Pittsburgh is consistently named one of the best arts destinations in the United States by AmericanStyle magazine.

 

  • Pittsburgh is home to many "firsts" - the first U.S. public television station (WQED), the first U.S. radio station (KDKA), the first all-aluminum building (Alcoa), the first polio vaccine (Jonas Salk), and the first robotics institute (Carnegie Mellon University).
     
  • Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Natural History has been named one of the best places in the world to see dinosaurs by the Discovery Channel and Forbes. With more than 103,000 specimens, the museum has the finest Jurassic dinosaur collection in the world and is the world's third-largest repository of dinosaur fossils.