Scientific Symposium Conference

Thursday, June 27

8 AM C to 4:30 PM C

Educate. Collaborate. Advocate.

The ULF’s Annual Scientific Symposium

The ULF’s Annual Scientific Symposium is a gathering of the leukodystrophy community’s most prominent researchers and clinicians. The Symposium welcomes speakers to share their research, encourages partnerships and collaborations, and educates the larger academic and medical community on the results of their efforts. Each year ULF hosts a full-day session that includes leukodystrophy experts from around the world who are committed to advancing science and empowering patients. Research and medical professionals, pharma/biotech representatives, advocacy leaders, as well as student scientists/clinicians are welcome to attend.

In addition to the Scientific Symposium, this year’s conference highlights include:

Dr. Paul A Watkins Excellence in Research Poster Presentation, which nurtures future leaders in science and medicine to ensure advancement in research. This year we are inviting our industry partners to participate; however, only future leaders will receive awards and participate in a lightning round to discuss their projects. Please see the Call for Abstracts timeline. Submissions are due no later than June 1st, 2024.

 

The Family Conference is where ULF will host affected families from around the world who are dealing with leukodystrophies. Families can attend in person or virtually. This will include education sessions related to leukodystrophy science and workshops that empower families and caregivers. Dr. Geneviève Bernard of McGill University, and Chair of ULF’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, will provide a layperson’s summary of the Scientific Symposium sessions. This is to ensure that families are updated on advances in the field. Attendees include affected individuals, parents, caregivers, siblings, and extended family members who are part of the support network. The research and medical community are also encouraged to attend.

During the Family Conference, ULF will also host our annual Patient Advocacy Group Mini-Symposium which will be incorporated throughout the two-day Family Conference. This will enable leukodystrophy-specific advocacy groups to benefit from ULF’s research community and industry partnerships to add value to the sessions focusing on their type-specific leukodystrophy. These information sessions will include a Medical and Scientific Advisory Board member who will support the development of the content.

Featured Speakers

Dr. Geneviève Bernard
ULF MSAB Chair
McGill University

Dr. Marjo S. van der Knaap, Amsterdam UMC

Dr. Marianna Bugiani, Amsterdam UMC

Dr. Tzipora Falik-Zaccai,
Galilee Medical Center,
Ban-Ilan University

Dr. Cristina Cereda,
University Children's Hospital V. Buzzi, Milan, Italy

Mackenzie Michell-Robinson,
PhD Candidate
McGill University

Dr. Laura Adang,
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Dr. Jamie Fraser,
Children's National Hospital

Dr. Erik Mallack,
Kennedy Krieger Institute

Dr. Walter Koroshetz,
National Institutes of Health

Holly A. Rutherford,
PhD Candidate
Sheffield University

Dr. Allison Bradbury,
Nationwide Children's Hospital

Dr. Florian Eichler,
Massachusetts General Hospital

2024 Agenda

Thursday, June 27

Each year the ULF hosts an interesting and compelling agenda of leukodystrophy topics presented by global leukodystrophy experts who share their latest work and broad perspectives with an audience that includes scientists, clinicians, medical professionals, industry leaders, and patient advocacy leaders. We are pleased to announce the 2024 agenda and speakers.

ULF MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

Chair
Geneviève Bernard, MD, FRCPC
McGill University

Vice Chair
Keith Van Haren, MD
Stanford University Medical

Director
Caroline Bergner, MD
University Hospital Leipzig

Director
Enrico Bertini, MD
Bambino Gesu’ Children’s Research Hospital

Director
Joshua Bonkowsky, MD, PhD
Primary Children’s Hospital

Director
Andrea DeBarber, PhD 
Oregon Health and Science University

Director
Marc Engelen, MD, PhD
Amsterdam UMC

Director
Stephan Kemp, PhD
Amsterdam UMC

Director
Troy Lund, MSMS, FAAP, MD, PhD
University of Minnesota

Director
Gustavo H. B. Maegawa, MD, PhD, FACMG
Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Director
Patricia L Musolino MD, PhD
Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School

Director
Christina Nemeth Mertz, PhD
Kennedy Krieger Institute

Director
Deborah Renaud, MD
Mayo Clinic

Director
Davide Tonduti, MD, PhD V. Buzzi
Children’s Hospital

Director
Adeline Vanderver, MD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Director
Nicole I. Wolf, MD, PhD
Amsterdam UMC

Scientific Symposium Hotel Information

Eaglewood Resort and Spa

1401 Nordic Road

Itasca, Illinois 60143
www.eaglewoodresort.com 

630-773-1400

Conveniently located to O’Hare International Airport
Room Block closes on May 28
To request a room that is closest to the Conference center, call:

630-694-5923

Sponsorship Opportunities

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Diane Fennimore, Executive Director at

 

diane@ulf.org

Current Sponsors