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13th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders

Available via

WEBINAR

13th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders

Monday, May 15, 2017 - Wednesday, May 17, 2017

The New York Academy of Sciences, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St Fl 40, New York

Presented By

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America

The New York Academy of Sciences

 

The treatment for myasthenia gravis (MG) — a rare, acquired autoimmune syndrome resulting in severe muscle weakness and fatigue, significant disability, and decreased life expectancy — has improved dramatically in the last several decades. While modern medical advances have reduced MG mortality rates over the last several decades, there has been an increase in reported cases especially among the aging population. The number of diagnosed MG cases is expected to rise as the aging population increases and screening techniques for MG improve. From a public health perspective it is clear that increased understanding of the etiology underlying MG is critical for enhancing diagnosis and treatment of this disease. To better translate basic research discoveries into the standard treatment regimen of MG patients, the New York Academy of Sciences, in partnership with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, will organize the 13th International Conference on Myasthenia Gravis and Related Disorders.

The conference will provide a forum for basic scientists and clinical researchers to discuss, disseminate, and highlight the advances and challenges of therapies for myasthenia gravis. The goals of this program are to: 1) provide a forum for basic, translational, and clinical researchers from academia and industry to present and discuss the most up-to-date findings in MG research; 2) explore and encourage multidisciplinary and multi-sector collaborations to enhance investigative approaches into MG and related autoimmune and neuromuscular disorders; 3) review current MG therapeutic options, ongoing clinical trials, and challenges and limitations faced in the clinic; and 4) identify knowledge gaps and future directions of research required for further breakthroughs. Ten plenary sessions will span the full spectrum of research from bench to bedside, including structure and function of the neuromuscular junction, advances in immunology, recent clinical developments related to MG, outcome measurements, clinical trial development, animal models of neuromuscular disease, MG treatment updates, congenital and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndromes, thymectomy, and the MGTX trial.

Registration Pricing

By 04/03/2017After 04/03/2017Onsite
Member$650$700$750
Member (Student / Postdoc)$400$425$450
Nonmember (Academia)$800$850$900
Nonmember (Corporate)$950$1050$1150
Nonmember (Non-profit)$800$850$900
Nonmember (Student / Postdoc / Fellow)$450$475$500

Registration includes a complimentary, one-year Membership to the New York Academy of Sciences. Complimentary Memberships are provided to non-members only and cannot be used to renew or extend existing or expiring Memberships. A welcome email will be sent upon registration which will include your Membership credentials.

The three days' events also will be broadcast as webinars; registration is required. Membership is not included with webinar registration.

Please note: Transmission of presentations via the webinar is subject to individual consent by the speakers. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that every speaker's presentation will be broadcast in full via the webinar. To access all speakers' presentations in full, we invite you to attend the live event in New York City where possible.

Webinar Pricing, One Day (May 15, 16, or 17)

By 04/03/2017After 04/03/2017
Member$100$115
Member (Student / Postdoc)$60$70
Nonmember (Academia)$125$140
Nonmember (Corporate)$150$165
Nonmember (Non-profit)$125$140
Nonmember (Student / Postdoc / Fellow)$70$85

 

Webinar Pricing, All Three Days

By 04/03/2017After 04/03/2017
Member$255$295
Member (Student / Postdoc)$150$180
Nonmember (Academia)$320$360
Nonmember (Corporate)$385$420
Nonmember (Non-profit)$320$360
Nonmember (Student / Postdoc / Fellow)$180$215

