Personal Stories and Science Inspire Hope
Canadian Arthritis Network to host its 8th Annual Scientific Conference
Thursday, October 16, Toronto, ON – Fifteen years ago,
62-year-old Jean Légaré was in a wheelchair due to debilitating
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Today he credits research and new treatments
for giving him back his life and eliminating the need for a wheelchair.
The Quebec man, diagnosed at 38 with RA, has been a tireless advocate
for the importance and funding of arthritis research. This November he
will receive an honourary doctorate from the University of Laval for
his diligent efforts. His success story is just one of many that
inspires Canadian scientists and clinical researchers at the
Canadian Arthritis Network’s (CAN) scientific conference each year.
“We are very proud of Jean and all of the current
and past members of CAN’s Consumer Advisory Council,” says Dr. Monique
Gignac, Co-Scientific Director of the Canadian Arthritis Network.
“We showcase their stories at CAN’s Annual Scientific Conference because
these people are an integral component of CAN and they remind arthritis
scientists and clinical researchers who their work benefits.”
Leading members of the Canadian and international
arthritis community are convening in Toronto today for CAN’s 8th Annual
Scientific Conference. Over the next few days
(October 16-18), they will
discuss issues of better care and improved treatments for the nearly
4.5 million Canadians who suffer from arthritis and other rheumatic
conditions. Arthritis causes more pain and long term disability than
other chronic diseases and affects young and old. It poses a significant
burden on the Canadian economy of approximately $5.9 billion in 2008 with
long term disability accounting for $4.6 billion1.
Dr. Claire Bombardier, Co-Scientific Director of the
Canadian Arthritis Network, is excited by this year’s program. “We
have some outstanding speakers this year and we have invited representatives
of research organizations from around the world to join us in discussions
for strengthening international partnerships. I’m optimistic that we will
be announcing some exciting collaborations that result from the next few
days.”
The 8th Annual Scientific Conference will
focus on themes that explore pain research; preparing teens to manage their
arthritis as they move to adulthood; successful models of arthritis care
for widespread adoption; and, understanding the complexity of arthritis in
basic science and the patient population and making sense of it for different
user groups. A symposium specially directed at clinicians is entitled: The
Right Drug for the Right People at the Right Time. The scientific program
begins tomorrow at 8:15 a.m., (October 17) in the
Grand Ballroom of the Toronto
Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre (525 Bay St.).
Selected presenters from the conference will also be
speaking on the theme “Then and Now: 60 Years of Arthritis Research” at a
free public event being held tonight (October 16),
from 7-9 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.
This event is co-hosted by CAN and The Arthritis Society and media are
encouraged to attend.
CAN would like to thank the following sponsors for their
support: Pfizer, Abbott, Roche, AMGEN, UCB, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada,
Schering-Plough, Servier, Merck & Co., Inc., and sanofi aventis.
Attention broadcast media: a Canadian Arthritis Network
DVD that contains b-roll and testimonials is available for broadcast use.
Please inquire if interested.
About the Canadian Arthritis Network
The Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN)
(www.arthritisnetwork.ca) is a
not-for-profit organization, funded by the Government of Canada’s
Networks of Centres of Excellence
(www.nce.gc.ca), to support arthritis
research and development and to facilitate the commercialization of
its Network Investigators’ discoveries. CAN is the single point of
contact that links 179 leading Canadian arthritis researchers and
clinicians, 45 Canadian academic institutions, The Arthritis Society,
pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and government.
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For more information, please contact:
Stacey Johnson
Director of Communications
416-586-4685 Toronto (office)
October 16-18, please call 416-712-4448 (cell)
sjohnson@arthritisnetwork.ca
1These figures are based on findings from a 1998 study ($4.4 billion and $3.4 billion respectively) and have been adjusted for inflation.
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