ADVISORY/American Syringomyelia Alliance Project Announces 15th Annual National Medical Conference.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

ADVISORY...for July 23-26

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

American Syringomyelia Alliance Project:

When: July 23-26, 2003
Where: The Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1605 Broadway, Times Square, New York
    City

ASAP's Mission: To improve the lives of persons affected by
    syringomyelia, Chiari malformation and related disorders while we
    find the cure.

The Conference: Each July ASAP brings together the leading medical
    specialists in syringomyelia (SM) and Chiari malformation (CM) and
    the patients and families who are affected by the disorders. The
    conference provides opportunities for support and networking, the
    latest in research and treatment information, question & answer
    sessions moderated by the doctors, and an awards banquet. A
    physician/scientist education seminar is also held.

Audience:

--  People with SM or CM, their families or caregivers

--  Parents of children with SM or CM

--  Physicians - neurologists, neurosurgeons, pain management, primary
    care, pediatricians

--  Nurses

--  Physical or occupational therapists

--  Scientists interested in a variety of aspects of syringomyelia and
    Chiari malformation

--  Medical and scientific professionals are invited to attend the
    professional seminar on Saturday morning

--  Registration at the door

Speakers include internationally recognized experts:

--  Thomas H. Milhorat MD, North Shore University Hospital

--  Ulrich Batzdorf MD, UCLA Medical Center

--  Barth Green MD, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis

--  Arnold Menezes, MD, University of Iowa

--  Richard Ellenbogen, MD, University of Washington

--  Edward Benzel, MD, The Cleveland Clinic

--  Roger Kula, MD, North Shore University Hospital

--  Marcy C. Speer, Ph.D., Duke University Medical Center

--  John Oro, MD, University of Missouri

--  Peter Carmel, MD, University of Medicine New Jersey

--  Edward Oldfield, MD, NINDS

Who we are: The American Syringomyelia Alliance Project, Inc. (ASAP)
    is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), member supported organization,
    chartered in May 1988. ASAP is the result of the commitment and
    determination of its two founding members, Barbara and Don White,
    whose journey with syringomyelia began in 1983. After weeks of
    hospitalization and testing, she was finally diagnosed with
    syringomyelia (SM). Their efforts to learn about the condition
    proved to them that very little was known about SM, and few
    physicians were even aware of the limited information that was
    available Finding a physician who had treated more than a handful
    of patients was almost impossible. The frustrations they faced
    years ago mirror those of many SM patients even today. One of
    their goals in forming ASAP was to provide others with support and
    direction facing SM. Since then ASAP has become a nationwide
    support and education organization that also funds neuroscience
    research. To date ASAP has funded over $300,000 worth of research
    projects.

Syringomyelia: is a chronic disorder involving the spinal cord.
    Syringomyelia occurs when cerebrospinal fluid enters the spinal
    cord and forms a cavity known as a syrinx. Over time, the syrinx
    may expand and elongate, destroying the center of the spinal cord.
    As the nerve fibers in the spinal cord are damaged, intractable,
    chronic pain and many other symptoms may occur including
    paralysis. A recent study indicates that as many as 215,000
    Americans are affected SM. In other words, about 1 in 1,280
    Americans has syringomyelia.

Chiari malformation: is a congenital anomaly, which is characterized
    by a downward displacement of the lower part of the brain into the
    cervical spinal canal. This downward displacement blocks the
    normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which can lead to the
    development of a syrinx in the spinal cord. Chiari malformation
    causes about 70% of all cases of syringomyelia and can cause many
    problems even without the presence of syringomyelia.