The Association for Molecular Pathology Closes Out 2014 Annual Meeting With Record-Level Attendance

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, non-profit organization serving molecular testing professionals announced highlights from its 2014 Annual Meeting, including the associations’ first-ever Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill and record-breaking scientific attendance. The 2014 AMP Annual Meeting was held November 12‐15, 2014 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD (just outside of Washington, DC). Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health joined the meeting on November 12 during a special address heard by more than 1,900 registrants and helped AMP to kick off its 20^th anniversary celebrations.

“We were deeply honored to have had Dr. Collins join us this year as we commemorated a significant anniversary. He set the right tone for a meeting that addressed several key areas of molecular pathology that have contributed to significant advances in medicine and patient care,” said Charles E. Hill, MD, PhD, Chair, Program Committee.

In addition to increasing scientific attendance by more than 200 people from the 2013 meeting, the 2014 AMP Annual Meeting Program featured many important presentations and discussions, including a late-breaking session that addressed laboratory developed procedure (LDP) regulation. Members of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration including Alberto Gutierrez and Elizabeth Mansfield participated in an open Q&A session fielding comments and questions from a “standing-room only” group of 600+ meeting attendees.

This informative session with the FDA was followed by an AMP-hosted press conference that convened a panel of molecular pathology professionals, from a variety of clinical laboratory settings to appropriately frame the discussion regarding clinical care and regulation. Panelists included Dr. Elaine Lyon, 2014 AMP President, Dr. Aaron Bossler, Co-Chair of AMP Economic Affairs Committee, Dr. Janina Longtine, 2015 AMP President-Elect, and Dr. Roger Klein, Chair of AMP Professional Relations Committee. The press conference was recorded and is now available online. The press conference presentations can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/user/AMPforyou/videos.

Prior to the start of the 2014 AMP Annual Meeting, nearly 60 members participated in AMP’s first Advocacy Day, which included a full day of meetings with Congress addressing regulation of LDPs, coverage and reimbursement of LDPs, and other important issues.

“AMP members were very well received by their elected officials, educating them, as well as learning from them. Members of Congress now are aware as well as concerned that their constituents will not be able to get the care they need unless FDA and CMS proceed prudently,” said Elaine Lyon, AMP President. “The impact on patient care, and their out-of-pocket expenses, as well as the impact to the economy could be devastating. I encourage physicians and patients to go to our website and learn what is at stake and take action.” The AMP Take Action Center is online at www.amp.org/congress.

Finally, the 2014 Annual Meeting helped to launch a new Informatics Subdivision, joining the existing Genetics, Hematopathology, Infectious Diseases, and Solid Tumors subdivisions. The new Informatics Subdivision will address the important role of this scientific discipline in molecular pathology. Alexis Carter, MD, from Emory University Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has been appointed to Chair this new assembly. Previously, she helped form and has been the Chair of AMP’s Informatics Interest Group. The Informatics Subdivision will help promote good informatics practices, research and discovery and, through collaboration, bolster the informatics efforts of the other subdivisions.

About the Association for Molecular Pathology

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) was founded in 1995 to provide structure and leadership to what was, at the time, the newly‐emerging field of molecular diagnostics. Through the efforts of its Board of Directors, Committees, Working Groups, and members, AMP has established itself as the primary resource for expertise, education, and collaboration on what is now one of the fastest growing fields in healthcare. AMP members influence policy and regulation on the national and international levels, ultimately serving to advance innovation in the field and protect patient access to high quality, appropriate testing.

AMP's 2,300+ members include individuals from academic and community medical centers, government, and industry; including, basic and translational scientists, pathologist and doctoral scientist laboratory directors, medical technologists, and trainees. AMP members span the globe with members in more than 45 countries and a growing number of AMP International Affiliate Organizations. The number of AMP members is growing rapidly; they are united by the goal of advancing the science and implementation of molecular and genomic laboratory medicine. For more information, please visit www.amp.org.