Registration

Member
By 04/03/2017
$650
After 04/03/2017
$700
Onsite
$750
Nonmember Academia, Faculty, etc.
By 04/03/2017
$800
After 04/03/2017
$850
Onsite
$900
Nonmember Corporate, Other
By 04/03/2017
$950
After 04/03/2017
$1050
Onsite
$1150
Nonmember Not for Profit
By 04/03/2017
$800
After 04/03/2017
$850
Onsite
$900
Nonmember Student, Undergrad, Grad, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$450
After 04/03/2017
$475
Onsite
$500
Member Student, Post-Doc, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$400
After 04/03/2017
$425
Onsite
$450
Member
By 04/03/2017
$255
After 04/03/2017
$295
Nonmember Academia, Faculty, etc.
By 04/03/2017
$320
After 04/03/2017
$360
Nonmember Corporate, Other
By 04/03/2017
$385
After 04/03/2017
$420
Nonmember Not for Profit
By 04/03/2017
$320
After 04/03/2017
$360
Nonmember Student, Undergrad, Grad, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$180
After 04/03/2017
$215
Member Student, Post-Doc, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$150
After 04/03/2017
$180
Member
By 04/03/2017
$100
After 04/03/2017
$115
Nonmember Academia, Faculty, etc.
By 04/03/2017
$125
After 04/03/2017
$140
Nonmember Corporate, Other
By 04/03/2017
$150
After 04/03/2017
$165
Nonmember Not for Profit
By 04/03/2017
$125
After 04/03/2017
$140
Nonmember Student, Undergrad, Grad, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$70
After 04/03/2017
$85
Member Student, Post-Doc, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$60
After 04/03/2017
$70
Member
By 04/03/2017
$100
After 04/03/2017
$115
Nonmember Academia, Faculty, etc.
By 04/03/2017
$125
After 04/03/2017
$140
Nonmember Corporate, Other
By 04/03/2017
$150
After 04/03/2017
$165
Nonmember Not for Profit
By 04/03/2017
$125
After 04/03/2017
$140
Nonmember Student, Undergrad, Grad, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$70
After 04/03/2017
$85
Member Student, Post-Doc, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$60
After 04/03/2017
$70
Member
By 04/03/2017
$100
After 04/03/2017
$115
Nonmember Academia, Faculty, etc.
By 04/03/2017
$125
After 04/03/2017
$140
Nonmember Corporate, Other
By 04/03/2017
$150
After 04/03/2017
$165
Nonmember Not for Profit
By 04/03/2017
$125
After 04/03/2017
$140
Nonmember Student, Undergrad, Grad, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$70
After 04/03/2017
$85
Member Student, Post-Doc, Fellow
By 04/03/2017
$60
After 04/03/2017
$70

Agenda

* Presentation times are subject to change.


Monday, May 15, 2017

7:30 AM

Breakfast

8:30 AM

Welcome and Introductions
Linda L. Kusner, PhD, George Washington University
Susan Klinger, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and Nancy Law, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Representative, The New York Academy of Sciences
Alison Carley, PhD, The New York Academy of Sciences

Session 1: Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) Structure and Function

Session Chair: Clarke R. Slater, PhD, Newcastle University, United Kingdom

8:55 AM

Functional Organization of the Neuromuscular Junction: Introduction
Clarke R. Slater, PhD, Newcastle University, United Kingdom

9:05 AM

Presynaptic Plasticity in Myasthenia Gravis
Mark M. Rich, MD, PhD, Wright State University

9:25 AM

More Than a Pretzel: Spatial Distribution of the Neuromuscular Junction Components
Tomasz J. Prószynski, PhD, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Poland

9:45 AM

Molecular Mechanisms of the Formation of Neuromuscular Junction
Markus A. Ruegg, PhD, University of Basel, Switzerland

10:05 AM

Is Age-Related Neuromuscular Junction Fragmentation a Sign of Altered Neuromuscular Junction Function?
Clarke R. Slater, PhD, Newcastle University, United Kingdom

10:25 AM

Networking Coffee Break

Session 2: Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes

Session Chair: Andrew G. Engel, MD, Mayo Clinic

10:55 AM

Presynaptic Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes Caused by Mutations in SNAP25B and MUNC13-1
Andrew G. Engel, MD, Mayo Clinic

11:15 AM

The Pathophysiological Mechanisms of CMS with Acetylcholinesterase Deficiency
Claire Legay, PhD, Université Paris Descartes, France

11:35 AM

Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes with Predominant Limb Girdle Weakness
Hanns Lochmuller, MD, FAAN, Newcastle University, United Kingdom

11:55 AM

Myasthenic Syndromes Due to Defects in COL13A1 and the N-Linked Glycosylation Pathway
David Beeson, PhD, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

12:15 PM

Therapeutic Strategies for Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes
Jacqueline Palace, MD, John Radcliffe Hospital

12:35 PM

Networking Lunch
(Concurrent): Early Career Investigator and Underrepresented Minority Mentoring Lunch

