Speakers Set For International Conference On Pulmonary Fibrosis

Leading Physicians and Researchers Present Newest Findings To Enhance Patient Care

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Sep 27, 2017, 11:20 ET

CHICAGO, Sept. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF), the nation's leading pulmonary fibrosis (PF) advocacy organization, has announced its keynote speakers for the upcoming PFF Summit 2017. The biennial meeting will take place Nov. 9-11, at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

Physicians, researchers and patients will gather in Nashville for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation's biennial global summit, Nov. 9-11. Informative and collaborative sessions will highlight the most current developments in the research and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, a deadly lung disease.

Over the three-day conference, prominent physicians and researchers will present the most current information about pulmonary fibrosis, a devastating and deadly disease resulting from progressive scarring of the lungs. The most common form of PF is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), for which there is no known cause.

Pulmonary fibrosis affects 200,000 Americans and causes more than 40,000 deaths annually. Fifty-thousand new cases are diagnosed each year. There is no known cure.

"The PFF Summit is patient-centric and presenters will address the individuality of pulmonary fibrosis and its progression," said Bill Schmidt, President and CEO of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. "We will announce clinical trials in the pipeline for pulmonary fibrosis and potential therapies moving forward."

Four-time World Series champion, New York Yankee legend and Latin Grammy nominee, Bernie Williams, will appear to present a performance in honor of his father, who passed away from IPF.

James Kiley, Ph.D. of the National Health, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will deliver the keynote address, "NHLBI Support for Personalized Therapy in Lung Disease." Kiley's presentation will lead off a plenary session focused on genetics and personalized medicine in PF. A panel discussion with physicians and patients with familial idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis will address genetics and environmental factors in interstitial lung disease.

In a nod to Nashville's musical roots, country music singer and songwriter, Billy Kirsch, of Kidbilly Music, will lead patients and caregivers in writing a song about pulmonary fibrosis. Kidbilly's Victoria Banks and Rusty Tabor will join Billy Kirsch and attendees in performing the song at a networking dinner that evening.

Gordon Bernard, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Executive Vice President for Research, and Director, Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, will present the final keynote address, "Re-thinking Clinical Trials in IPF," on maximizing the impact of available therapies in IPF.

Throughout the conference, physicians and medical specialists will deliver presentations on stem cell therapies, biotourism, and advances in imaging. The Summit will also feature dedicated sessions for newly diagnosed patients and family members, individuals who have been living with PF, those who have lost a loved one to the disease, and lung transplant recipients.

The PFF Summit 2017 offers a three-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Education (CE) program for physicians, researchers, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and allied health professionals. Concentrating on the science and disease mechanisms of PF, these sessions will examine genetics, environmental influences and advances in diagnosis, and therapeutics.

The CME activities are jointly provided by PFF and the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine in collaboration with the Global Academy for Medical Education. The Summit will be conducted in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (AACCME).

The PFF Summit 2017 is sponsored in part by Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, FibroGen, Veractye, Acro Pharmaceutical Services, Avalyn Pharmaceuticals, Biogen, Global Blood Therapeutics, Pliant Therapeutics, Samumed, and Chuck and Monica McQuaid.

For more information and to register for the PFF Summit 2017, visit pffsummit.org.

About the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation mobilizes people and resources to provide access to high quality care and leads research for a cure so people with pulmonary fibrosis will live longer, healthier lives. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, patients, and caregivers worldwide. The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Better Business Bureau accredited charity. The PFF Summit 2017, its fourth biennial international health care conference will be held from November 9-11, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information, visit pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call 844.TalkPFF (844.825.5733) or 312.587.9272 from outside of the US.

CONTACT:
Dorothy Coyle
773-332-6201

SOURCE The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation