Newswise — From Sunday, October 16 to Friday, October 21, specialists from all over the world will gather at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Scientific Symposium (TCT 2005) at the Washington Convention Center.

This year's TCT 2005 program will feature the following:

--Scientific symposia on a wide range of topics* Latest advances in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology*Second-generation drug-eluting stents and stent grafts* Peripheral and neurovascular interventions* New imaging methods aimed at defining vulnerable plaque* Emerging devices and medications for advanced heart disease and atherosclerosis * New developments in structural heart disease, including percutaneous valve therapies and congenital heart disease

--Video-transmission of more than a 100 live patient cases from 28 international sites

--Sophisticated physician training program using virtual reality systems

--Critical registry reports that will provide insight into long term outcomes (CAPTURE, AXXESS PLUS, CREATE)

--Late Breaking Trial Results Press Conferences * Monday " Wednesday 9:00 " 11:00 a.m. in the Press Room* These 15 minute briefings will cover breaking news on interventional vascular clinical trial results including the following studies: ENDEAVOR III, ISAR-TEST, JUPITER-II, SISR, PRISON II, SPIDER, PROXIMAL, FAST, SENIOR PAMI, REVIVAL-2 AND LEMANS. [For more details on Late Breakers go to: http://www.tct2005.com]

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation, one of the world's largest private, non-profit medical research foundations, is dedicated to research and education in interventional vascular medicine and therapeutics and the sponsor of the 17th Annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium. By establishing the safe use of new technologies and pharmacologic agents, CRF has for more than 15 years played a major role in the remarkable advances in survival and quality of life for patients with cardiovascular disease.

We look forward to seeing you at TCT 2005!