Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Announces Open Registration for Inaugural Healthcare Conference on Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

IPF Summit 2011: From Bench to Bedside Will Be Held in Chicago, IL on December 1-3, 2011 in Partnership with National Jewish Health and the France Foundation

CHICAGO, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) announced today that registration is now open for the IPF Summit 2011: From Bench to Bedside. The conference will feature an innovative two-day continuing medical education (CME) program for physicians, researchers, and other health care professionals.  Additionally there will be a separate one-day patient, family member, and caregiver program to address the growing educational needs of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) community. The conference will be held at the Marriott Magnificent Mile in Chicago, IL on December 1-3, 2011. Registration and additional information can be found at www.ipfsummit.org.

"We are thrilled to establish and fund the Summit where some of the most recent research and patient care information will be shared," said Daniel M. Rose, MD, President of the PFF. "We hope that the Summit will foster a collaborative environment to improve IPF education and awareness.  We also hope to identify new approaches to successfully treat this devastating disease."

IPF affects more than 200,000 individuals in the US, the annual mortality is 40,000, and yet it is still a relatively unknown disease.  Currently there are no FDA approved treatments for IPF. The Summit has been carefully designed to enhance and advance clinical understanding of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis within the medical, research, and patient communities. It will provide a uniquely collaborative environment for physicians, nurses, researchers, and patients to share the latest information in research and patient care.

Sessions for physicians, researchers, and allied healthcare professionals will include:  "Lung Injury and Repair," "Genetics and Biomarkers," "Drug Development," "Diagnosis and Treatment Options," "Case Presentations with Master Clinicians," and "An Update on Lung Transplantation for IPF."

Additionally, a Poster Session will provide an opportunity for individuals to present their recent findings in basic, translational, or clinical research. Poster application guidelines are available at http://www.ipfsummit.org/poster.php

The patient program will highlight a variety of topics important to the IPF community. These sessions will improve the patients' understanding of the disease and assist them in improving their quality of life.  Some of the topics to be discussed include pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies, lung transplantation, pulmonary rehabilitation, clinical trials in IPF, and resources available for patients and families.

As an adjunct to the conference, the Foundation will host a Tenth Anniversary Celebration Dinner on December 2, 2011 at the landmark Field Museum.  The event will begin with a reception from 6:00 – 7:00 PM followed by dinner from 7:30 to 10:30 PM.  The anniversary dinner will include award presentations along with some prominent guest speakers. Individual tickets are $150 and can be purchased at www.ipfsummit.org.

For more information or to register for the IPF Summit 2011, please visit the www.ipfsummit.org or call 888-733-6741. For Summit and dinner sponsorship opportunities, please contact Cara Schillinger at 888-733-6741 or [email protected].

About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

According to the National Institutes for Health, IPF is a condition in which over a period of time the lung tissue becomes thickened, stiff, and scarred. The development of the scar tissue is called fibrosis. As the lung tissue becomes scarred and thicker, the lungs lose their ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. As a result, the brain and other organs don't receive the oxygen they need. In some cases, doctors can determine the cause of the fibrosis, but in most cases, there is not a known cause. When there is no known etiology for the fibrosis (and certain pathologic criteria are met) the disease is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or IPF. IPF affects approximately 200,000 individuals in the US, and the annual mortality is estimated to be 40,000.  At present there are no FDA approved medical therapies.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation

The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to fund research to help find a cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), advocate for the pulmonary fibrosis community, promote disease awareness, and provide a compassionate environment for patients and their loved ones. We are attempting to accomplish this by working with the medical community to foster new research, by advocating for the needs of our constituents in Washington DC, and by developing caring relationships with patients and their families throughout the course of their disease. For more information visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 888-733-6741

About National Jewish Health

National Jewish Health is known worldwide for treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders, and for groundbreaking medical research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish remains the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders. Since 1998, U.S. News & World Report has ranked National Jewish the #1 respiratory hospital in the nation.  For more information visit www.nationaljewish.org.

About the France Foundation

The France Foundation has been providing quality continuing medical education for health care professionals for over 10 years. Founded in 1999, The France Foundation has been at the forefront of the planning, development, and implementation of multidisciplinary certified education. The company specializes in curriculum-based education aimed at providing learners with the opportunity to improve their performance as health care professionals through a series of educational interactions in a variety of formats. For more information visit www.francefoundation.com.

SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation