ASAP Co-Sponsors Major Research Conference

ASAP is pleased to announce that we have joined forces with Conquer Chiari, Column of Hope, and the University of Illinois-Chicago to jointly sponsor a major research conference, Chiari Malformation: State of the Research and New Directions.

The goals of the conference include:

• Establish the current state of knowledge regarding pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of Chiari malformation through review presentations and discussion
• Present and discuss recent developments in Chiari research
• Develop research recommendations to advance the state of knowledge and care for Chiari malformation, thus improving the experiences and outcomes of patients
• Document the proceedings in the form of a White Paper to be published in a peer reviewed journal and which will lay the foundation for future research

The development of a Chiari White Paper is an important milestone in Chiari research, and it is expected that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will use the white paper and accompanying research recommendations to guide future funding decisions.

With this mind, the conference organizers were invited by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to submit a grant for NINDS sponsorship of the event.
The event will be held in November, 2008 in Chicago, and 18 top surgeons and scientists have already agreed to participate in key roles:

• Dr. Raymond Sekula, Allegheny General
• Dr. Timothy George, University of Texas
• Dr. Frank Loth, University of Illinois-Chicago
• Dr. John Oró, Chiari Treatment Center
• Dr. Mark Luciano, Cleveland Clinic
• Dr. David Frim, University of Chicago  
• Dr. Richard Tubbs, University of Alabama
• Dr. Konstantin Slavin, University of Illinois-Chicago
• Dr. Marcus Stoodley, University of Queensland
• Dr. Bermans Iskandar, University of Wisconsin 
• Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, University of Washington
• Dr. Ghassan Bejjani, University of Pittsburgh
• Dr. Spyridon Sgouros, University of Birmingham
• Dr. Diane Mueller, University of Missouri
• Dr. Terry Lichtor, Rush Presby
• Dr. Barth Green, University of Miami
• Dr. Stephen Fletcher, University of Texas
• Dr. Jorge Lazareff, UCLA

Although attendance at the conference is reserved for professionals, the entire proceedings will be videotaped and a web archive will be created and made freely available for viewing.