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February 8, 2012

IN THIS ISSUE...

ASSEMBLY DINNER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

In addition to registering for ATS 2012, registration is now open for dinner for the following assemblies: Allergy, Immunology, and Inflammation; Pediatrics; Pulmonary Rehabilitation; Critical Care; Microbiology, Tuberculosis, and Pulmonary Infections; Nursing, Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology; and Respiratory Structure and Function.

The assembly dinners will be held on Monday, May 21, from 7 to 10 pm.

Please register at https://www.xpressreg.net/register/thor052/lookup.asp.

All sessions and dinners have limited space and registration is first come, first served, so please register today.

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MEMBER BENEFIT: PDR DRUG ALERTS

Members, register today for PDR Drug Alerts (formerly HCNN Alerts), at no cost to you. You’ll receive immediate, electronic delivery of FDA-approved, specialty-specific drug alerts and related safety information:

  • Free FDA-approved Drug Alerts and recalls sent electronically to you
  • Elimination of the delays and inefficiencies of traditional paper Alerts
  • Improved patient safety which may help reduce physician liability
  • Endorsement by WSMA and liability carriers
  • Privacy oversight from the governing not-for-profit Board, the iHealth Alliance
  • CME opportunities for reviewing Drug Alerts and full FDA labels.

    To receive immediate delivery of urgent drug safety information, register today for PDR Drug Alerts at www.ATS.pdr.net.

     

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    CALL SENATORS TO OPPOSE END OF PEDIATRIC MEDICAL DEVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

    The ATS has learned that the pediatric medical device consortium, which funds grants to develop new medical devices designed for children, is being targeted by some senators on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for a significant funding cut and possibly elimination in negotiations over its inclusion in larger Prescription Drug Fee User (PDUFA) legislation.

    Please call the following senators today to urge them to support the pediatric medical device consortium through the FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development in Prescription Drug Fee User Legislation and oppose any attempts to cut or eliminate this program.

    Sen. Burr (R-NM): 202.224.3154
    Sen. Alexander (R-TN) 202.224. 4944
    Sen. Isakson (R-GA) 202.224.3643
    Sen. Paul (R-KY): 202.224. 4343
    Sen. Kirk (R-IL): 202.224.2854
    Sen. McCain (R-AZ): 202.224.2235
    Sen. Roberts (R-KS) 202.224.4774

    Background
    The pediatric medical device consortia, administered through the FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development, was set up in 2008 to support development of new pediatric medical devices for children. Because the pediatric market is so small and pediatric diseases relatively rare, there has been little incentive for device manufacturers to focus their attention on children. The result is far fewer products available for children in need of medical care. In the four years since its setup, the consortium has funded the early development of over 80 potential medical devices for children. The program was funded at $3 million in FY2012.

    Call Today!
    When you call, ask for the Health Legislative Assistant. If they are unavailable, leave a voicemail message and include your name and phone number.

    Too busy to contact Congress? Let us do it for you and send an email to your senator:http://www.thoracic.org/advocacy/index.php

    Note: This action is restricted to constituents of the senators listed above.

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    CALL FOR PAPERS ON ISOCYANATES & HEALTH

    Isocyanates & Health: Past, Present and Future November 1 & 2, 2012. Natcher Conference Center, NIH Campus, Bethesda, Maryland

    The American Thoracic Society is a professional organization sponsor for “Isocyanates & Health: Past, Present and Future,” which will be held November 1 and 2, 2012 at the Natcher Conference Center on the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

    This international conference has issued a call for papers. Click here for pdf

    The purpose of this scientific conference is to identify and discuss the latest knowledge and important issues on the health effects of isocyanates, including current best evidence about exposure monitoring, environmental controls, and clinical management. Conference Themes

    • Worker and consumer protection issues
    • Environmental exposure/monitoring
    • Occupational health surveillance/management
    • Toxicity testing/animal models/biomarkers
    • Respiratory epidemiology and disease
    • Human cancer risk
    • Research to practice/health communication (integrated across each theme above)

    The early bird abstract submission deadline is July 15, 2012 (cash prize competition for research excellence). The late breaking abstracts deadline is September 7, 2012.

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