2014 Stanford Biodesign New Arrhythmia Technologies Retreat

Where can you hear about the new advances in arrhythmias from 50 expert faculty in a one-day program? The 2014 Stanford Biodesign New Arrhythmia Technologies Retreat brings together a nationally known group of experts in electrophysiology in a retreat-like setting on the Stanford University campus. The Retreat will be held on May 6, one day before the Heart Rhythm Society’s Annual Scientific Sessions. The program has a unique rapid-fire format in which speakers crystallize their thoughts on the most important advances in the last year and highlight the coming solutions of the next five years, each in 10-minute sessions. This packed day allows the meeting participants to have an uninterrupted and focused discussion about new ideas and developments in the area of arrhythmias. The intimate retreat location provides a special opportunity for interaction and networking with many of the world’s experts in electrophysiology. What better way to kick off your week at Heart Rhythm!

The Retreat will present the latest advances in state-of-the-art cardiac electrophysiology in a setting that provides an opportunity for extensive discussion and interaction with the faculty and others interested in the field. The target audience includes cardiac electrophysiologists, arrhythmia nurses and technologists, scientists, device experts, engineers, industry and business leaders and scientists, investment specialists and leaders, and others with a special interest in arrhythmias. 

Program Directors, Program, and Faculty

The program is directed by Dr. Paul J. Wang and Dr. Paul G. Yock. Dr. Wang is a Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Bioengineering (by courtesy), and Director of the Stanford Cardiac Arrhythmia Service. Dr. Yock is the Martha Meier Weiland Professor of Medicine and Mechanical Engineering (by courtesy), Founding Co-Chair of Stanford’s Bioengineering Department, and Director of the Program in Biodesign. 

The program faculty are among the experts in the world of electrophysiology:

• Dr. Peng-Sheng Chen, Indiana University – the latest evidence supporting the role of autonomics in the genesis of ventricular arrhythmias. 
• Dr. Natalia Trayanova, Johns Hopkins University – the role of modeling in understanding arrhythmia mechanisms. 
• Dr. Lior Gepstein, San Diego State University – advances in modeling inherited arrhythmogenic syndromes with induced pluripotent stem cells. 
• Dr. Phillip Cuculich, Washington University School of Medicine – update regarding the role of noninvasive mapping to understand arrhythmia mechanisms and localize arrhythmias. 
• Dr. James Daubert, Duke University Medical Center – advances in risk assessment in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. 
• Dr. Igor Efimov, Washington University in Saint Louis – new methods for low energy atrial and ventricular defibrillation. 
• Dr. Samir Saba, University of Pittsburgh – new ICD algorithms. 
• Dr. Michael Ezekowitz, Main Line Health – the latest clinical data on novel antithrombotic agents. 
• Dr. Mintu Turakhia, Palo Alto VA Health Care System – the role of atrial substrate and function in risk stratification for atrial fibrillation. 
• Dr. Shephal Doshi, Pacific Heart Institute – update on the latest in left atrial occlusion devices. 
• Dr. Kalyanam Shivkumar, UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center – new techniques for percutaneous epicardial access. 
• Dr. Peter Kowey, Main Line Health – new clinical studies in antiarrhythmic drug therapy. 
• Dr. Marco Perez, Stanford Inherited Cardiac Arrhythmia Clinic – advances in the genetics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 
• Dr. J. Kevin Donahue, University of Massachusetts – new advances in gene therapy for arrhythmia control.
• Dr. Ulrika Birgersdotter-Green, UC San Diego Health System – new clinical evidence about automatic external defibrillators and wearable defibrillators. 
• Dr. Mark Link, Tufts Medical Center – novel pacing and implantable monitoring systems. 
• Dr. Andrea Russo, Cooper University Health Care – advances in new lead designs and leadless systems. 
• Dr. Jagmeet Singh, Massachusetts General Hospital – advances in pacing and sensors for heart failure. 
• Dr. Srijoy Mahapatra – overview of preclinical trials and device development. 
• Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, University of Kansas Hospital – summary of important clinical trials in 2013. 
• Dr. Patrick Ellinor, Massachusetts General Hospital – important advances in genome studies of arrhythmias. 
• Dr. Riccardo Cappato, Center of Clinical Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology at the Policlinico San Donato – insights into the lessons learned from clinical trials and registries of atrial fibrillation ablation. 
• Dr. Karl-Heinz Kuck, St. Georg Hospital – update on the ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation. 
• Dr. José Jalife, University of Michigan Health System – basic work regarding the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation. 
• Dr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – the role of high-resolution catheter mapping. 
• Dr. Sanjiv Narayan, UC San Diego – new insights into the mapping of atrial fibrillation. 
• Dr. Amin Al-Ahmad, Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute – update on arrhythmia therapy in adult congenital heart disease. 
• Dr. William Stevenson, Brigham and Women’s Hospital – overview of new mapping and ablation technologies for ventricular tachycardia. 
• Dr. Moussa Mansour, Massachusetts General Hospital – advances in mapping systems. 
• Dr. Prapa Kanagaratnam, The Wellington Hospital – advances in catheter control devices. 
• Dr. Saman Nazarian, Johns Hopkins Hospital – advances in imaging for ablation. 
• Dr. Vivek Reddy, Mount Sinai Hospital – advances in laser and ultrasound ablation for atrial fibrillation. 
• Dr. Wilber Su, Banner Health – advances in balloon cryoablation of atrial fibrillation. 
• Dr. Paul Zei, Stanford University School of Medicine – noninvasive ablation of arrhythmias. 
• Dr. Mark La Meir, University Hospital Maastricht – hybrid surgical-catheter ablation. 
• Dr. Ralph Damiano, Barnes-Jewish Hospital – advances in surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation.

   

  Unique Features

  There are several unique features of this year’s meeting that will enhance the educational value of the programs. The program will be an exceptional method to network with leaders in the field. Program attendance is limited to 250 attendees, creating a particularly intimate format, with breaks and a light reception that will provide opportunities for discussions and contact with this unique faculty. An exciting five-minute introductory format is used for start-up or early-stage companies to highlight new advanced technologies often not accessible or missed in a large conference format. A special lunch session offered this year highlights the Stanford Biodesign process, which teaches medical device innovation. The session is led by Program Director Dr. Yock, inventor of intravascular ultrasound and the rapid exchange system used in percutaneous interventions throughout the world. He is joined by Dr. Uday Kumar, cardiac electrophysiologist and founder of iRhythm Technologies, Inc., which originated from his fellowship at Stanford Biodesign; Dr. Todd Brinton, Director of the Stanford Biodesign Fellowship Program and founder of several start-up companies; and Dr. Joshua Makower, a serial entrepreneur and founder of ExploraMed Development, LLC, a medical device incubator, and several companies including Acclarent, Inc., TransVascular, Inc., EndoMatrix, Inc., and GI Reflux, which were all successfully acquired. This meeting is one of the very few standalone meetings that receive no support from the device or pharmaceutical industry. 

  Venue

  The venue for the Retreat is the beautiful Stanford University campus at the state-of-the-art educational facility, the Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge. Buses will be provided to and from the Moscone Center and the venue. 

  Registration

  Registration may be obtained online at https://www.2014biodesign.eventbrite.com. Inquiries may be made at 650-723-9363.