The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has announced that its International Symposium n Malignant Mesothelioma will be held Thursday June 26 through to Saturday June 28 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. It will be attended by leading international experts as well as people with mesothelioma, their families, friends, and caregivers, and mesothelioma advocates.

The Symposium is an annual event designed to highlight the latest advances in research and treatment for mesothelioma, to provide support for patients, families, and caregivers, and provide advocacy and volunteer opportunities for those who wish to provide their own support.

Chris Hahn, Executive Director of the Meso Foundation, says that more than one hundred patients, family members, caregivers, advocates, researchers, and clinicians are expected to attend the symposium. The planned three-day program includes a gala dinner on the evening of Friday June 27, as well as daily meetings and discussions.

Day One, on Thursday June 26, is designated as advocacy day. The two focal points of this day are first to highlight the need for legislation banning asbestos, and the need for more funding for mesothelioma research. The second is to emphasize the need for the Senate’s Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to maintain mesothelioma’s eligibility to compete for medical research funding from the Department of Defense.

Day Two, on Friday June 27, has been designated as science day. These sessions will include discussions by international mesothelioma experts about recent advances in mesothelioma research and treatment, as well as upcoming developments. This day will also provide patients, family members, and caregivers the chance to talk with specialists and experts. The evening’s gala dinner will also present three specially-recognized individuals with award to highlight their contribution to mesothelioma research or advocacy.

Day Three, Saturday June 28, is known as community day, and is devoted to the mesothelioma community of patients, family members, friends, and caregivers. This will include support sessions for people coping the with the effects of mesothelioma, and a tribute ceremony to memorialize people who have died from the disease. The closing sessions of the symposium will emphasize the benefits that can be obtained when people work together to support one another in the face of dealing with the devastation that mesothelioma causes.

People interested in participating can register at www.curemeso.org.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 5:36 pm and is filed under Mesothelioma Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.