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
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.