Session 3: Thymus in Myasthenia Gravis

Session Chair: Rozen le Panse, PhD, INSERM, France

2:25 PM

Thymus Involvement in Myasthenia Gravis
Rozen le Panse, PhD, INSERM, France

2:35 PM

MGTX Histopathology Findings
Alex Marx, MD, University of Heidelberg, Germany

2:55 PM

Toll-like Receptors 7 and 9 in Myasthenia Gravis Thymus
Paola Calvacante, PhD, Foundation Neurological Institute "Carlo Besta"

3:15 PM

Networking Coffee Break

Session 4: Serological Phenotypes and Unique Treatment Responses

Session Chair: Angela Vincent, MSc, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

3:45 PM

Overview of Serological Classification of Myasthenia Gravis
Angela Vincent, MSc, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

4:05 PM

Cortactin Antibodies in Myasthenia Gravis
Isabel Illa, MD, PhD, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain

4:25 PM

MuSK Myasthenia Gravis
Amelia Evoli, MD, Catholic Univeristy, Roma, Italy

4:45 PM

A Unique Sub-Phenotype of Myasthenia Gravis
Jeannine M. Heckmann, MB ChB, PhD, University of Cape Town, South Africa

5:05 PM

Autoantibodies to Agrin in Myasthenia Gravis
Arthur Melms, MD, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany

5:25 PM

Day 1 Closing Remarks

6:00 PM

Day 1 Poster Session and Networking Reception (Marriott Downtown)

8:30 PM

Day 1 Adjourns

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

7:15 AM

Sponsored Breakfast Session
 
This breakfast and discussion is generously supported and presented by Alexion
 
Panel Discussion: Characterizing Unmet Needs of Patients with Myasthenia Gravis
 
Moderator:
Karen Gondek
 
Panelists: James F Howard, Jr, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Richard J. Nowak, MD, MS, Yale University School of Medicine
Gil Wolfe, MD, FAAN, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Additional panelists to be announced

Session 5: Mechanisms of Autoimmunity (basic, including diseases other than Myasthenia Gravis)

Session Chair: Sonia Berrih-Aknin, DSc, INSERM, France

8:30 AM

Introduction to Autoimmunity
Sonia Berrih-Aknin, DSc, INSERM, France

8:40 AM

Keynote Address: T cell Function in Autoimmunity
Vijay Kuchroo, DVM, PhD, Harvard Institutes of Medicine

9:10 AM

Regulatory B cells in Health and Disease
Claudia Mauri, PhD, University College London, United Kingdom

9:30 AM

Estrogen-Mediated Downregulation of AIRE Influences the Gender-Bias in Autoimmune Diseases
Nadine Dragin, PhD, Institute of Myology, France

9:50 AM

Expanding Field of IgG4 Autoimmune Diseases
Maartje Huijbers, PhD, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands

10:10 AM

Networking Coffee Break

Session 6: Mechanisms of Myasthenia Gravis Autoimmunity — Updates

Session Chair: Kevin C. O'Connor, PhD, Yale School of Medicine

10:40 AM

Introduction to Myasthenia Gravis Autoimmunity
Kevin C. O'Connor, PhD, Yale School of Medicine

10:50 AM

Mechanisms of B Cell and T Cell Immunopathology in Myasthenia Gravis
Kevin O'Connor, PhD, Yale School of Medicine

11:10 AM

Immune Checkpoint Markers in Myasthenia Gravis Patients
John S. Yi, PhD, Duke University Medical Center

11:30 PM

Cytokine Production in Myasthenia Gravis Patients
Vuslat Yilmaz, PhD, Istanbul University, Turkey

11:50 AM

Circulating MicroRNAs in Myasthenia Gravis
Anna Rostedt Punga, MD, PhD, Uppsala University, Sweden

12:10 PM

Networking Lunch

Session 7: Day 2 Hot Topic Short Talks (Selected from Submitted Abstracts)

Session Chair: To Be Announced

1:55 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

2:05 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

2:15 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

2:25 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

Session 8: Clinical Trials Update

Session Chair: Henry Kaminski, MD, George Washington University

2:35 PM

Clinical Trials for Myasthenia Gravis
Henry Kaminski, MD, George Washington University

2:45 PM

Eculizumab Results in Improvement in Activities of Daily Living and Muscle Strength in Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Patients Compared with Placebo
James F. Howard, Jr., MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

3:05 PM

MGTX Primary and Secondary Outcomes
Gil I. Wolfe, MD, University of Buffalo

3:25 PM

A Phase 1b Clinical Trial of CV-MG01, Acetylcholine Receptor Mimetic Peptides
Rudy Mercelis, MD, PhD, Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium

3:45 PM

Networking Coffee Break

Session 9: Upcoming, Ongoing or Future Trials in Myasthenia Gravis

Session Chair: Jeffrey Guptill, MD, Duke University

4:15 PM

Overview Introduction
Jeffrey Guptill, MD, Duke University Medical Center

4:25 PM

B Cell Targeted Treatment in Myasthenia Gravis (BeatMG): A Phase 2 Trial of Rituximab in Myasthenia Gravis
Richard J. Nowak, MD, MS, Yale University School of Medicine

4:45 PM

AChR-Specific Immunosuppressive Therapy of Myasthenia Gravis
Jon Martin Lindstrom, PhD, University of Pennsylvania

5:05 PM

Difficulty with Clinical Trials — What We Have Learned So Far?
Michael Benatar, MD, PhD, University of Miami

5:25 PM

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Philanthropist of the Year Award Presentation: Honoring Mona Roth
 
Nancy Law, Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, and Robert Ruff, MD, PhD, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

5:40 PM

Day 2 Networking Reception

7:00 PM

Day 2 Adjourns

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

7:30 AM

Breakfast

Session 10: Acetylcholine Receptor Animal Models

Session Chair: Linda L. Kusner, PhD, George Washington University

8:30 AM

Acetylcholine Receptor Animal Models and Complement
Linda L. Kusner, PhD, George Washington University

8:50 AM

Pathogenic Mechanisms and Treatment Strategies for AChR-MG in Preclinical Models
Pilar Martinez-Martinez, PhD, Maastricht University, Netherlands

9:10 AM

Toll-like Receptor (TLR) Agonists to Induce Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis (EAMG)
Rozen le Panse, PhD, INSERM, France

9:30 AM

Electrophysiology of Myasthenia Gravis Animal Models
Jaap J. Plomp, PhD, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands

9:50 AM

Networking Coffee Break

Session 11: Other Animal Models in Myasthenia Gravis

Session Chair: William Donald Phillips, PhD, University of Sydney, Australia

10:20 AM

Does Anti-MuSK Cause Myasthenia Simply by Inhibiting Agrin/MuSK Signaling?
William Donald Phillips, PhD, University of Sydney, Australia

10:40 AM

Anti-MuSK IgG4 in the Passive Transfer Model
Jan Verschuuren, MD, PhD, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands

11:00 AM

Experimental Studies on Seronegative Myasthenia
Angela Vincent, MSc, University of Oxford, United Kingdom

11:20 AM

Using the Mouse Passive Transfer Model of Lambert–Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) to Explore Disease Pathology and Test New Therapeutic Leads
Stephen D. Meriney, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

11:40 AM

Lrp4 and Agrin Antibodies in Myasthenia Gravis
Lin Mei, PhD, Augusta University

12:00 PM

Remembering Claudio Mazia, MD, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

12:10 PM

Networking Luncheon

Session 12: Day 3 Hot Topic Short Talks (Selected from Submitted Abstracts)

Session Chair: To Be Announced

1:25 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

1:35 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

1:45 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

1:55 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

2:05 PM

Speaker to Be Announced

2:15 PM

Networking Coffee Break

Session 13: Treatment Guidelines from Around the World

Session Chair: Donald B. Sanders, MD, Duke University Medical Center

2:45 PM

International Consensus Guidance Statements for Myasthenia Gravis Treatment
Donald B. Sanders, MD, Duke University Medical Center

3:15 PM

Treatment Guidelines for Myasthenia Gravis in Japan
Hiroyuki Murai, MD, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan

3:35 PM

The Myasthenia Gravis Guidelines of the Association of British Neurologists
Jon D. Sussman, PhD, FRCP, Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, United Kingdom

3:55 PM

Unique Treatment Challenges in South America
Valeria L. Salutto, MD, Alfredo Lanari Institute of Medical Investigations, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

4:15 PM

Panel Discussion: Comparing and Contrasting Treatment Strategies around the World
 
