Personalized Medicine - The Genomic Revolution in Cardiac Care

Personalized Medicine - The Genomic Revolution in Cardiac Care: "

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The Richard B. and Lynne
V. Cheney Cardiovascular Institute and The Catherine Birch McCormick
Genomics Center at The George Washington University host a cutting edge
Symposium to examine the issues and implications around the growing forces
of genomics and personalized medicine in cardiology. This symposium is
intended to provide a valuable state-of-the-art update on the current
status and future directions of the genomics of atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias, and the
potential application to individualizing prevention, diagnosis and
treatment for cardiac patients.

   The practice of cardiovascular care has seen significant advances in
the past 40 years with dramatic reduction of mortality from heart disease.
Despite this major progress, cardiovascular disease remains the number one
cause of death in the United States and is on the rise in developing
countries. As we enter the 21st century there is much more we need to learn
about the individualized patient disease susceptibility, progression, and
treatment strategies. Medical molecular genetics is the next frontier with
the potential to make dramatic breakthroughs in the prediction of disease
and improvement of prevention, treatment, and quality of care.

   The symposium agenda features luminaries in the field of genomics who
will explore the state of cardiovascular genomics and how it relates to
clinical practice. Keynote speakers include Elizabeth Nabel, MD, Director,
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to address: Genomics & Coronary
Artery Disease, and Andrew Plump, MD, Ph.D., Director of Clinical Molecular
Profiling, Merck & Co., to discuss: Genomics for Developing Biomarkers. The
symposium provides a unique forum in its roster of prestigious speakers
from academic, government and industry and in its ability to examine the
issues and stimulate new ideas around personalized medicine as it relates
to personalized cardiovascular care. Researchers, cardiologists, policy
makers, medical industry and anyone with an interest in personalized
medicine and genomics will want to attend.

   "By identifying the genes that can cause and cure heart disease,
researchers hold in their hands the potential for personalized medicine.
Understanding research advances in the science of the human gene and its
application to cardiovascular disease will make possible life saving
changes in cardiac care," says Dr. Timothy McCaffrey, who is the program
co-chair for the one-day symposium as well as director of the McCormick
Genomics Center at The George Washington University. The McCormick Genomics
Center is among the nation's innovative leaders in genomics research and
application and is one of the few centers in the world to focus on
cardiovascular genomic research. Dr. McCaffrey will lead a faculty of
renowned experts, in the program.

   "Leveraging the enormous resources of The George Washington University
is a key part of how the Institute is approaching its mission to accelerate
the pace of scientific discovery, reduce mortality and improve the quality
of life of Americans with cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Richard J.
Katz, who is the Director of the Cheney Cardiovascular Institute and
Director of the Division of Cardiology. "An educational program like this
one, on personalized medicine in cardiac care, holds the key to the next
major advancements in cardiovascular care, which researchers, clinicians
and policy makers must understand is one of the ways we're attacking
cardiovascular disease and working to achieve our mission."

   The symposium, titled "Personalized Medicine: The Genomic Revolution in
Cardiac Care," is designated for 6 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and will
convene on October 25, 2007 at The George Washington University Hospital
Auditorium, in Washington, DC. For more information about the symposium or
to register, please visit http://www.cheneycardioinstitute.org.

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