Pulmonary Hypertension Scientific Conference

Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Silver Spring MD

Investigators

Abstract

[unreadable] DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The 2004 International Pulmonary Hypertension Scientific Conference will be held in overlapping conjunction with the Sixth Biannual International Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) Conference. This will be the first time that this conference, which has traditionally been oriented to patient, family and clinical caregiver interests, will direct substantial attention to the scientific basis of attempts to find a cure for this fatal constellation of diseases. This venue will facilitate several key objectives simultaneously: (1) it will aggregate in one setting investigators and their original research data/conclusions from the preceding two years. This objective is important because research in pulmonary hypertension (PH) is decentralized among several disciplines (cardiology, pulmonology, rheumatology and cardiovascular surgery) and therefore presented in various settings with resulting fractionated participation. The opportunity to consolidate current knowledge and avenues of investigation will lead to education of all participants, exploration of new areas of inquiry, and critical analysis of the state of knowledge in this evolving field; (2) it will encourage participation by researchers in a traditionally clinically-oriented conference, thereby promoting constructive interaction between clinicians, clinical scientists, and basic investigators; (3) it will demonstrate to caregivers, patients and PHA supporters the realistic scope of the information base in seeking curative therapy for PH. The conference will combine presentation of original and recent research in both oral and poster sessions selected from submitted abstracts with presentations by invited speakers on topics related to research and clinical management. The scientific presentations will be consolidated into the first day of the conference, permitting undivided attention among those for whom this is the primary interest. The clinical sessions, and sessions designed to "interpret" scientific findings for general audiences will be distributed throughout the remaining 2 1/2 days in order to provide education to and engender discussion with general audiences of clinicians, allied health providers, patients and families. Scientific presentations will be oriented toward the mission of the PHA to find a cure for pulmonary hypertension, and will address the genetics, molecular biology, vascular pathophysiology, pharmacology and treatment outcomes of pulmonary vascular disease. [unreadable] [unreadable]