NEW YORK, April 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An annual conference on thyroid cancer is being held today at the United Nations on Wednesday, April 15, to focus on the state-of-the-art treatment of thyroid cancer among millions of people around the world who were exposed to radiation after the Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine on April 26, 1986.

The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary (NYEEI) is working in partnership with Project Chernobyl, a community-led effort to diagnose and treat thyroid cancer, a risk among some 200,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union who now live the New York area. Thyroid cancer from radiation exposure can take decades to develop.

The conference is chaired by Daniel I. Branovan, MD, FACS, Director of NYEEI's Thyroid Center, and President of Project Chernobyl.

Entitled "Living With Radiation: Treating Thyroid Cancer in the Era of Health Care Reform" the conference addresses issues related to the increasing cost of health care. Recommendations regarding new cost-effective diagnostic and treatment modalities will be presented by an international group of thyroid cancer experts from major medical centers in the United States, Russia, Ukraine and European countries such as Italy. The conference is attended by some 150 medical personnel.

At the annual “Living with Radiation After Chernobyl” Health Conference at the United Nations, Rep. Nadler joined doctors, scientists, elected officials and others committed to studying and stemming this health crisis. He announced $428,000 in federal funding that he secured for Project Chernobyl, a program led by Dr. Daniel Igor Branovan at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, which will screen and treat those at risk of developing Chernobyl-related thyroid cancer.

“Today, I am extremely pleased to announce that this year in Congress, I was able to secure $428,000 in federal funding for Project Chernobyl. Along with funds that Assembly members Alec Brook-Krasny and Helene Weinstein have gotten from the State, this money will help ensure that Project Chernobyl will be fully realized and successful.”