2008 LAM Foundation International Research Conference

描述（由申请人提供）： 2008年LAM基金会国际研究会议将重点关注平滑肌增殖和囊性肺破坏的分子机制，发生在致命的肺部疾病的妇女，淋巴管平滑肌瘤病（LAM）。这是第九届年度辛辛那提LAM会议，它已经从一个家庭/患者会议发展成为LAM和结节性硬化症的最先进的科学会议。基础科学会议将重点研究LAM中平滑肌增殖的细胞和遗传基础，并将重点关注生长因子，性激素，基因突变，细胞内信号传导机制和转录调控变化的作用。额外的会议将探讨肺平滑肌浸润和肺实质囊性重塑之间的联系，包括淋巴管生成，金属蛋白酶和结缔组织基质的LAM细胞的阐述的作用。同时进行的临床会议将探讨LAM的困难管理问题，包括激素治疗、航空旅行、妊娠、肺移植和胸膜并发症。基础和临床科学轨道已经协调，使所有参与者参加主题会议，并在会议之间自由交通。一个以患者为导向的研讨会将为100名预计参加的LAM患者和100名LAM家庭成员解决关键的临床问题，并将以基础和临床跟踪主席的科学会议总结而告终。会议最后一天的圆桌讨论将确定关键的研究方向，并开始规划2009年会议。每场会议将由该领域的一名专家主持，并将邀请演讲者和从提交的摘要库中选出的平台介绍。一直有意识地努力吸引来自相关学科的成熟调查人员，他们可以补充现有的LAM调查人员的专业知识。由会议主席主持的讨论将是所有会议的重要组成部分。优秀的初级研究人员将获得旅费赠款，并有机会以平台和海报形式展示他们的研究。本次会议的目标是为领先的专家提供一个论坛，讨论LAM的分子和细胞基础，审查LAM的临床管理，整合概念并确定创造性和创新性的未来研究方向。该提案将为2008年LAM研究会议（4月4日至6日，俄亥俄州辛辛那提）提供部分支持，该会议是LAM研究的主要论坛。今年的基础和临床科学主席是乔治托马斯博士和雷蒙德杨博士。会议的主要目标是：1）回顾LAM的研究进展，2）吸引新的研究人员参与LAM研究，3）确定有前途的新LAM研究方向，以及4）试图就困难的临床问题达成共识。(End摘要）

DESCRIPTION (Provided by applicant): The 2008 LAM Foundation International Research Conference will focus on the molecular mechanisms of smooth muscle proliferation and cystic lung destruction that occur in the fatal lung disease of women, Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). This is the ninth annual Cincinnati LAM conference, which has evolved from a family/patient conference to a state of the art scientific meeting for LAM and tuberous sclerosis. The basic science sessions will highlight research on the cellular and genetic basis of smooth muscle proliferation in LAM, and will focus on the role of growth factors, sex hormones, genetic mutations, intracellular signaling mechanisms and changes in transcriptional regulation. Additional sessions will explore the link between smooth muscle infiltration of the lungs and the cystic remodeling of pulmonary parenchyma, including the the roles of lymphangiogenesis, elaboration of metalloproteinases and connective tissue matrix by LAM cells. Concurrent clinical sessions will explore difficult management issues in LAM, including hormonal therapy, air travel, pregnancy, lung transplantation and pleural complications. The Basic and Clinical Science tracks have been coordinated to allow all participants to attend keynote sessions and to traffic freely between sessions. A patient- oriented seminar will address key clinical issues for one hundred LAM patients and 100 LAM family members who are expected to attend, and will culminate in a summary of scientific sessions by the Basic and Clinical Track Chairs. A roundtable discussion on the last day of the conference will identify critical research directions and begin the planning for the 2009 conference. Each session will be chaired by an expert in the field and will feature both invited speakers and platform presentations chosen from the pool of submitted abstracts. There has been a conscious effort to attract established investigators from related disciplines who can complement the expertise of the current pool of LAM investigators. Discussion facilitated by conference chairs will be an important component of all sessions. Outstanding junior investigators will be awarded travel grants and will be given the opportunity to present their research in platform and poster formats. The goal of this conference is to provide a forum for leading experts to discuss the molecular and cellular basis of LAM, review the clinical management of LAM, to integrate concepts and to identify creative and innovative future research directions. This proposal will provide partial support for the 2008 LAM Research Conference (April 4-6, Cincinnati, OH), which is the primary forum for LAM research. The basic and clinical science chairs this year are Drs. George Thomas and Dr. Raymond Yeung. The primary objectives for the conference are to 1) to review research developments in LAM, 2) to attract new investigators to LAM research, 3) to identify promising new LAM research directions, and 4) to attempt to reach consensus on difficult clinical issues. (End of Abstract)