World's Leading Conference on Clinical Research Issues and Concerns Opens in Philadelphia, April 5-9, 2003 4/4/2003
From: Carmella Baccari, 215-418-4816 Anne Banner, 202-367-1626 both for Association of Clinical Research Professionals News Advisory: -- 'Advancing Research Today for a Healthier Tomorrow' -- Theme of ACRP 27th Annual North American Conference & Exposition For the next five days, the city that some consider the historical "birthplace of modern medicine" will be the focus of discussion and debate over the most contemporary-and controversial-issues facing medical researchers. The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) kicks off its 27th Annual North American Conference & Exposition at the Pennsylvania Convention Center today, attracting thousands of the world's foremost clinical research experts and thought leaders. The event will continue through April 9. Featuring more than 80 educational sessions, the conference is the only opportunity during the year when such a broad and varied lineup of clinical research experts and bioethics commentators can share their experiences and recommendations with other professionals in the field. Also featured will be several thought-provoking keynote addresses: -- Congressman James C. Greenwood (R-PA-8) will address the ACRP Annual Conference & Exposition, highlighting the importance of good ethical practice and encouraging continued research toward discovering the therapies of tomorrow. -- Dr. Arthur Caplan, chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania will discuss ethical considerations in clinical research, and how to make the correct decisions. The author or editor of 25 books and more than 500 papers, Dr. Caplan offered provocative responses to media around the world following claims of the first human cloning. Among those comments: "We have a term in the ethics field for this: 'wacky.'" -- Dr. Bruce Diamond, a pharmacologist, knows something about clinical trials that go wrong. He was just released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for theft and misrepresentation during a trial. He and his attorney, Robert Glickman, will be talking about Dr. Diamond's experience, and providing first-hand insight into the consequences of deviating from good clinical practice. They will address how to avoid non-compliance at academic, federal and private research sites. As current and topical as today's medical headlines, other hot topics to be examined at the conference include: -- Clinical trial recruitment practices -- Attracting healthy volunteers without using undue influence -- Human gene transfer research -- Fraud and misconduct The conference is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for discussion of some the thorniest issues facing medical researchers today. Participating in the discussions will be physicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical research coordinators, and other professionals from every research setting. For more information, and for assistance in arranging interviews with presenters and speakers, please call Carmella Baccari at 215-418-4816. For detailed information about the sessions, refer to http://www.acrpnet.org. |