An Educational Collaboration between the Cardiac Safety Research Consortium (CSRC), the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Advamed and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

The Heart Rhythm Society is partnering to present Safety Evaluation of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using a Collaborative Pan-Stakeholder Critical Path Registry Model on April 27-28, 2009 in the Washington, DC area. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major public health problem in the United States and is a major risk factor for stroke and heart failure.

Register now for this one-and-a-half day program, which will discuss specific areas related to AF ablation, cardiac safety and a national registry of procedures and outcomes from the academic/clinical, regulatory, industry and reimbursement perspectives. The program will be held at the FDA's White Oak Facility in Silver Spring, MD. All meeting attendees must register by April 12, 2009; onsite registration will not be allowed. Note that all non-FDA personnel must be cleared by FDA security two weeks prior to the meeting.

The Atrial Fibrillation Think Tank program will include:

• Identifying gaps in the current evidence base for AF ablation and potential methods to fill them
• Identifying key issues of device technique and adjunctive medical therapy in AF ablation
• Identifying key short- and long-term safety outcomes of interest after AF ablation
• Establishing objectives of AF registry evidence development for each stakeholder
• Reviewing predicates for national registries at ACC, FDA and NIH including lessons learned
• Identifying and developing a plan of action for next steps for AF ablation registry and related evidence development
• Forming a registry planning committee to implement next steps based on meeting discussions, including publication of a proceedings white paper

As a “think tank” forum of experts, this program will not offer didactic lectures, but rather a roundtable of brief presentations giving perspectives from all stakeholders. More than half of the meeting time will be open discussion among faculty. Open seating for registered observers will also be provided.

Visit the CSRC website regularly for updated on the keynote speakers, program details and more.

Make plans now to join us April 27-28, 2009 for the Atrial Fibrillation Think Tank.