International Symposium On Atherosclerosis Highlights Latest Treatment Advancements

Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Stroke;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 16 Jun 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries with plaque buildup, is the underlying cause of heart disease and stroke, which together account for more than half of all death and disability in developed nations. The world's largest forum for new research on the topic, the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis (ISA), will hold its 15th triennial meeting at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston, June 14 to 18.

Organized under the auspices of the International Atherosclerosis Society and co-hosted by the Boston Atherosclerosis Society and Weill Cornell Medical College, the international Symposium -- the first held in the U.S. in 30 years -- will feature more than 1,500 scientific presentations and posters sessions, with invited speakers representing 25 countries and five continents. Registered attendees are coming from more than 60 countries.

"Recent years have seen important advances in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of atherosclerosis," says Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr., Symposium co-president and the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College. "The International Symposium on Atherosclerosis is a unique opportunity for the world's top experts in this field to gather and share their latest research findings with the aim of reducing the impact of this disease."

A leading authority on statins for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, Dr. Gotto will chair a plenary session on inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis and absorption, and a clinical symposium on new developments in statin therapy.

"New research into the nutritional, lifestyle, and genetic foundations of atherosclerosis, advanced imaging techniques, novel screening and diagnostic biomarkers, and better lifestyle and drug therapies are all helping to make major progress in the early detection, prevention, and treatment of this disease," says Dr. Ernst J. Schaefer, Symposium co-president, professor of medicine, and senior scientist and director of the Lipid Metabolism Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and Tufts University School of Medicine.

"Our understanding of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease has evolved from a primary focus on LDL cholesterol levels to the broader concept of cardiometabolic risk -- a grouping of risk factors that includes emerging markers such as intra-abdominal obesity and insulin resistance," says Dr. Jean-Charles Fruchart, president of the International Atherosclerosis Society. "New research, especially in genetics, is helping elucidate the complex mechanisms behind the disease, and introduce new ways to prevent and treat it."

The 2009 International Symposium on Atherosclerosis will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of recent advances in the field of atherosclerosis, including new insights and treatment strategies. For more information and a full schedule of presentations, visit http://www.isa2009.org.

Source
Weill Cornell Medical College