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LUPUS 2010 will assemble the next generation’s leaders in SLE, reduce the barriers between lay and professional, between different disciplines, and between different cultures, so that the community can close the gap between what we know, what we do, and what we could do worldwide in SLE therapeutics, medical and public education, clinical and basic research.
Lupus 2010 will be the ninth international meeting of patients with lupus, their families, health care providers, and the scientists dedicated to finding the cause, prevention and cure of SLE. Being held in Vancouver, British Columbia in the year of the 20th Winter Olympics, LUPUS 2010 will occur in one of the most promising and challenging times in the history of this disease.
Remarkable scientific progress in lupus research and the tireless efforts of many in the private arena have led to new and increased public awareness and financial support for lupus research. It is notable that during this period of time, the development of many novel agents has brought hope to those living with lupus. Moreover, a generation of outstanding young scientists have been trained and have dedicated their professional lives to understanding lupus and developing new treatments during this unparalleled period of discovery in the genetic and molecular basis of the disease.
This remarkable opportunity, however, occurs at a time when the world economic downturn threatens the creativity and risk taking so necessary for further discovery and the financing of the research, medical education, and the delivery of both established and newly discovered therapies that are essential for improving the lives of persons with lupus. So LUPUS 2010 occurs at a time of real crisis in lupus research and care, a time when the opportunities have never been greater, but the perils are also formidable. The goals of LUPUS 2010 are therefore to emphasize the opportunities while contributing to the efforts to diminish the risks to further progress in lupus research, education and care.
The strategy of LUPUS 2010, is to emulate the potlatch of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, whose cedar long houses became centers for the potlatch tradition where participants were hosted and housed. Potlatch meaning “to give away” or “gift” were convocations that were carefully planned to commemorate significant events in the collective life of an extended family or clan. Participants brought gifts and all received gifts. Lupus 2010 will be a meeting of the extended family of lupus researchers, clinicians, educators and persons with lupus that will be carefully planned to optimize the exchange of knowledge and understanding. Participants will bring gifts of their personal knowledge and understanding and will exchange these gifts with all participants. Together, the group will develop a consensus document indicating the state of the field and the challenges for the future. It is anticipated that the 2010 Potlatch of the lupus clan will reward and enrich all participants and point the way toward future developments.
LUPUS 2010, unlike any of the meetings that persons interested in lupus might attend or have attended will be distinguished by the active input of all participants and sponsors, its emphasis on the next generation, intimate venues designed to be interactive and to break down barriers of language, discipline, status, and focus on the overall goal of working together to advance the field. Plenary sessions will have broad appeal and delivered in a manner to be informative to the expert, but also completely comprehensible to the novice.
LUPUS 2010 will:
1. Review comprehensively the state of the science and the state of the art in SLE
2. Identify future opportunities in lupus research, education and care
3. Identify, assemble, and facilitate the next generation of leaders and provide an opportunity for mentoring with the current leaders in SLE
4. Reduce the cognitive, communication, and conceptual barriers between persons with lupus, health care providers and clinical and basic researchers from different disciplines, and different cultures
5. Close the gap between what we know, what we do and what we could do worldwide in SLE therapeutis, medical and public education, clinical and fundamental research
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