The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), a pulmonary fibrosis (PF) information resource, has announced a record number of scientific poster presentations concerning idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and interstitial lung diseases to be featured at the upcoming PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside, to be held at the JW Marriott hotel in Washington, D.C. November 12-14. PFF Summit 2015 provides an opportunity to meet with physicians, researchers, patients, caregivers, industry representatives, and members of the international PF community in one setting.
PFF Summit 2015: entitled “From Bench to Bedside,” is the PFF’s third biennial international healthcare conference on pulmonary fibrosis, with the goal of fostering a collaborative environment to improve PF education and awareness, and identification of new approaches to treat, and ultimately cure, this devastating disease.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disorder in which, over a period of time, lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff and scarred. Development of this scar tissue is called fibrosis. As the lungs’ tissues become scarred and grow thicker, they lose their ability to transfer oxygen to the bloodstream. As a result, the brain and other organs don’t receive enough oxygen. In some cases, doctors can determine the cause of the fibrosis, but in many cases, there is no known cause. When the cause of the fibrosis is unknown (and certain pathologic or radiographic criteria are met), the disease is called “idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis” or IPF. There is no cure for IPF, and presently, there are just two FDA-approved treatments for IPF in the U.S.
The 2015 Summit will feature a continuing medical education (CME) program for health professionals, a continuing education (CE) program for nurses, and provide sessions for PF patients and caregivers that address their growing educational needs. Plenary sessions for professionals, patients, and caregivers will also be held during the Summit, aimed at further fostering dialogue among the PF community.
“The Foundation is honored to once again offer this exceptional opportunity for the pulmonary fibrosis community. The presentations will review the latest research and discuss important clinical and therapeutic issues,” says Daniel M. Rose, MD, PFF Chief Executive Officer. “We developed this unique conference in order that health care providers can share best practices so that they may improve patient care, provide a forum in which attendees can engage in meaningful dialogue, and create an environment which will serve as a catalyst for further research and better treatments.”
The Summit will be conducted in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), with CME certification provided by the France Foundation. CE certification for nurses will be provided by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM).
PFF Summit 2015 kicks off Thursday, November 12, 2015 with a special pre-conference session in the afternoon for patients and caregivers, to be followed by a welcome reception and poster presentation for all conference attendees.
“This is the third PFF Summit since 2011, and Im not aware of another event that so successfully joins all the stakeholders to promote the science and clinical care of patients with pulmonary fibrosis,” says Harold R. Collard, MD, Chairman of the Summit Education and Organizing Committee. Dr. Collard is also the PFF Senior Medical Advisor who further adds: “Customized breakout sessions intermixed with conference- wide plenary sessions will set the stage for audience participation and interaction among all attendees.””The PFF Summit is a unique event that combines an innovative scientific program with educational sessions that address the current and ongoing needs of the pulmonary fibrosis community,” says Andrew H. Limper, M.D. , Chair of the PFF Medical Advisory Board’s Scientific Advisory Committee. “This year we are pleased to offer a robust research agenda that examines a broad range of topics advancing the field, including promising early-stage research, patient outcome koptimization and the latest data on currently available treatments.”
The scientific program for the PFF Summit 2015 includes more than 70 poster presentations from leading academic institutions and industry leaders, including 30 abstracts from the 21-site PFF Care Center Network (CCN). The CCN is a group of medical centers across the country that use a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach to deliver comprehensive care to patients living with PF and offer access to important support services for patients and their families. Plans are currently underway to expand the CCN to 40 sites by the end of the year.
Sessions continue through Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14, with more than 50 sessions covering a spectrum of topics aligned with the following categories:
• Lung remodeling and regeneration
• Patient-focused clinical trial endpoints
• New treatment strategies
• Patient goals and priorities for PF research
• Pulmonary rehabilitation and oxygen therapy
• Issues faced by individuals with advanced disease
• Patient and caregiver coping skills
• Translational Science: The Promise of Molecular and Genetic Biomarkers
• Basic Science: Lung Remodeling and Regeneration
• Clinical Science: Patient-Centered Endpoints: Symptoms and Functional Status
• Clinical Care: New and Evolving Treatment Strategies
• Clinical Care: Comprehensive Care — Beyond Pharmacological Therapies
• Clinical Science: Multidisciplinary Diagnosis
• Taking Care of Yourself — Shared Health Care Decision Making
• Pulmonary Fibrosis: What and Why
• Pulmonary Fibrosis: Management Strategies
• Patient Centered Research in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Highlights from the scientific program to be presented on November 12 at 5:00 PM ET include a pre-Conference Interactive Session For Patients/Caregivers entitled:
“Taking Care of Yourself — Shared Health Care Decision Making.” The PFF notes that shared healthcare decision-making is a collaborative process that allows patients and their clinicians to make decisions together, taking into account scientific evidence, benefits versus risks, as well as the individual patient’s needs, and has been shown to be associated with greater patient involvement with medication decisions, adherence, self-efficacy, self-care behaviors and patient satisfaction.
This session will begin with an introduction by Kathleen O. Lindell, PhD, RN, a Research Assistant Professor and Clinical Nurse Specialist at the Dorothy P. & Richard P. Simmons Center for Interstitial Lung Disease in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the importance of active participation by patients and caregivers in management of their pulmonary fibrosis. This will be followed by interactive small group sessions on pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and patient and caregiver coping skills.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation will announce the PFF Advocacy Workshop on November 13, providing a unique opportunity to turn your knowledge and experience into effective action with your elected representatives. Former US Representative Brian Baird, who lost his father to PF, will share his perspective on hoe patients and advocates can their voice heard by elected officials and empower themselves to make a real difference in the quest for research and a cure.
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Survey Session on November 14 will address managing and living with PF, and provide information about issues important to the PF community.
Other Summit presentations will include:
Inducible T-cell Costimulator (ICOS) Expression on CD4 T Cells Predicts Outcomes in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
with Catherine A. Bonham M.D., Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellow at the University of Chicago
Rare Variants in RTEL1 are Associated with Pulmonary Fibrosis — Jonathan Kropski M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Predictors of Mortality Do Not Predict Disease Progression in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, presenter: Brett Ley, Clinical Instructor, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of California San Francisco
TOLLIP, MUC5B and the Response to N-acetylcysteine Among Individuals with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis by Justin Oldham, M.D., M.S., Fellow, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Chicago.
Quantitative CT Densitometry Detects Subclinical Interstitial Lung Disease and Predicts Mortality in Community Dwelling Adults: The MESA Lung Fibrosis Study, to be presented by Anna Podolanczuk, M.D., a Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow at the Columbia University Medical Center.
A networking dinner on Friday, November 13 will further facilitate interaction among participants. Registered attendees may purchase additional tickets for the Networking Dinner for guests ($100).
The JW Marriott Washington, DC is located at 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW in the heart of the city’s downtown district, just steps from the White House and near the National Mall. Recently renovated rooms feature luxury bedding and innovative Plug-In technology, as well as flat-screen TVs and high-speed Internet access. Some accommodations feature Washington, DC views, while elsewhere in the hotel are a heated indoor pool, a whirlpool, and a fully-equipped fitness center, as well as dining at two on-site restaurants.
PFF Summit 2015 sponsors include Everest : Boehringer Ingelheim and Genentech; McKinley sponsor: The Edmunds, Esernia and Steffy Families; Ranier sponsor: Chuck and Monica McQuaid; Shasta sponsors: Bayer Pharma AG, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Inspire; Grand Teton sponsors: Veracyte, Promedior and PatientsLikeMe; and Partner sponsors: InspiRx, Inova, Spectrum Health and Fibrogen; Summit Circle for Individuals and Families: The Strickland Family. The Welcome Reception and Poster Presentation are made possible by presenting sponsors and the Pete DeVito Memorial Foundation. The CME/CE program is supported by an educational grant from Gilead Sciences. Additional support is provided by Novartis and The France Foundation.
For more information, visit: The JW Marriott Washington, DC or call 888.733.6741.
Sources:
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
PFF Summit 2015