When: November 11–12, 2004
Where: The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
Institute: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common and chronic disorder characterized by widespread muscle pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. It hits mainly women and its cause is still unknown. Symptoms tend to wax and wane over time.

To assess what is known about this syndrome and determine the best ways to learn more, NIAMS and Oregon Health and Science University are holding a two-day conference titled Fibromyalgia Workshop: The Next Advances. Its goals are to:

• Develop recommendations for integrated interdisciplinary (biomedical and psychosocial-behavioral) research directions to advance understanding of the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia.
  
  
• Provide clinicians with the latest scientific information about the biological and psychosocial-behavioral interactions producing fibromyalgia, particularly through central pain processes.
  
  
• Provide young or new (to fibromyalgia) investigators opportunities for career enhancement in interdisciplinary fibromyalgia research.
  

Next Steps
The workshop is open to the public and costs $150. A registration form and workshop agenda are available on the NIAMS Web site at www.niams.nih.gov/ne/mcw/fibro_mtg.htm. You can request and return an electronic registration form by sending an e-mail to koestler@ohsu.edu.

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