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Assisted Circulation

Gordon Research Conference

Advancing the Science of Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support Through Collaboration and Innovation

June 14 - 19, 2015
Chairs Joseph G. Rogers and Heinrich Schima
Vice Chairs Mark S. Slaughter and Karen D. May-Newman
Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco
Via Giovanni Pascoli
Lucca (Barga), Lucca, Italy
 Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The 2015 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Assisted Circulation is a 5-day symposium that will bring together key thought leaders whose clinical and investigative interests are in the field of mechanical circulatory support and related disciplines. Internationally recognized speakers will present contemporary papers and preliminary observations in a highly interactive format designed to facilitate participation with conference participants. Moderated poster sessions will increase the opportunities for scientific exchange. The core of the Assisted Circulation GRC is its 9 major scientific sessions. These ½ day symposia are thematically organized in focused tracks addressing enhanced device performance, novel biomaterials to minimize blood trauma and promote hemocompatability, the use of mechanically assisted circulation in underserved/special populations, innovative device design and operating modes, identification and management of adverse events, and methods to promote myocardial recovery.

A Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) that will be held the day prior to the GRC provides a unique forum for scientific exchange that promotes collaboration among young physicians and researchers. The GRS will be focused on collaborative methodology in technology and practice to enhance outcomes in mechanically assisted circulation. The seminar begins with a keynote address by a senior scientist followed by 10 selected young investigator presentations based upon their original research followed by peer-facilitated discussions and commentary by senior mentors.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Assisted Circulation" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
4:00 pm - 8:00 pmArrival and Check-in
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pmWelcome / Introductory Comments by GRC Site Staff
7:40 pm - 9:30 pmMechanically Assisted Circulation: Past, Present and Future
The focus of this session will include discussions of the most critical advances in mechanically assisted circulation and the greatest needs for the therapy in the next five years.
Discussion Leaders: James Long (Integris Advanced Cardiac Care, USA) and John Watson (University of California, San Diego, USA)
7:40 pm - 7:50 pmOpening Remarks
7:50 pm - 8:10 pmGeorge Wieselthaler (University of California, San Francisco, USA)
"The Five Most Critical Advances in Mechanically Assisted Circulation"
8:10 pm - 8:30 pmDiscussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pmMichael Acker (University of Pennsylvania Hospital, USA)
"The Five Greatest Needs in Mechanically Assisted Circulation"
8:50 pm - 9:10 pmDiscussion
9:10 pm - 9:30 pmGeneral Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmImproving Device Performance: Enhancing Durability and Reducing Blood Trauma
The focus of this session will include discussions of novel approaches to energy supply, computer simulation of coagulation and blood trauma, innovations in blood contacting biomaterials and creating biological blood contacting surfaces.
Discussion Leader: Francis Pagani (University of Michigan, USA)
9:00 am - 9:30 amCastro Laicer (Giner, Inc., USA)
"Novel Approaches to Energy Supplies"
9:30 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 am - 10:30 amCoffee Break
10:30 am - 10:50 amDavid Ku (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA)
"Computer Simulation of Coagulation and Blood Trauma"
10:50 am - 11:10 amDiscussion
11:10 am - 11:30 amWilliam Wagner (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
"Innovations in Blood Contacting Biomaterials"
11:30 am - 11:50 amDiscussion
11:50 am - 12:10 pmHardean Achneck (Hemostemix Inc., USA)
"Creating Biological Blood Contacting Surfaces"
12:10 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pmFree Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pmThe Challenges of Mechanically Assisted Circulation in Special Populations
