The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its Annual Global Conference on Pharmaceutical Microbiology. This annual event brings together microbiologists throughout the industry and regulatory bodies to discuss the latest trends in microbial testing, sterilization technology, and other topics of interest to this scientific community.

This year's conference, themed "Promoting Excellence: Past Lessons, Present Solutions and Future Visions," takes place in the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Bethesda, MD, Oct. 19-21. It is followed by a course series at the same venue, October 22-23.

The conference features two discussions about the science behind the fight against the Ebola virus and the global regulatory cooperative efforts to bring vaccines and treatments to the marketplace faster. Dr. Michael Kurilla of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, a part of the National Institutes of Health, will discuss the scientific breakthroughs. Dr. Lucian Borio of the U.S. FDA Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats will highlight the global collaboration.

PDA will recognize all of the planning committee members who participated in developing this conference each year since 2005.

"PDA is grateful to our member volunteers who have made the annual global microbiology conference one of the association's signature events," said PDA President Richard Johnson. "Microbiology is a critical science behind the manufacture of safe and effective sterile drug products, which is one of the primary fields of work for the majority of the Association's 10,000 members."

Over the years, the conference has added popular sessions like "Urban Myths" and "Emerging Leaders," both of which return in 2015.

The next PDA Global Conference on Pharmaceutical Microbiology will take place in Washington, DC on 24 Oct to 26 Oct 2016.