TO:Editors and ReportersFROM:National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Suburban HospitalSUBJ:Press Conference To Announce New NIH Research Study on MRI Diagnosis of Heart Attack and Stroke in the Emergency RoomWHEN:10:00 a.m., June 15, 1999WHERE:Suburban Hospital, Conference Rooms 6, 7, and 8
8600 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MarylandWHY:To announce the start of a joint NIH/Suburban Hospital study involving magnetic resonance imaging of patients admitted to the emergency room with possible heart attack or stroke. This will be the first use of MRI technology for heart disease diagnosis in a hospital emergency room. Speakers will describe advances in MRI technology, potential public health benefits of MRI diagnosis of heart attack and stroke, as well as benefits to the health of the local community.WHO:Press conference speakers will be:

• Dr. Robert Balaban, chief, Laboratory of Cardiac Energetics, NHLBI
• Dr. Andrew Arai, investigator, Laboratory of Cardiac Energetics, NHLBI
• Dr. Steven Warach, chief, Section on Stroke Diagnostics and Therapeutics, NINDS
• Dr. Wayne Olan, director of MRI services, Suburban Hospital
• Dr. Eugene Passamani, director of cardiology, Suburban Hospital

NOTE for TV: Television stations can downlink a video news release, b-roll, and animation on June 15 between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Eastern time. Satellite coordinates: C Band-Galaxy 6, Transponder 22, downlink frequency 4140; KU Band-Telstar 4, Transponder 13, downlink frequency 12095.