Moderator:
Henry Kaminski, MD, George Washington University
 
Panelists:
Hiroyuki Murai, MD, International University of Health and Welfare, Japan
Valeria L. Salutto, MD, Alfredo Lanari Institute of Medical Investigations, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Donald B. Sanders, MD, Duke University Medical Center
Jon Sussman, PhD, FRCP, Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, United Kingdom
Gil I. Wolfe, MD, University of Buffalo

4:45 PM

Closing Remarks

4:50 PM

Meeting Concludes

Scientific Organizing Committee

Conference Chairs

Ted Burns, MD

University of Virginia

Linda L. Kusner, PhD

George Washington University
website

Committee

Sonia Berrih-Aknin, DSc

INSERM
website

Melanie Brickman Borchard, PhD, MSc

The New York Academy of Sciences

Vera Bril, FRCPC, MD

University of Toronto

Maria Elena Farrugia, MD, MRCP

Southern General Hospital, United Kingdom

Brooke Grindlinger, PhD

The New York Academy of Sciences

Jeffrey Guptill, MD

Duke University Medical Center
website

Henry J. Kaminski, MD

George Washington University
website

Nancy Law

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America

William Donald Phillips, PhD

University of Sydney
website

Robert L. Ruff, MD, PhD

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Kimiaki Utsugisawa, MD

Hanamaki General Hospital, Japan

Jan Verschuuren, MD, PhD

Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
website

Angela Vincent, MSc

University of Oxford, United Kingdom
website

Edward Walsh

Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America

Gil I. Wolfe, MD

University of Buffalo
website

Confirmed Speakers

David Beeson, PhD

University of Oxford
website

Michael Benatar, MD, PhD

University of Miami

Sonia Berrih-Aknin, DSc

INSERM
website

Paola Calvacante, PhD

Foundation Neurological Institute "Carlo Besta"

Nadine Dragin, PhD

Institute of Myology, France

Andrew G. Engel, MD

Mayo Clinic

Amelia Evoli, MD

Catholic University, Italy
website

Jeffrey Guptill, MD

Duke University Medical Center
website

Jeannine M. Heckmann, MB ChB, PhD

University of Cape Town
website

James F. Howard, Jr., MD

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Maartje Huijbers, PhD

Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands

Isabel Illa, MD, PhD

Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Henry J. Kaminski, MD

George Washington University

Vijay K. Kuchroo, DVM, PhD

Harvard Institutes of Medicine

Linda L. Kusner, PhD

George Washington University
website

Rozen le Panse, PhD

INSERM, France
website

Claire Legay, PhD

Université Paris Descartes
website

Jon Martin Lindstrom, PhD

University of Pennsylvania

Hanns Lochmuller, MD, FAAN

Newcastle University, United Kingdom

Pilar Martinez-Martinez, PhD

Maastricht University, The Netherlands
website

Alex Marx, MD

University of Heidelberg

Claudia Mauri, PhD

University College London, United Kingdom
website

Lin Mei, PhD

Augusta University
website

Arthur Melms, MD

Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany

Rudy Mercelis, MD, PhD

Antwerp University Hospital
website

Stephen D. Meriney, PhD

University of Pittsburgh
website

Hiroyuki Murai, MD

International University of Health and Welfare, Japan

Richard J. Nowak, MD, MS

Yale University School of Medicine

Kevin C. O'Connor, PhD

Yale School of Medicine
website

Jacqueline Palace, MD

John Radcliffe Hospital

William Donald Phillips, PhD

University of Sydney
website

Jaap J. Plomp, PhD

Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
website

Tomasz J. Prószyński, PhD

Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Poland
website

Anna Rostedt Punga, MD, PhD

Uppsala University, Sweden
website

Mark M. Rich, MD, PhD

Wright State University
website

Markus A. Ruegg, PhD

University of Basel, Switzerland
website

Valeria L. Salutto, MD

Alfredo Lanari Institute of Medical Investigations, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Donald B. Sanders, MD

Duke University Medical Center
website

Clarke R. Slater, PhD

Newcastle University, United Kingdom
website

Jon Sussman, PhD, FRCP

Greater Manchester Neuroscience Centre, United Kingdom

Jan Verschuuren, MD, PhD

Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands
website

Angela Vincent, MSc

University of Oxford, United Kingdom
website

Gil I. Wolfe, MD

University of Buffalo
website

John S. Yi, PhD

Duke University Medical Center
website

Vuslat Yilmaz, PhD

Istanbul University
website