Alpha-1 Conference 2018 takes place Friday, October 12th in Marino Institute of Education in Dublin. Special guest is Mr. Joe Duffy, RTE Broadcaster, who will open proceedings at 10am. The theme for this year is “Family Matters” with a special emphasis on the importance of family screening. 

Alpha-1 is a genetic condition, meaning that if you have been diagnosed with the condition, some of your family members may also have the condition. Your relatives could benefit from this knowledge and decide to get tested. For example if they are smokers they will understand the high risk of lung disease in Alpha-1 smokers and will hopefully stop smoking as soon as possible.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME 2018

09.30      Registration, Tea and Coffee

10.00      Conference Opening by Mr. Joe Duffy, Radio & TV Presenter, Author and Columnist

10.10      Genetics and Inheritance – It’s All in the Family! 

Dr. Gianpiero Cavalleri, Associate Professor of Human Genetics, RCSI

10.40      Alpha-1 – An Irish Family Story

Josephine McGuirk (née Richmond), Alpha-1 Patient Advocate

11.10      Break

11.30      New Therapies for Alpha-1

Professor Gerry McElvaney, Respiratory Consultant, Beaumont Hospital

12.10      National AATD Targeted Detection Programme & National AATD Registry: An Update

Dr. Tomás Carroll & Laura Fee, Alpha One Foundation

12.40      Student Research Projects in Alpha-1

Andrew Woodsmith and Layali Aldaihani, RCSI Medical Students

13.00      Light Lunch in College Cafeteria

14.00      Research and the Patient Voice

Dr. Avril Kennan, CEO, Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG)

14.30      The SZ Question – An Irish Family Study

Dr. Alessandro Franciosi, Clinical Lecturer and Researcher, RCSI

14.45      Exercise and Alpha-1

Eóin Durkan, PhD Student, School of Health and Human Performance, Dublin City University

15.00      Closing Remarks

If you would like to attend this year’s conference please let us know by ringing 01-8093871 or simply email alpha1@rcsi.ie.