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 language | English |
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Article number | 106839 |
Journal | Epilepsy and Behavior |
Volume | 103 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 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.
Funders | Funder number |
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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 Competitividad | BFU2017-84345-P |
Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte | SAF2017-83151-R |
Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke Council | P01NS097197 |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) | R01NS070899 |
Fundación Ramón Areces | CIVP18A3935 |
Keywords
- Glycogen
- Glycogen storage disease
- Lafora disease
- Neurodegeneration
- Progressive myoclonus epilepsy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology
- Behavioral Neuroscience