Conference Agenda and Reading Materials

Sunday September 13, 2009

2:00 - 2:20

Introduction by Meeting Co-Chairs Devra Davis, PhD, MPH and David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD
Overview and goals of the meeting

2:20 - 2:50

Overview of research and policy issues
Dariusz Leszczynski, PhD, STUK, Finland

2:50 - 3:15

Comments on searching for mechanisms of harm from radiofrequency signals
Ronald B. Herberman, MD, University of Pittsburgh

Session 1: Dialogue on Modeling Exposure
Chair: Frank Barnes, PhD, University of Colorado, Chair of National Academy Of Sciences Committee on Cell Phone Research Priorities

3:30 - 3:50

Mobile phone radiation absorption into the brain of children and adults
Om Gandhi, PhD, University of Utah, Salt Lake City

3:50 - 4:10

Reliability of the radiation calculations in current studies
Niels Kuster, PhD, IT’IS Foundation, Zürich, Switzerland

4:10 - 4:20

Discussion

4:20 - 5:00

Outline of plans for break out groups on Tuesday

5:00 - 6:00

Speakers, recorders, and reporters meeting to organize work groups
Break to Stanton Park or other interesting green locations nearby, including the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center and Gardens

6:00 - 8:00

Informal dinner reception

Monday, September 14, 2009

Session 2: Mechanisms and Animal Studies
Chair: Henrietta Nittby, PhD  Lund University

8:30 - 8:50

Search for mechanisms of cell phone radiation-induced biologic effects
Frank Barnes, PhD, University of Colorado, CO

8:50 - 9:10

Evidence for cellular stress - heat shock protein activation
Martin Blank, PhD, Columbia University, NY

9:10 - 9:30

Recent findings on genetic damage at non-thermal levels
Wilhelm Mosgoeller, MD, University of Vienna Cancer Institute, Vienna, Austria

9:30 - 9:50

National Toxicology Program plans for research
Michael Wyde PhD, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

10:00 - 10:30

Discussion and Refreshment Break

Session 3: State of the Art Review
Chair: Wilhelm Mosgoeller MD

10:30 - 10:50

Evidence for cancer-related effects
Henry Lai, PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

10:50 - 11:10

Evidence for non-cancer effects
Leif Salford, MD, Lund University, Sweden

11:10 - 11:30

Discussion

12:00 - 12:30

Brown bag lunch on Outdoor Patio
People will “volunteer for assignment” (or be assigned) to three work groups below; Recorders are responsible for circulating a short list of key questions for discussion; presenters will present the group discussion.

RECESS at 1:00PM

Afternoon Break

Participants may elect to attend U.S. Senate Hearing on Cell Phones and Health, chaired by the Honorable Senator Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania, greetings at 1:30 p.m. in location TBD
Hearing from 2:00-4:00 TBD

6:00

Reception with Dinner. A roundtable discussion on: Late Breaking Developments in Science and Policy—the view from China, France, Israel and Finland

Opening Remarks Hon. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania with comments by representatives of the FDA*, FCC*, Embassy of France, Darius Leszczynski PhD, and Siegal Sadetzki MD. Capitol Visitors Center, U.S. Capitol. *(invited)

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Session 4: Epidemiology
Chairs: Michael Thun PhD, American Cancer Society and Devra Davis PhD MPH, Environmental Health Trust

8:00 - 8:20

Cell phone use brain tumors and public health - meta-analyses
Dr. Lennart Hardell, MD Orebro, Sweden by Skype

8:30 - 8:45

Discussion

8:45 - 9:15

Methodological limitations of existing epidemiologic studies, future research needs and policy implications
Siegal Sadetzki, MD, MPH, Head, Cancer & Radiation Epidemiology Unit Gertner Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel

9:15 - 9:45

Discussion

Session 5: Cell Phones, Public Policy, and the Precautionary Principle
Chair: Diana Zuckerman, PhD MPH National Research Center on Women and Families

10:00 - 10:20

The view from the American Cancer Society, Michael Thun MD, Vice President, American Cancer Society

10:20 - 10:40

 Perspective of the European Environment Agency
*David Gee, PhD by Skype

10:40 - 11:00

FDA Constraints and Perspectives
Abiy Testa, PhD

11:00 – 11:20

Report on research recommendations of the 2007 National Academies conference
Frank Barnes, PhD, Chairman of NAS committee on Research Needs University of Colorado, Boulder

11:40 – 1:30

Working Lunch break into work groups on outside patio, weather permitting
People will “volunteer for assignment” (or be assigned) to three work groups below; Recorders are responsible for circulating a short list of key questions for discussion; presenters will present the group discussion.

WG 1: Methods for improving exposure assessment of cell phones
Moderator: Norbert Hankin, EPA,
Recorder: Alvaro de Salles, PhD Porto Alegre, Brasil
Reporter: Niels Kuster, PhD IT’IS Foundation, Switzerland

WG 2: Developing future experimental and epidemiologic studies
Moderator: Christopher Portier, NIEHS
Recorder: Henrietta Nittby, PhD Lund University (invited)
Reporter: Margaret Offermann, American Cancer Society

WG 3: Public policy priorities
Moderator: Diana Zuckerman, PhD, National Research Center for Women & Families
Recorder: Elizabeth Kelley, MA ICEMS
Reporter: Jennifer Sass, NRDC

2:30 - 4:00

Reports from work group and final overview discussion
Chairs:  Darius Lescyzynski PhD and Devra Davis PhD MPH

4:00

End of the conference