This application seeks support for the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on ?ALS and Related Motor Neuron Diseases,? which will take place from July 21-26th, 2019 at Mount Snow, West Dover, VT. This second biennial meeting brings together both senior and junior scientists and clinicians who investigate, clinically examine and therapeutically treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and related motor neurons diseases including spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), as well as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) and multisystem proteinopathy (MSP). The GRC will be accompanied by a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), which takes place July 20-21st, 2019 at the same location, and is specifically targeted at and organized by students and postdoctoral fellows of the aforementioned research community. The GRC will be divided into nine scientific sessions and daily poster presentations. National and international experts of the field will be invited as speakers to present unpublished research. In addition, we will give selected poster abstract authors, which are generally young investigators or trainees, an opportunity to present among these experts. This GRC provides a unique opportunity for scientists of interdisciplinary expertise to exchange ideas and hypotheses that will lead to new collaborative efforts towards finding new therapeutic targets and treatments for patients affected by these diseases.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurologic disease characterized the gradual degeneration of motor neurons leading to progressive paralysis and eventually death. In addition to ALS, other related motor neuron diseases, such as e.g. spinal muscular atrophy, have similar disease prevalence with varying disease outcomes. This GRC will bring together experts in the field of these motor neuron diseases to discuss and thereby collaboratively advance knowledge in the field, with the goal of providing new and more effective therapeutics for this patient population.
