An excellent overview of novel concepts and recent advances in all things rheumatology will be offered because the planning committee focused on topics that are likely to affect patient care in the years ahead. A sampling of this year’s offerings is highlighted below.
Pain
Treating chronic painful conditions is a central responsibility of the rheumatologist, but the science of pain in arthritis still holds many secrets. Origins and pathways of joint pain are poorly understood, but recent research has uncovered many novel determinants of arthritis pain. If you want to learn about new imaging techniques of the “arthritic brain,” genetic variation in pain perception, or new inflammatory mediators of chronic pain, be sure not to miss the following sessions:
- State-of-the-Art Lecture: Pain, the Brain, and Osteoarthritis
Sunday, November 6; 9:00 am–10:00 am - State-of-the-Art Lecture: Cytokine and Chemokine Regulation of Chronic Pain
Tuesday, November 8; 9:00 am–10:00 am - Basic Science Symposium: Pain Pathways in Rheumatic Diseases
Wednesday, November 9; 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis remains a difficult problem for clinicians and basic researchers alike. Whereas cartilage was the center of attention for many years, it is becoming increasingly clear that osteoarthritis involves the entire joint. Understanding how different joint tissues contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of osteoarthritis will open new avenues for intervention and for early detection of osteoarthritis. Therefore, do not miss the opportunity to discuss the state-of-the-art science on joint imaging, biomarkers, synovial inflammation, and more, in these translational sessions:
- Basic Science Symposium: Tools for Studying Joint Tissue Changes in Osteoarthritis
Sunday, November 6; 2:30 pm–4:00 pm - ACR REF Paul Klemperer, MD Memorial Lectureship: Osteoarthritis, Quo Vadis—Where Are We Now, Where Are We Going?
Tuesday, November 8; 9:00 am–10:00 am - Basic Science Symposium: Osteoarthritis: A Disease of the Joint as an Organ
Tuesday, November 8; 4:30 pm–6:00 pm
The Genetic Basis of Rheumatic Disease
In the last five years, genome-wide association studies have helped identify genetic risk factors for systemic autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. However, the underlying causal variants have been identified for only a small number of genetic loci. Further, currently identified genetic loci only explain a small proportion of the overall genetic contribution to these diseases. Advances in genomic technology, such as next generation DNA sequencing, make it possible to sequence the entire human genome at an affordable cost. The whole genome can be sequenced to search for rare variants that contribute to risk of rheumatic diseases. Make sure you understand these new approaches to identify causal genetic variants by attending these sessions:
- State-of-the-Art Lecture: Moving Forward in the Genome Wide Association Studies Era
Monday, November 7; 7:30 am–8:30 am - Basic Science Symposium: Next-Generation Sequencing Applied to Rheumatic Diseases
Tuesday, November 8; 2:30 pm–4:00 pm
The 2011 ACR/ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting is the place to be to keep up with recent developments in the field of rheumatology. We hope to see you in Chicago this November!