The focus of this session will include discussions of patient cohorts inadequately addressed with current technologies, restrictive cardiomyopathy and alterations in myocardial biology following VAD support.
Discussion Leaders: Francisco Arabia (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA) and Massimo Griselli (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, United Kingdom)
6:00 pm - 6:20 pmDaniel Burkhof (HeartWare / Columbia University, USA)
"Computer Simulations of MCS in Restrictive Cardiomyopathies"
6:20 pm - 6:40 pmDiscussion
6:40 pm - 7:00 pmNir Uriel (University of Chicago, USA)
"Integrated, Multi-Modality Assessment of RV Function"
7:00 pm - 7:20 pmDiscussion
7:20 pm - 7:40 pmTimothy Baldwin (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, USA)
"NHLBI Programs to Evaluate MCS in Novel Populations: PUMPKIN and REVIVE IT"
7:40 pm - 8:00 pmDiscussion
8:00 pmDinner
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
8:30 amGroup Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pmInnovative Circulatory Support Device Designs and Operating Modes
The focus of this session will include discussions of the biological changes associated with continuous flow pumps and the importance of circulatory pulsatility, physiological pacemaker sensors and their potential applications in mechanical circulatory support, innovative strategies in mechanical blood pumps and the use of rotary pumps for biventricular support.
Discussion Leaders: Karen May-Newman (San Diego State University, USA) and Mark Slaughter (University of Louisville, USA)
9:00 am - 9:30 amValluvan Jeevanandam (University of Chicago, USA)
"The Importance of Pulse Pressure: Making a Case for Counterpulsation"
9:30 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 am - 10:30 amCoffee Break
10:30 am - 10:50 amAndreas Arndt (Biotronik SE & Co.KG, Germany)
"Physiological Pacemaker Sensors and Their Application to MCS"
10:50 am - 11:10 amDiscussion
11:10 am - 11:30 amJoAnn Lindenfeld (Vanderbilt University, USA)
"Monitoring Peri-Operative Anticoagulation Status: Implications for Clinical and Device Management"
11:30 am - 11:50 amDiscussion
11:50 am - 12:10 pmDaniel Timms (BiVACOR Inc., USA)
"Using Rotary Pumps for Biventricular Support"
12:10 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pmFree Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pmNew Approaches to Manufacturing and Managing Therapies for Advanced Heart Failure
The focus of this session will include discussions of designing a less expensive VAD, using 3-D printers to create artificial organs and optimizing device management to improve patient functionality.
Discussion Leaders: Timothy Baldwin (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, USA) and Mariell Jessup (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
6:00 pm - 6:20 pmTrevor Snyder (Integris Baptist Medical Center, USA)
"Building and Selling a $5000 VAD: Barriers and Opportunities"
6:20 pm - 6:40 pmDiscussion
6:40 pm - 7:00 pmSean Murphy (Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, USA)
"Using 3-D Printers to Create Artificial Organs"
7:00 pm - 7:20 pmDiscussion
7:20 pm - 7:40 pmChristopher Hayward (St. Vincent's Hospital, Australia)
"Device Management to Optimize Patient Activity"
7:40 pm - 8:00 pmDiscussion
8:00 pmDinner
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmAdverse Events in Assisted Circulation: Developing a Structured Framework for Identification and Mitigation
The focus of this session will include discussions of integrated problem solving, predicting adverse events in VADS, imaging thrombus in situ and the challenges of assessing neurological injury in pediatric patients.
Discussion Leaders: Robert Kormos (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA) and Clyde Yancy (Northwestern University, USA)
9:00 am - 9:30 amTim Kelley (WL Gore & Associates, Inc., USA)
"Integrated Problem Solving"
9:30 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 am - 10:30 amCoffee Break
10:30 am - 10:50 amNatasha Loghmanpour (Carnegie Mellon University, USA)
"Predicting Adverse Events in VADs: We Don't Know What We Don't Know but What We Want to Know Is Clear"
10:50 am - 11:10 amDiscussion
11:10 am - 11:30 amGregory Lanza (Washington University at St. Louis School of Medicine, USA)
"Imaging Thrombus Inside the VAD In Situ"
11:30 am - 11:50 amDiscussion
11:50 am - 12:10 pmRebecca Ichord (Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, USA)
