American Thyroid Association Symposia Highlight Novel Thyroid Research

Newswise — October 3, 2017—The 87^th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), taking place October 18‒22, 2017, in Victoria, British Columbia, will offer informative symposia presented by pioneering investigators and key opinion leaders. 

New exciting formats this year include an interactive Grand Rounds symposium, moderated by Mary Samuels, MD, focusing on the diagnosis and management of thyroid dysfunction, plus a session featuring recent publications from VideoEndocrinology, one of the flagship journals of the ATA. Andrew Bauer, MD, will lead a special half-day pediatric endocrinology forum in which several experts will discuss the latest research in pediatric endocrinology and clinical disease management.

Opportunity for lively discussions in clinical symposia will focus on advances in the understanding of thyroid cancer. Bryan Haugen, MD, will chair a session entitled “New Directions in Thyroid Nodules and Thyroid Cancer,” featuring discussions on the updated Bethesda classification system for reporting thyroid cytopathology, the 8^th edition of the thyroid cancer staging system written by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), and the art of balancing necessary thyroid surgeries while reducing risks in a cost-conscious manner.

John Lazarus, MD, will moderate a symposium covering the engaging topic of thyroid disease and pregnancy. The experts in this session will review the controversies surrounding subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy, the potential relationships between pregnancy and thyroid cancer, and the newly published “ATA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Disease During Pregnancy and Postpartum.”

Basic research symposia will feature:

• Peter Kopp, MD, moderating a discussion of “Thyroid Hormone Transporters,” featuring presentations on the role of thyroid hormone receptors in the brain and novel clinical translational approaches
• Antonio Di Cristofano, PhD, chairing presentations in the session “Modulation of TSH Receptors in Thyroid Disease”
• Electron Kebebew, MD, facilitating the symposium “MicroRNAs in Thyroid Cancer”
• Young Kee Shong, MD, PhD, leading a stimulating session on “Novel Molecular Mechanisms in Thyroid Cancer,” with an international presentation team on the topics of nuclear receptor signaling and novel genetic mechanisms in benign and malignant thyroid tumors

The annual meeting will focus on recent advances regarding mechanisms, screening, diagnosis, and management of thyroid disorders with attention to translating the latest research findings and clinical management guidelines into practice to enhance patient care.

For more information on the annual meeting, go to https://www.thyroid.org/87th-annual-meeting-ata/ 

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The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the leading worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement, understanding, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer. ATA is an international membership medical society with over 1,700 members from 43 countries around the world. Celebrating its 94^th anniversary, the ATA continues to deliver its mission of being devoted to thyroid biology and to the prevention and treatment of thyroid disease through excellence in research, clinical care, education, and public health.  These efforts are carried out via several key endeavors:

• The publication of the highly regarded professional journals Thyroid, Clinical Thyroidology, and VideoEndocrinology
• Annual scientific meetings
• Biennial clinical and research symposia
• Research grant programs for young investigators
• Support of online professional, public, and patient educational programs
• Development of guidelines for clinical management of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer

The ATA promotes thyroid awareness and information online through Clinical Thyroidology for the Public and extensive, authoritative explanations of thyroid disease and thyroid cancer in both English and Spanish. The ATA website serves as the clinical resource for patients and the public who look for reliable information on the Internet. Every fifth year, the American Thyroid Association joins with the Latin American Thyroid Society, the European Thyroid Association, and the Asia and Oceania Thyroid Association to cosponsor the International Thyroid Congress (ITC).