Thyroid Cancer State of the Science Conference: Chernobyl and Beyond

Thyroid Cancer State of the Science Conference: Chernobyl and Beyond
Thyroid Cancer State of Science Conference Thyroid Cancer State of the Science Conference: Chernobyl and Beyond September 11-12, 2008 Opening of the meeting This conference on the state of the science for thyroid cancer was chaired by Dr. James A. Fagin, Chief of the Endocrinology Service and member of the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Geraldine Thomas, Professor of Molecular Pathology at Imperial College London, served as the Chernobyl Chair, and Dr. Rihab R. Yassin, Program Director in the Division of Cancer Biology (DCB), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), who directs programs on the biology of thyroid cancer and the Chernobyl Tissue Bank (CTB), organized the conference and served as the NCI Chair. The 2-day meeting was divided into four plenary sessions that featured perspectives on the state of the science for thyroid cancer from multiple stakeholders, the experience from research conducted on individuals exposed to the 1986 Chernobyl accident fallout, translational approaches in the treatment of thyroid cancer, and a panel discussion on the future of thyroid research. These sessions were interspersed with participant comments and questions and answers from the plenary session speakers. Dr. Yassin welcomed participants to the conference and invited Dr. Daniel Gallahan, Deputy Director of the NCI DCB, to officially open the meeting. Dr. Gallahan reminded participants that the DCB funds research designed to understand the basic mechanisms of cancer and translate those findings into patient care. In alignment with the DCB's mission, he underscored the unique opportunity that exists today in thyroid cancer research given the resources developed as a result of the Chernobyl accident and the molecular skills available to interrogate this disease. Dr. Gallahan also thanked participants for their attendance and organizers for their efforts in planning this landmark conference. Dr. Yassin further explained the purpose of this conference: To serve as the scientific platform for the review, dissemination, and exchange of research information concerning thyroid cancer with the objective of advancing the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying thyroid cancer formation, providing new avenues for future treatments, and furthering collaboration between thyroid cancer scientists. She added that an important conference objective is to identify unexplored or underdeveloped areas and directions in thyroid cancer research to guide the DCB research priorities in coming years. Dr. Yassin then invited Dr. Fagin to initiate the first session of the conference. Full Conference Document: [PDF]

Thyroid Cancer State of the Science Conference:

Chernobyl and Beyond

September 11-12, 2008

Opening of the meeting

This conference on the state of the science for thyroid cancer was chaired by Dr. James A. Fagin, Chief of the Endocrinology Service and member of the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Geraldine Thomas, Professor of Molecular Pathology at Imperial College London, served as the Chernobyl Chair, and Dr. Rihab R. Yassin, Program Director in the Division of Cancer Biology (DCB), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), who directs programs on the biology of thyroid cancer and the Chernobyl Tissue Bank (CTB), organized the conference and served as the NCI Chair.

The 2-day meeting was divided into four plenary sessions that featured perspectives on the state of the science for thyroid cancer from multiple stakeholders, the experience from research conducted on individuals exposed to the 1986 Chernobyl accident fallout, translational approaches in the treatment of thyroid cancer, and a panel discussion on the future of thyroid research. These sessions were interspersed with participant comments and questions and answers from the plenary session speakers.

Dr. Yassin welcomed participants to the conference and invited Dr. Daniel Gallahan, Deputy Director of the NCI DCB, to officially open the meeting. Dr. Gallahan reminded participants that the DCB funds research designed to understand the basic mechanisms of cancer and translate those findings into patient care. In alignment with the DCB's mission, he underscored the unique opportunity that exists today in thyroid cancer research given the resources developed as a result of the Chernobyl accident and the molecular skills available to interrogate this disease. Dr. Gallahan also thanked participants for their attendance and organizers for their efforts in planning this landmark conference. Dr. Yassin further explained the purpose of this conference: To serve as the scientific platform for the review, dissemination, and exchange of research information concerning thyroid cancer with the objective of advancing the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying thyroid cancer formation, providing new avenues for future treatments, and furthering collaboration between thyroid cancer scientists. She added that an important conference objective is to identify unexplored or underdeveloped areas and directions in thyroid cancer research to guide the DCB research priorities in coming years. Dr. Yassin then invited Dr. Fagin to initiate the first session of the conference.

Full Conference Document: [PDF]