"Assessing the Subtleties of Neurological Injury: The Challenge of the Pediatric Population"
12:10 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pmFree Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pmEngineering Adverse Events out of Mechanical Blood Pumps
The focus of this session will include discussions of the impact of heightened VAD monitoring and its impact on adverse events as well as the impact of partial support devices on adverse events.
Discussion Leaders: Paul Mohacsi (University Hospital Bern (Inselspital), Switzerland) and Cumaraswamy Sivathasan (National Heart Centre, Singapore)
6:00 pm - 6:20 pmThomas Schloeglhofer (Medical University Vienna, Austria)
"Heightened Monitoring of VAD Performance: Will it Reduce Adverse Events?"
6:20 pm - 6:40 pmDiscussion
6:40 pm - 7:00 pmBart Meyns (KU Leuven, Belgium)
"Partial Support Devices: Will They Reduce Adverse Events?"
7:00 pm - 7:15 pmDiscussion
7:15 pm - 7:25 pmPhilipp Aigner (Medical University of Vienna, Austria)
"Washout of the Left Ventricle During LVAD Support and Effectiveness of Intermittent Speed Changes"
7:25 pm - 7:30 pmDiscussion
7:30 pm - 7:40 pmMegan Jamiolkowski (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
"Visualization and Analysis of Thrombus Formation Within a Defined Crevice Under Flow"
7:40 pm - 7:45 pmDiscussion
7:45 pm - 7:55 pmSebastian Jansen (Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Germany)
"Ghost Cells for Spatial Resolved In Vitro Hemolysis Measurements"
7:55 pm - 8:00 pmDiscussion
8:00 pmDinner
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 amBusiness Meeting
Nominations for the Next Vice Chair; Fill in Conference Evaluation Forms; Discuss Future Site and Scheduling Preferences; Election of the Next Vice Chair
9:00 am - 12:30 pmMyocardial Recovery: Fundamental Mechanisms and Facilitated Functional Improvement
This session will focus on the use of stem cells in myocardial recovery, the impact of varying loading conditions on ventricular recovery and novel biomarkers that predict improvement in left ventricular performance following mechanically assisted circulation.
Discussion Leaders: Emma Birks (University of Louisville, USA) and Stavros Drakos (University of Utah, USA)
9:00 am - 9:30 amDouglas Mann (Washington University at St. Louis, USA)
"Modulating Myocardial Biology to Facilitate Recovery"
9:30 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 am - 10:30 amCoffee Break
10:30 am - 10:50 amMichael Dandel (German Heart Institute, Germany)
"Unloading the Heart: Monitoring and Diagnosing Sustained Myocardial Recovery"
10:50 am - 11:10 amDiscussion
11:10 am - 11:30 amCraig Selzman (University of Utah, USA)
"Biomarkers Predictive of Recovery"
11:30 am - 11:50 amDiscussion
11:50 am - 12:10 pmSoon Park (Case Western University, USA)
"Patient Cohorts Inadequately Addressed with Current MCS Technologies"
12:10 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pmFree Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pmMoving MCS Forward in the Next 5 Years
The focus of this session will include an analysis of mechanically assisted circulation from an outsider's perspective, the importance of extracellular matrix on myocardial recovery and considerations in valuing innovative technologies.
Discussion Leaders: Francesco Moscato (Medical University of Vienna, Austria) and Lynne Warner-Stevenson (Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA)
6:00 pm - 6:20 pmCumaraswamy Sivathasan (National Heart Centre, Singapore)
"Mechanically Assisted Circulation in the Asian-Pacific Region: Challenges, Results and Opportunities"
6:20 pm - 6:40 pmDiscussion
6:40 pm - 7:00 pmJames Kirklin (University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA)
"The Challenge of Developing an International MCS Registry"
7:00 pm - 7:20 pmDiscussion
7:20 pm - 7:40 pmAnnetine Gelijns (Mount Sinai Health System, USA)
"Thinking and Rethinking the Value of Innovative Technologies"
7:40 pm - 8:00 pmDiscussion
8:00 pmDinner
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 amDeparture

Contributors

Conference Links

Conference History Assisted Circulation (GRS)
Additional Fee Info

Assisted Circulation (GRS)
June 7 - 8, 2025
Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms
February 23 - 28, 2025
Cardiac Regulatory Mechanisms
June 23 - 28, 2024
Vascular Cell Biology
January 12 - 17, 2025


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