2nd TMJ Bioengineering Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：颞下颌关节（TMJ）是人体最复杂的关节之一。尽管有巨大的患者群体和与过多的TMJ疾病相关的显著发病率，但TMJ并不像身体的其他主要关节那样被很好地理解。所有其他关节都属于矫形外科的范畴，但与矫形外科界不同的是，TMJ研究界的生物工程师、科学家和临床医生之间没有有组织的公开交流论坛。作为2006年NIDCR赞助的第一届TMJ生物工程会议成功的后续行动，该会议开始在以前不同的子社区之间建立这些联系，并在最近的生物医学工程年鉴上发表，我们建议继续向前发展，自然进化到第二届TMJ生物工程会议，定于5月27日至30日，2009年在纽约市。拟议的会议直接谈到最近（2007年9月）明确的NIDCR概念“利用炎症重建口腔和颅面组织”，会议重点是重建和炎症，TMJ生物工程代表了口腔和颅面重建的重要组成部分。会议的总体目标是组织一个专门致力于TMJ的科学会议，以推进TMJ研究领域，并加强临床医生，科学家和生物工程师在这方面的连续性。这一总体目标将通过以下具体目标来实现：1）为NIDCR TMJD计划提供关于新的科学方法和关键研究主题的建议，这些方法和研究主题将推动该领域的发展，2）为当前的治疗方法和科学知识建立基准，3）从TMJ研究相关领域的专家那里获得外部观点。拟议会议的一项具体成果将是确定和确立研究优先事项，并将其直接传达给NIDCR（目标1）。通过将TMJ研究和临床治疗专家（目标2）与高度相关领域的专家（目标3）聚集在一起，拟议的会议努力为研究需求和理解病理学的解决方案集思广益（例如，疼痛和炎症），用于改善诊断（例如，成像和生物力学），以及用于开发新的治疗策略（例如，组织工程）。总共有30位受邀演讲者将在3个主要会议上发表演讲，与上一次会议相比，改进之处在于将纳入抽象的意见书，以使科学内容和讨论的范围多样化，引起人们的兴趣，并提高出席率。鉴于第一次会议通过出版物向生物工程界传播了重点研究方向，目前提议的第二届TMJ生物工程会议将通过向NIDCR提供建议来闭合循环，NIDCR能够为TMJ研究领域确定适当的资助机制，并创建PA和/或RFA以推动和实现确定的高优先级研究领域。 项目叙述：颞下颌关节（TMJ）疾病，通常被称为颌关节，影响超过1000万美国人，导致痛苦的疼痛和简单活动的困难，如吃饭，说话和打哈欠。本次会议的目的是确定研究需要的领域，并正式提出这些高优先级的需求，作为对NIDCR未来计划优先级的正式建议。最终目标是推进颞下颌关节研究领域，以提高颞下颌关节疾病的诊断和治疗。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex articulations in the body. Despite the tremendous patient population and the significant morbidity related to a plethora of TMJ disorders, the TMJ is not nearly as well understood as other major joints of the body. All other joints fall under the umbrella of orthopaedics, but unlike the orthopaedic community, there has been no organized forum for open exchange between bioengineers, scientists and clinicians in the TMJ research community. As a follow-up to the success of the 1st NIDCR-sponsored TMJ Bioengineering Conference in 2006, which began building these ties among the previously disparate sub-communities and resulted in a recent publication in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, we are proposing to continue the forward momentum with a natural evolution to the 2nd TMJ Bioengineering Conference, scheduled for May 27-30, 2009 in New York City. The proposed conference speaks directly to the recently (September 2007) cleared NIDCR concept for "harnessing inflammation for reconstruction of oral and craniofacial tissues," with sessions focused on both reconstruction and inflammation, and with TMJ bioengineering representing a crucial contingent of oral and craniofacial reconstruction. The overall meeting objective is to organize a scientific conference exclusively dedicated to the TMJ, to advance the field of TMJ research and strengthen the continuity among clinicians, scientists and bioengineers in this pursuit. This overall objective will be addressed by the following specific objectives: 1) to provide recommendations to the NIDCR TMJD Program on novel scientific approaches and critical research topics that will advance the field, 2) to establish a benchmark for current treatments and scientific knowledge, and 3) to bring outside perspective from experts in areas pertinent to TMJ research. A tangible outcome of the proposed meeting will be the identification and establishment of research priorities that will be communicated directly to the NIDCR (Objective 1). By bringing experts in TMJ research and clinical treatment (Objective 2) together with experts in highly relevant fields (Objective 3), the proposed conference endeavors to brainstorm new ideas for research needs and solutions for understanding pathology (e.g., pain and inflammation), for improving diagnosis (e.g., imaging and biomechanics), and for developing new treatment strategies (e.g., tissue engineering). In total, 30 invited speakers will present over the course of 3 major sessions, and an improvement over the previous conference will be the incorporation of abstract submissions to diversify the scope of scientific content and discussion, to generate interest, and to boost attendance. Whereas the first conference disseminated focused research directions to the bioengineering community via publication, the currently proposed 2nd TMJ Bioengineering Conference will serve to close the loop by offering recommendations to the NIDCR, which is in a position to identify appropriate funding mechanisms for the area of TMJ research, and to create the PAs and/or RFAs to drive and enable identified high priority research areas. Project Narrative: Disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), commonly known as the jaw joint, affect more than 10 million Americans, causing agonizing pain and difficulty in simple activities such as eating, talking, and yawning. The purpose of this conference is to develop identify areas of research need and formally present these high priority needs as a formal recommendation to the NIDCR for future program priorities. The ultimate goal is to advance the field of TMJ research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorders.