Why come to the conference?

Chiari2022 is intended to give the Chiari community an inside look at the latest developments from both the Conquer Chiari Research Center (CCRC) and Chiari researchers at large.


Attendees will:
  • Be immersed in a lifelike experience where they can interact with other attendees and ask questions of CCRC researchers
  • Hear about the latest theories on what causes Chiari symptoms; Chiari genetics; Chiari anatomy; the cognitive effects of Chiari; and more in presentations from top scientists and doctors
  • Visit a Poster Hall filled with updates on over 20 recent and current CCRC projects
  • Join in Roundtable discussions on different topics important to Chiari patients and family members
  • Engage in fun activities such as a Photo Booth, Social Media Wall, and Test Your Chiari Knowledge Quiz
  • Have a chance to win prizes


Hosted By: Conquer Chiari, a public charity, is the world's largest non-governmental funder of Chiari research and a recognized leader in providing scientifically accurate and innovative educational materials to the Chiari community. The Conquer Chiari Research Center is the world's first independent, inter-disciplinary research facility dedicated to advancing the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of Chiari malformation.

Chiari2022 Activities

All Day:

Poster Hall

Learn about the latest research with 20+ posters describing recent and current CCRC projects and dive into educational posters on important Chiari subjects. Posted questions will be answered by Conquer Chiari and CCRC personnel throughout the day.

Chiari Quiz

Test your Chiari knowledge and earn a chance to win prizes!!

Photo Booth

Take a picture and post it; see who else is attending.

Social Wall

Let everyone know what you think about the event on the Social Media Wall.

Exhibitor Booths

Stop by the Exhibition Hall to learn about related conditions, download educational materials, hear from our sponsors, and chat with representatives from other patient focused organizations.

Lounge

Take a break in the Lounge and chat with other attendees or browse the extensive Conquer Chiari Library.

Roundtable Discussions

Drop into a small group discussion with other attendees on Chiari related topics.

Scheduled:

Presentations

Hear the latest from Chiari scientific leaders. Speakers will be available for questions during the Roundtable Discussions. Presentations will be available for viewing for a limited time after the event.

Panel Q&A

The speakers answer questions submitted during the presentations in a panel discussion.

Chiari 2022: Agenda (8:30 – 6:00)
*All times EASTERN

All presentations in the auditorium.

Activity Time
8:30 – 9:30 am Activity Time Browse the poster hall, try the Chiari quiz, visit booths, or explore the event space
Scientific Presentations (First Session):
Time Topic Speaker
9:30 – 10:00 am Chiari Research Past, Present, Future Richard Labuda, Founder and Executive Director of Conquer Chiari
10:00 – 10:30 am The Quantitative Structure and Dynamic Nature of Chiari Francis Loth, PhD, Professor of Bioengineering and Director of Conquer Chiari Research at Northeastern University
10:30 – 11:00 am Cognitive & Emotional Impact of Chiari Philip Allen, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Director of the CCRC at University of Akron
11:00 – 11:30 am Morning Speaker Q&A; Roundtable Discussions Hear the experts answer your questions; learn how to get involved; or join a roundtable topic of your choice
Lunch/Activity Time
11:30 – 12:30 Memorialize the day at the Photo Booth, post to the Social Wall, or chat in the Lounge
Clinical Presentations
Time Topic Speaker
12:30 – 1:00 pm Preoperative Evaluation and Impact of Nuances in the Management of CMI. Robert Friedlander, MD, Chair Department of Neurological Surgery, Walter E. Dandy Distinguished Professor at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
1:00 – 1:30 pm Faces of Chiari: The role of Comorbidities in Evaluation, Treatment, and Outcomes Petra Klinge, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurosurgery at Brown University
1:30 – 2:00 pm Pediatric Chiari Jeffery P. Greenfield, MD, PhD, Associate Professor New York- Presbyterian/Children's Hospital of New York/MSKCC Kids
2:00 – 2:30 pm Clinical Speaker Q&A; Roundtable Discussions Ask questions of the clinical speakers; learn how to get involved; or join a roundtable topic of your choice
Activity Time
2:30 – 3:00 pm Browse the poster hall, try the Chiari quiz, visit booths, or explore the event space
Scientific Presentations (Second Session):
3:00 – 3:30 pm Anatomy of Chiari: Evolving Research Targets Jonathan Millard, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anatomy at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Note: This presentation includes video of human cadavers for educational purposes)
3:30 – 4:00 pm Genetics of Chiari Malformations: Progress and Opportunities Allison Ashley-Koch, PhD, Professor at Duke University Medical Center
4:00 – 4:30 pm Headache in Chiari I Malformation: An Appraisal with Real-time CSF Flow Imaging Rafeeque Bhadelia, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School
4:30 – 5:00 pm Afternoon Speaker Q&A; Roundtable Discussions Ask questions of the afternoon speakers; learn how to get involved; or join a roundtable topic of your choice
Activity Time
5:00 – 6:00 pm Activity Time Finish the day however you like!
Event Guide
Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor





Gold Sponsor


Speakers

Rick Labuda

Founder & Executive Director, Conquer Chiari

Bio

Mr. Labuda is the Founder and Executive Director of Conquer Chiari. As a Chiari patient himself (decompressed ’99) he knows first-hand the pain and frustration of dealing with this disease. Mr. Labuda has written hundreds of educational articles on Chiari and has contributed to 13 peer-reviewed journal publications. In addition, he is the author of the popular book, ‘Conquer Chiari: A Patient’s Guide’, now in its second edition.

Francis Loth, PhD

Professor of Bioengineering and Director of Conquer Chiari Research at Northeastern University

Bio

Dr. Loth received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering in the area of biofluids at the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1993. He began his career as a faculty member of the Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996. In 2008, he moved to The University of Akron in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In 2022, he moved to Northeastern University in the Departments of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Bioengineering. His research area is in the simulation, measurement, image processing of blood and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. He employs both experimental and numerical techniques to better understand the biomechanical forces involved in bypass graft failure as well as in diseases such as atherosclerosis, Chiari malformation, and syringomyelia. He has co-organized workshops in the area of hemodynamics (2001) and Chiari malformation/CSF (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2014). Dr. Loth serves as the Director of Conquer Chiari Research at Northeastern University.

Philip Allen, PhD

Professor of Psychology and Director of the CCRC at University of Akron

Bio

Dr. Allen received his Ph.D. degree in Psychology from Ohio State University in 1987 and then completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at Duke Medical Center. He began his career as a faculty member in the Psychology Department at Cleveland State University in 1989. In 2000, he moved to the University of Akron Psychology Department. His Chiari research area examines the intersection between pain and affective and cognitive dysfunction (using behavioral and neuroimaging techniques). Professor Allen serves as the Director of the Conquer Chiari Research Center at the University of Akron.

Jonathan Millard, PhD

Assistant Professor of Anatomy at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bio

Dr. Millard’s research involves utilizing geometric morphometric techniques to answer clinically oriented research questions. His previous works have included 3D nerve mapping to guide lumbar spinal fusion procedures and tracing fascicular courses within peripheral nerves. As an anatomist with special interest in the nervous system, his interest in Chiari malformation stems from its inherent morphological complexity. Potential 3D shape differences in Chiari skeletal anatomy represent his current focus. He is a native of Bristol, TN. and received a master's and doctoral degree from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN.

Rafeeque Bhadelia, MD

Associate Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School

Bio

Dr. Bhadelia is a past Clinical Director of Neuroradiology and Fellowship Director of Neuroradiology Fellowship at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He has published extensively in the field of CSF flow dynamics and Chiari I malformation for nearly 30-years. The overall Goal of his research is to develop a simple, quantitative, noninvasive MRI method that differentiates between Chiari I malformation patients who can and who cannot benefit from decompressive surgery. The method relies on measuring the response of CSF flow to clinically relevant physiological challenges like coughing and Valsalva maneuver (known to produce symptoms in Chiari patients) with a real-time flow imaging technique.

Petra Klinge, MD, PhD

Professor of Neurosurgery at Brown University

Bio

Dr. Klinge is an internationally renowned general neurosurgeon specializing in the surgical treatment of patients with brain tumors, hydrocephalus and Alzheimer’s disease, pediatric diseases and treatment of congenital diseases like Chiari and spinal malformations. Dr. Klinge has been an attending neurosurgeon and associate professor at Brown University in 2009. Prior to that, she was professor of neurosurgery at the Medical School Hannover, Germany. She received her medical degree at the University of Kiel in 1993 and completed her neurosurgical residency at Hannover Medical School in Germany in 2002. Dr. Klinge has published extensively on Chiari, EDS, and related topics.

Allison Ashley-Koch, PhD

Professor in the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute and the Department of Medicine at Duke University Medical Center

Bio

Dr. Ashley-Koch is a genetic epidemiologist whose primary goal is the identification of genes that contribute to human genetic disorders, including the identification of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. Dr. Ashley-Koch has published several articles on the genetic basis of Chiari malformations, including the most recent publication identifying variants in collagen genes in the Chiari 1000 and Duke studies.

Dr. Friedlander.

Chairman and Walter E. Dandy Distinguished Professor of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC.

Bio

Robert Friedlander is Chairman and Walter E. Dandy Distinguished Professor of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC. Prior to joining the department, Dr. Friedlander was Professor of neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School. He completed his BA/MA at Brandeis University, medical school at Harvard and residency at MGH. As a sign of his prominence as a clinician and scientist, Dr. Friedlander is one of a very select group of authors to have been invited by the NEJM to write a basic science review (mechanisms of neuronal cell death), and a clinical review (management of AVMs). Dr. Friedlander focuses on the management of complex cerebrovascular disorders, brain tumors and Chiari. Dr. Friedlander’s research interests lie in the study of the mechanistic pathways of the caspase apoptosis gene family. He was first to identify activation and a functional role for the caspase family in a neurological disease (stroke) and first to delay disease progression and mortality in ALS and Huntington’s disease mice. Dr. Friedlander’s research has received significant media attention including major work published in Nature, Science, Nature Medicine, Nature Neuroscience and PNAS. His work has also been recognized through many academic awards, including the International Charcot Prize for Motor Neuron Diseases and the H. Richard Winn Prize. Dr Friedlander served as a member of the NINDS Council. He is an elected as a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the American Association of Physicians, and the National Academy of Medicine.

Chiari2022 is a must for anyone affected by Chiari or interested in Chiari research.

Attendance is free.... Register Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Chiari2022 is a virtual event to highlight recent advances in Chiari research.
Chiari patients, family members, medical professionals, and anyone else interested in Chiari.
There will be presentations from leading scientists and doctors, roundtable discussions where you can ask questions of the speakers and engage in discussions on important topics, a poster hall, exhibitor booths, a lounge, a photo booth, a Chiari quiz and more.
Yes while Chiari 2022 is free, participants must register to attend.
Your login details will be emailed to you ahead of the event. You can use these details to access the online event.
Yes, Chiari2022 will be accessible from any computer or mobile device and any browser.
Yes, the event is completely free.
On the day of the event (10/15) the presentations will be available on a schedule (see Agenda). However, starting on 10/16 the presentations will be available on - demand for 30 days.
At specific times y ou will be able to join and participate in a virtual roundtable on a topic of your choice or ask questions of the presentation speakers.
In the Poster Hall you can learn about the latest research with more than 20 posters describing recent and ongoing Conquer Chiari projects or dive into educational posters on important Chiari subjects. You can post questions on specific posters which will be answered by Conquer Chiari research personnel throughout the day.
Sponsors of Chiari2022 will have booths set up in the Exhibitor Hall. Stop by to see what they are about and chat with them live.
Yes!! There will be a photo booth to commemorate your Chiari2022 experience; a Social Wall to share your thoughts on specific topics; a Chiari quiz to test your knowledge; and a Lounge where you can casually chat with other participants or browse the Conquer Chiari Library.
Yes, attendees will be eligible to win prizes!
You can explore the poster hall, try the Chiari quiz, visit booths, and explore the event space.
Visit the Help/Information desk and someone will be available to answer your questions and work through any problems.