This application seeks support from NHLBI for the 6th GenTAC Thoracic Aortic Disease Summit to be held on October 10-11, 2020 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mi. This is a biannual conference that originated in 2009 as part of the mission of the National Registry of Genetically Triggered Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Related Conditions (GenTAC). The GenTAC Consortium has made a tremendous impact on research on thoracic aortic disease over the years since its inception and it is our goal to continue the momentum. NHLBI is the sole institute from which primary assignment is requested. The conference organizers are: Marion Hofmann Bowman, MD PhD and Kim Eagle MD, MACC from the Frankel Cardiovascular Center at the University of Michigan Medical School. The GenTAC Summit has evolved into one of the very best meeting based on its size, its focus, and the strong foundation built by the past meetings. This unique meeting brings together multidisciplinary groups of clinicians, scientists, and engineers to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of thoracic aortic disease and to improve our ability to treat those who are afflicted by these conditions, which includes both young and old. It provides a forum not only where ideas are shared and scrutinized, but new collaborations are born. The University of Michigan is uniquely qualified to host this meeting. Dr. Eagle is the chair of the Gentac Alliance and has longstanding collaboration with the working group chairs and vice chairs. The proposed meeting schedule includes speakers who are leading scientists and clinicians from at least 15 different academic Institutions. We anticipate that the sixth GENTAC meeting will be as successful as prior meetings and provide a forum for trainees, leaders in the field, patient advocacy groups, and representative of other associations of related disorders.
This application is in support for the 6th GenTAC Thoracic Aortic Disease Summit to be held on October 10-11, 2020 at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mi. This unique meeting brings together multidisciplinary groups of clinicians, scientists, and engineers to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of thoracic aortic disease and to improve our ability to treat those who are afflicted by these conditions, which includes both young and old. The program includes 1.5 days of carefully structured scientific sessions on (i) Non-Marfan Familial Thoracic and early onset aortic conditions, (ii) Marfan syndrome, (iii) Turner Syndrome, (iv) Bicuspid aortopathy and related aortic valve disease, (v) Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, (vi) acute and chronic aortic syndromes: from bedside to bench and back, and (vii) a summary session of most important observations in the past two years.
