International Mesothelioma Interest Group
Our law firm once again helped support the world’s premier gathering of international mesothelioma clinicians, researchers and scientists which was convened by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. This year’s event took place from September 25-27, 2008 at the De Meervart conference venue in Amsterdam.
In addition to being Silver Sponsors of IMIG, the Partners wanted to recognize the work of up and coming researchers by awarding prizes to young investigators, while also honoring the work of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS) and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), leaders in the campaign for a global asbestos ban and justice for asbestos victims. These awards were presented by Laurie Kazan-Allen, the IBAS Coordinator, and Linda Reinstein, Executive Director of the ADAO. During the award ceremony, Mrs. Reinstein told the 300 attendees that when her husband Alan was diagnosed with mesothelioma, the first thing they did was to search the IMIG website looking for medical experts; the help and support of IMIG members during Alan’s illness was of inestimable importance to the family and, although sadly Alan lost his fight for life, the hope that one day a cure may be found for this deadly disease motivates her to continue ADAO’s fight.
The winners of the 2008 IBAS and ADAO Young Investigators awards, selected by the IMIG Scientific Board and worth €2000 (approximately $2500) each, were announced on September 27 at the closing session of the conference. The 2008 IBAS and ADAO award recipients were:
• Dr. Jenette Creaney from the National Centre for Asbestos-related Disease Research, University of Western Australia for her abstract: The use of mesothelin for monitoring patients with mesothelioma
• Dr. Yasumitsu Nishimura from the Department of Hygiene, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan for his abstract: Impairment in cytotoxicity and expression of NK-cell activating receptors on human NK cells caused by exposure to asbestos fibers
From left: Dr. Creaney, colleague of Dr. Nishimura, Mrs. Reinstein and Ms. Kazan-Allen.