PFF’s national scientific conference improves clinical understanding of IPF

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) today announced that it is establishing a national scientific conference for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) physicians and patients beginning in 2011. IPF Summit 2011: From Bench to Bedside, will be held at the Marriott Magnificent Mile in Chicago, IL on December 1-3, 2011, and will feature innovative continuing medical education programs for pulmonologists to improve their clinical understanding of IPF, as well as a patient program to address the growing educational needs of IPF patients, family members, and caregivers.  Conference registration will begin December 1, 2010 on the PFF's Web site at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.

"We are thrilled to establish and fund this Summit, where the latest information in research and patient care is shared," said Daniel M. Rose, MD, president of the PFF. "We hope that the Summit will foster a collaborative environment to improve education and awareness of IPF, and to identify new approaches to treat and ultimately find a cure for this devastating disease."

Kevin Brown, MD, Chairman of the PFF's Medical Advisory Board, has been appointed as Chairman of the IPF Summit Steering Committee. Dr. Brown is the Vice Chair, Department of Medicine & Professor of Medicine at National Jewish Health (Denver, CO).  The full committee is expected to be named in the coming weeks.  

"I am honored to be working with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation on such an important endeavor", said Dr. Brown. "I look forward to working with the PFF and the Summit Steering Committee to deliver a unique program focused on the clinical and basic aspects of pulmonary fibrosis for scientists, clinicians, patients, families and their caregivers."

The tentative educational objectives of the Summit include an explanation of the pathophysiology of IPF based on the most current data; using a systematic approach to accurately diagnose IPF; discussing recent evidence for treatments in the management of IPF; recognize genetic components of IPF; describe the role of lung transplantation in IPF; providing patient lifestyle management tools which improve functional status; and developing a comprehensive approach to the management of IPF, that includes both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies.  Patients will also be eligible to attend medical education symposia free of charge.

The Summit will also include an opportunity for researchers to present their recent research findings to conference registrants through a poster session.  Posters will be selected through a rigorous peer-review process coordinated by the Summit Steering Committee. Poster application guidelines will be available on the PFF's Web page at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org beginning December 1, 2010.

The patient symposia will highlight a variety of topics important to help those affected by IPF to understand their condition and manage their quality of life while living with IPF, including pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to treatment, lung transplantation, pulmonary rehabilitation, new research and clinical trials in IPF, and resources for IPF patient and their families.

The IPF Summit has been planned in accordance with the Essentials and Standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). National Jewish Health is accredited by the ACCME to provide CME. National Jewish Health, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, and The France Foundation are committed to developing a scientific, peer-reviewed CME initiative that is fair and balanced. In this partnership, National Jewish Health is the accredited provider, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is responsible for content development, and The France Foundation is the educational partner.