Our support group meeting for the month of December will be held on December 9, 2006 in the Physicians Dining Room (PDR) of Zale Lipshy (UT Southwestern Medical Center) from 10:30 AM - 12:00 Noon
The speaker for this meeting is Prof. Laura Sauerbeck, RN, BSN, MS, CCRC. She is Asst. Professor of Research at the University of Cincinnati, Department of Neurology. Prof. Sauerbeck will speak to our group via teleconference. She has prepared and sent to us a power-point presentation, which we will play at the beginning of the meeting, and afterwards, we will call her and ask questions.
Through this study, which covers Canada, the USA, and Australia and New Zealand, researchers are trying to identify the gene or genes that underlie the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysms. It is one of the most important studies currently being conducted on aneurysms, and it is particularly relevant for those who have a history of brain aneurysms in their family.
Families eligible to participate in the study (with multiple people affected who are either still living or whose genes can be reconstructed through living relatives) can enroll and give some blood samples so that the researches can look at the genetic patterns of families who have a history of brain aneurysms and see if they can isolate the particular gene or genes that relate to aneurysms. Additionally, the families enrolled may also be able to get some of their other relatives tested through MRAs to check for brain aneurysms at no cost through the study. Prof. Sauerbeck's presentation discusses the goals of the study, its progress and also the eligibility requirements for families to enroll. During the question and answer period, it will be a perfect opportunity to find out more details about how to enroll if your family may be eligible.
