The 5th International Lafora Epilepsy Workshop: Basic science elucidating therapeutic options and preparing for therapies in the clinic

Matthew S. Gentry, Zaid Afawi, Dustin D. Armstrong, Antonio Delgado-Escueta, Y. Paul Goldberg, Tamar R. Grossman, Joan J. Guinovart, Frank Harris, Thomas D. Hurley, Roberto Michelucci, Berge A. Minassian, Pascual Sanz, Carolyn A. Worby, Jose M. Serratosa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lafora disease (LD) is both a fatal childhood epilepsy and a glycogen storage disease caused by recessive mutations in either the Epilepsy progressive myoclonus 2A (EPM2A) or EPM2B genes. Hallmarks of LD are aberrant, cytoplasmic carbohydrate aggregates called Lafora bodies (LBs) that are a disease driver. The 5th International Lafora Epilepsy Workshop was recently held in Alcala de Henares, Spain. The workshop brought together nearly 100 clinicians, academic and industry scientists, trainees, National Institutes of Health (NIH) representation, and friends and family members of patients with LD. The workshop covered aspects of LD ranging from defining basic scientific mechanisms to elucidating a LD therapy or cure and a recently launched LD natural history study.

Original languageEnglish
Article number106839
JournalEpilepsy and Behavior
Volume103
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R01NS070899 (MSG) and P01NS097197 (MSG), the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science Award Number SAF2017-83151-R (PS), a grant from the Fundacion Ramon Areces CIVP18A3935 (PS), Spanish MINECO BFU2017-84345-P (JJG), Valerion Therapeutics (MSG), and Ionis Pharmaceuticals . We thank Ms. Cheylene Plummer at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine for logistical support and planning the event. We confirm that we have read the Journal's position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines. The 5th International Lafora Epilepsy Workshop was held at the Parador in Alcala de Henares, Spain on September 8\u201311, 2019. The workshop was organized and hosted by Drs. Jose Serratosa (Fundaci\u00F3n Jim\u00E8nez D\u00EDaz, Madrid, Spain) and Matthew Gentry; and it was sponsored by NINDS (P01 NS097197), Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Valerion Therapeutics, Maze Therapeutics, Chelsea's Hope, and the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. The workshop is a unique blend of clinicians; scientists from academia, industry, and the NIH; trainees; friends and family members of patients with LD; and a patient with LD with approximately 100 representatives from the United States, Spain, Canada, Israel, Hungary, Slovakia, Russia, Honduras, Turkey, India, Italy, France, Australia, and the Netherlands ( Fig. 2 ). The singular goal of this diverse group is to accelerate LD research to bring a LD therapy or cure to patients.

FundersFunder number
Michigan Sea Grant, University of Michigan
Valerion Therapeutics
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
ISIS Pharmaceuticals
Maze Therapeutics
Chelsea's Hope
Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadBFU2017-84345-P
Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y DeporteSAF2017-83151-R
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke CouncilP01NS097197
National Institutes of Health (NIH)R01NS070899
Fundación Ramón ArecesCIVP18A3935

    Keywords

    • Glycogen
    • Glycogen storage disease
    • Lafora disease
    • Neurodegeneration
    • Progressive myoclonus epilepsy

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Neurology
    • Clinical Neurology
    • Behavioral Neuroscience

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