William W. Li, M.D. and Vincent W. Li. M.D., M.B.A of the Angiogenesis Foundation will give presentations at the Symposium for Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) on Tuesday, April 20, at the Gaylord Palms Convention Center, in Kissimmee, Florida. Addressing leading physicians, nurses, physical therapists, researchers, podiatrists, dietitians, and other health professionals involved in wound healing or wound care issues, they will share insights from the angiogenesis field to help improve wound care.

Many commonly used methods used by clinicians to aid the healing process, such as growth factors, hyperbaric oxygen, tissue engineered skin, and negative pressure therapy, all promote angiogenesis, new blood vessel growth, that is vital to successful healing. Dr. William Li and Dr. Vincent Li will discuss these approaches.  Similarly, there exists many medications and therapies for other ailments that can inhibit angiogenesis, especially for treating cancer.  As cancer patients live longer and more productive lives with targeted antiangiogenic therapies, the potential that their treatments may slow or delay healing process should be monitored by clinicians, especially in patients who are more vulnerable to non-healing wounds, such as those with diabetes. Dr. Li will present the evidence supporting this recommendation.  Other key data that will be discussed by the Angiogenesis Foundation include updated information on the boxed warning for the drug becaplermin (Regranex).

The 23rd Annual Symposium on Advanced Wound Care and Wound Healing society (SAWC/WHS) meeting is the premier educational wound care program within this clinical field and is the largest annual gathering of wound care clinicians in the United States. More than 2,000 physicians, podiatrists, nurses, therapists, and researchers are expected to attend the 2010 SAWC/WHS meeting.

From its beginning in 1988, when a small group of nurses and physicians interested in this new discipline created a mission and vision to provide an interdisciplinary forum on wound care, the SAWC/WHS has grown to become the largest annual gathering of wound care clinicians in the United States.