Our special conference hotel rate of $139 includes free breakfast and wireless internet access. Rooms must be booked by May 30, 2007, to qualify for this rate. Be sure to say you are attending the VHL meeting.
Early-bird registration for this meeting (through May 30) is $50 which includes lunch and breaks and an outstanding agenda. After May 30, registration will be $60.
Parking is available in the adjacent parking garage for $24 for the day. People staying at the hotel get a discount on the parking rate.
The best way to see Boston is on foot, and the hotel is right in the heart of Boston. Commuters from around New England might consider leaving the car at one of the outlying commuter stations and taking the MBTA (subway/trolley system) or the Commuter Rail. There are shuttles from the airport to the downtown hotels, including a boat shuttle!
Commuter Rail trains come from Fitchburg, Providence, Plymouth, Needham, etc.
The DRAFT Agenda
Saturday, June 23
9:00 am
Greetings and Introduction
Bruce Weinberg, J.D., Chairman of the Board
9:30 am
Teamwork for Health
Joyce Graff, E.D., Cancer Research Fund-VHL Alliance
10:00 am
Progress in Research,an update on the state of research, some of the leading candidates for drugs to help prevent, stall, or shrink tumors. She will help us understand, for example, how flaws in any one of five different genes can produce a pheo
Susanne Schlisio, Ph.D, Dana Farber Cancer Research Center. Her research is funded in part by VHLFA
10:30 am
Targeting Cancer-Specific Mutations with Immunotherapy.
Donald Bellgrau, Ph.D., Professor of Immunology and Medicine, University of Colorado at Denver. His research is funded in part by VHLFA.
11:00 am
Imaging and Contrast. Dr. Cohan will speak about the use of different oral contrast agents for CT scans, including the use of water and milk. He will talk briefly about advances in CT for detecting renal tumors. He will also review issues related to a newly diagnosed entity called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, which may be linked to intravenous administration of gadolinium in some patients referred for MRI examinations, and then answer any questions regarding the performance of imaging procedures.
Lunch and Annual Meeting, election of new board members, awards
1:00 pm
Feeling Powerful and Beautiful Again - interactive presentation. Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to MOVE! Amy devised creative movement methods to help her in her recovery from brain surgery.
Amy Budd, Artist in Residence at the Perishable Theater Arts Program, Providence, RI.
2:00 pm
Diagnosis and Treatment of Pheochromocytomas
Dr. Arthur Tischler, Tufts New England Medical Center, Senior Pathologist with a specialization in neuroendocrine and adrenal disease. Dr. Ron Lechan, Tufts New England Medical Center, Chief of the Division of Endocrinology
3:00 pm
The Rocky Road to Diagnosis. A panel of patients share their own stories of diagnosis of pheos
Four patients from the Boston area, with pheos of various genetic origins
4:00 pm
How Can We Improve Diagnosis?
Brainstorming session among the patients and physicians present on how we can work together most effectively.
