Interventional radiologists to highlight scientific advances, new discoveries at 35th Annual Scientific Meeting

Research showcases advances in minimally invasive medicine at 35th Annual Scientific Meeting March 13-18; Press conferences scheduled for March 15 and 16 at Tampa Convention Center

Interventional radiologists-minimally invasive specialists-will share scientific advances and new discoveries in treating a host of diseases at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 35th Annual Scientific Meeting March 13󈝾 at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Fla. This year's meeting theme is "IR Innovation"-one that celebrates the remarkable inventiveness of interventional radiologists.

More than 5,000 physicians, scientists and allied health professionals are expected to attend this premier IR event. Hot topic main sessions include a look at practicing interventional radiology in extreme situations (wars, pandemics and natural catastrophes); IR frontiers (molecular medicine and nanotechnology); vertebral augmentation (past, present and future treatments); and future interventional oncology advances. A new categorical course will examine the most controversial interventional radiology-related studies of the past year-including critical review of the latest advances along with pro and con arguments. Topics that will be explored include vertebroplasty, stroke and yttrium-90 cancer treatments.

Central to the meeting's theme will be the presentation of painstakingly researched data on how prolific IRs have been as inventors and the impact their innovations have had in advancing patient care and building the specialty. This research-conducted during an exhaustive search of patent filings and applications at the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office-will be honored with a special "Hall of Innovation."

Some of the exciting topics that will be featured at this year's press conferences include minimally invasive advances coming for liver, breast, soft tissue, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancers; spine fracture treatment (vertebroplasty) for osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic patients; women's health (uterine fibroid embolization and pregnancy; sound wave-zapping treatment for uterine fibroids); getting to the heart of stroke with carotid stenting; another surprising look at Framingham risk scores; and stem cell therapy and stenting advances for peripheral arterial disease.

Plenary sessions include

• On March 14, Matthew S. Johnson, M.D., FSIR, professor of radiology and surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, leads the discussion on "Frontiers of IR," highlighting current cutting-edge news from animal research to clinical studies to innovative practice initiatives (including molecular medicine, nanotechnology, stenting jugular veins for multiple sclerosis). Kieran J. Murphy, M.D., FSIR, vice chair and deputy chief of medical imaging at the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, coordinates "IR in Extremis," a look at how IRs struggle through war, poverty, pandemic and natural disaster to treat patients.

• On March 15, Michael C. Soulen, M.D., FSIR, professor of radiology and surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, addresses "IR Generations" as the 2010 Dr. Charles T. Dotter lecturer. This lecture honor, supported by SIR Foundation, acknowledges an interventional radiologist's extraordinary contributions to the field, dedicated service to SIR and distinguished career achievements in interventional radiology. Jeff H. Geschwind, M.D., FSIR, director of vascular and interventional radiology, director of the Interventional Radiology Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md., and professor of radiology, surgery and oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, leads the discussion on "Interventional Oncology in the 2010s: Where Are We Headed?"

• On March 16, Julio Palmaz, M.D., FSIR, Ashbel Smith Tenured Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio who holds 40 issued patents and conceived and developed the first clinically successful balloon expandable vascular stent (called one of the "ten patents that changed the world"), will receive the SIR Foundation's 2010 Leaders in Innovation Award. He will also coordinate the "Innovation in IR" plenary session. SIR Gold Medalists-John D. Fulco, M.D., FSIR, the past chief of staff of the Ellis Health System in Schenectady, N.Y., and past president of the Medical Society of the County of Schenectady; Irvin F. Hawkins Jr., M.D., FSIR, professor of radiology and surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville; and David C. Levin, M.D, FSIR, professor and chair emeritus of the department of radiology at Jefferson Medical College and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa.-will be honored.