Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Announces Open Registration And Call For Abstracts For International Conference On Pulmonary Fibrosis

CHICAGO, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) announced today that registration is open for PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside. The Summit is an international conference focused on pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a devastating and deadly disease resulting from progressive scarring of the lungs. The Summit will provide continuing medical education for health care professionals, conduct sessions geared specifically for people living with PF and their caregivers, and plenary sessions that will bring together all attendees in a collaborative learning environment.

"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," said 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 goals of PFF Summit 2015 are to improve the community's understanding of PF and identify new approaches to treat and ultimately cure the disease. The Summit will feature an unparalleled two-day continuing medical education program for physicians, researchers, registered nurses and allied health professionals that focuses on the science and clinical care of PF. Additionally, a separate two-day program is offered to patients, family members and caregivers to address their educational needs and provide management strategies for living better with PF. Plenary sessions for all attendees will provide a format in which health care professionals, patients and caregivers will join together to discuss issues, with an emphasis on audience participation. More than 50 sessions will be presented; some of the topics to be discussed include:

• The science of molecular and genetic biomarkers
• 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

The PFF Summit 2015 will be presented by the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation and will be held November 12-14 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. The France Foundation is providing CME certification. To view the Summit faculty and register, please visit www.pffsummit.org.

"This is the third PFF Summit since 2011, and I'm not aware of another event that so successfully joins all the stakeholders to promote the science and clinical care of patients with pulmonary fibrosis," said Harold R. Collard, MD, Chairman of the Summit Education and Organizing Committee. Dr. Collard is also the PFF Senior Medical Advisor. He further added, "Customized breakout sessions intermixed with conference-wide plenary sessions will set the stage for audience participation and interaction among all attendees."

Academic and industry researchers are invited to submit abstracts of their scientific research for consideration at the poster presentation. The call for abstracts opens June 1. Learn more about abstract submission at www.pffsummit.org/posters.html.

The Foundation thanks the members of the Summit Education and Organizing Committee for their contributions to PFF Summit 2015: Harold R. Collard, MD (Committee Chair); Zoë D. Bubany; Gregory P. Cosgrove MD; Kevin R. Flaherty MD, MS; Susan S. Jacobs, RN, MS; Dolly Kervitsky, CRT, CCRC; David J. Lederer MD, MS; Kathleen O. Lindell, PhD, RN; Jesse Roman MD; Daniel M. Rose, MD; Chris D. Schumann, MS, RCEP, CES; Jeffrey J. Swigris, MD; and Patti Tuomey, EdD.

To register for the PFF Summit 2015, please visit www.pffsummit.org or call 888.733.6741. For sponsorship or exhibition opportunities contact Eirill Falck, 312.239.6626 and [email protected]

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is to serve as the trusted resource for the pulmonary fibrosis (PF) community by raising awareness, providing disease education, advancing care and funding research. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, people with PF and caregivers worldwide. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. The PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside, its third biennial international health care conference, will be held November 12-14, 2015 in Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or +1 312.587.9272 from outside of the U.S.

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition in which, over a period of time, lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff and scarred. The development of the scar tissue is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred and grows thicker, the lungs lose their ability to transfer oxygen into 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. Presently, there are two FDA-approved treatments for IPF in the U.S.

About PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside
PFF Summit 2015: From Bench to Bedside is the PFF's third biennial international health care conference on pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The goal of the Summit is to foster a collaborative environment to improve education and awareness of PF and to identify new approaches to treat, and ultimately cure, this devastating disease. The Summit will feature an innovative continuing medical education (CME) program for health professionals as well as provide sessions for PF patients and caregivers that address their growing educational needs. Plenary sessions for professionals, patients, and caregivers will also be presented during PFF Summit 2015, further fostering dialogue among the PF community. Conference registration is currently open. The Summit will be conducted in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). CME certification will be provided by the France Foundation. For more information, please visit www.pffsummit.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733).

For Media Inquiries:
Michelle Michael
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
312.239.6628
[email protected]

For General Inquiries:
PFF Patient Communication Center
844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733)
[email protected]

SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

Related Links

http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org