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UPCOMING WEBINAR - Transcriptional and Epigenetic Factors in the Generation of Thoracic Aortic Disease

On December 1 at 11:00 a.m. ET, four experts in the field of epigenetics and transcriptional mechanics of the ascending aorta will discuss their research and its implications in the generation of thoracic aortic disease (TAD) in patients with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). TAD is extraordinarily common in patients with BAV, with two mechanistic hypotheses proposed; either the role of hemodynamic forces resulting from disturbed flow mechanics from the BAV, and the contribution of genetic variation causing BAV, also contributing to TAD -- quite possibly both. 

The webinar format will be brief presentations by each speaker, followed by an opportunity to discuss their findings with other participating attendees. Webinar speakers are:

• Evaldas Girdauskas, MD, PhD (University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, DE)
• Maria Grazia Andreassi, PhD (CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, IT)
• Steven Greenway, MD (University of Calgary, Calgary, CA)
• Calogera Pisano, MD (University of Tor Vergata, Rome, IT)

This webinar is brought to you by the GenTAC Alliance Basic and Translational Science Working Group.

iPSC Models of Thoracic Aortopathies: Possibilities and Challenges

On October 26 at 12:00 p.m. ET, a webinar titled, "iPSC Models of Thoracic Aortopathies: Possibilities and Challenges," will provide state of the art examples of using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for modelling thoracic aortic disease in Loeys-Dietz syndrome and Marfan syndrome. The talks will highlight how pathological mechanisms can be investigated, new drug treatments tested, and importantly, the challenges and pitfalls to be aware of for those new to this field.

Webinar speakers are:

• Dogukan Mizrak, PhD (University of Michigan)
• Hongorzul Davaapil, PhD (University of Cambridge)

This webinar is brought to you by the GenTAC Alliance Basic and Translational Science Working Group.

Machine learning and cardiovascular disease: New tools for diagnosis and clinical risk prediction

On June 14, 2022, Dr. James Priest (Stanford University) and Dr. James Pirruccello (Massachusetts General Hospital) presented on recent advances related to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve our understanding of aortic diseases.

AI-based applications are increasingly used to interpret complex data from omics, genetics, or clinical studies, and are useful for genetic discovery, automated image interpretation, estimating prognosis, and guiding therapeutic treatments in cardiovascular diseases.

Biomechanical Factors Driving Thoracic Aortopathies Webinar

On February 9, 2022, Jonathan Weinsaft, M.D. (Cornell Medical) and Chiara Bellini, Ph.D. (Northeastern Bioengineering) highlighted recent advances in medical imaging-based assessments in patients of the hemodynamic loads imparted on the thoracic aorta and assessments of associated consequences on aortic wall integrity in humans as well as in multiple mouse models of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Translation of Therapeutics from Mice to Men Webinar

On November 10, 2021, Dr. Mark Lindsay (Massachusetts General Hospital) and Dr. Mary Sheppard (University of Kentucky) discussed selected therapeutic strategies and current challenges in the development of medicines for Marfan syndrome.

Advances in the Treatment of Aortic Dissection Webinar

The GenTAC Alliance’s Patients, Families, & Clinicians Education Working Group presented a webinar on Advances in the Treatment of Aortic Dissection on May 12, 2021. The featured speakers were Dr. Marc Moon and Dr. Westley Ohman, from Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Jewish Hospital.

COVID Webinar

On April 26, 2021, GenTAC Chair Dr. Kim Eagle provided a COVID-19 update for the Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, and VEDS community. Dr. Eagle was joined by Senior White House Advisor Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, who is Chair of the DHHS COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, and pulmonologist Dr. Enid Neptune, from Johns Hopkins.

Mouse Model Genetics: The Significance of Genetic Background on Aortopathy Phenotype Webinar

In this webinar, Dr. Hal Dietz (Johns Hopkins Medicine) discusses the impact of genetic background on the vascular phenotype in mouse models of Marfan syndrome and Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Image Sharing Using Trice Cloud Platform Webinar

In this webinar, Dr. Siddharth Prakash (UTHealth) introduces the cloud sharing platform, Trice, and explains how users can leverage Trice to exchange images, and conduct collaborative projects more quickly and easily across the GenTAC Alliance.

Single Cell Sequencing Webinar

On May 21, 2020, Dr. Scott LeMaire (Baylor College of Medicine), Dr. Ying Shen (Baylor College of Medicine), Dr. George Tellides (Yale University), and Dr. Mo Wang (Yale University) delivered a webinar titled "Single Cell Sequencing."

Aortic Disease Awareness Week 2020: September 19-26

This year, Aortic Disease Awareness Week was expanded from Aortic Disease Awareness Day to put an enhanced focus on this potentially life-threatening condition. While the passion of the medical community and patient community remains the same, the initiative had a different look this year due to the pandemic. Click to view the full article.

2020 GenTAC Aortic Summit

Where: Virtual (everywhere)

When: On demand presentations being on September 29, 2020. Live sessions are on October 8 and 10, 2020

Registration is now open for the GenTAC Aortic Summit 2020, one of the premier meetings in the world focused on sharing knowledge and advancing research on genetic aortic disease. It is open to scientists, clinicians, institutions, organizations, and the general public interested in genetic aortic conditions. This year’s event will be virtual, with presentations on-demand beginning September 29 and live discussions on October 8 and 10.

E3 International Summit: Educating, Empowering, and Enriching Our Community

The Marfan Foundation and VASCERN, the European Reference Network, are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the first-ever E³ International Summit: Educating, Empowering, and Enriching Our Community. The online event will provide unique access to presentations and live question and answer sessions on Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, VEDS (vascular Ehlers-Danlos), Stickler syndrome, and other aortic conditions. Summit registration is free, but is required to participate in sessions. Several members of the GenTAC Alliance are featured speakers.

Over the course of three weeks – from August 25 through September 12 – the E³ Summit features nearly 70 presentations in six languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Dutch. Presentations will include live and pre-recorded talks, along with live question and answer periods with the experts. Presentations commence at 12 noon Eastern Time and 7:30 pm Eastern Time to accommodate people in most parts of the world. The sessions are geared for patients and families; however, healthcare professionals are invited to participate as well.