Tenth International Congress on Ceroid Lipofuscinoses

University Of Chicago, Chicago IL

Investigators

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Conference support is sought for the Tenth International Congress on Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Battens disease) to be held at the Hanasaari Congress Center, Helsinki, Finland from June 8th to 12th, 2005. We anticipate 130 participants from all over the world and support is requested for some of the US participants. Matching funds are being solicited from the EU. The Congress center has capacity to accommodate 92 persons and the rest of the participants can be accommodated at nearby hotels. It makes an ideal congress venue due to the fact that the participants are gathered together but on the other hand it is readily accessible from Helsinki. The Conference center is fully equipped for handicapped access. This is essential both for the participation of scientists and for the ability of parents and their wheelchair bound children to attend and participate in the meeting. The Battens group of childhood neurodegenerative disorders involve at least 10 different genes and collectively are the most common inherited neurodegenerative diseases of children. They are characterized by vision loss, seizures and mental retardation. All are believed to involve impaired lysosomal protein degradation although only two of the genes involved, palmitoyl;protein thioesterase and tripeptidylpeptidase, have been identified as enzymes. The proteins coded by CLN3, 5,6 and 8 are of unknown function and one focus of this meeting will be to use proteomics, in combination with biochemistry and cell biology, to try to determine this function. Other potentially exciting areas to be covered will include the use of cord blood-derived stem cells, gene therapy, nutritional therapy, drug therapy and the use of transgenic animal models to develop effective treatments. The previous 9 Congresses have brought together physicians, basic researchers and parents and have provided a forum for young researchers, especially females, to present their work orally and participate in lively discussions. Helsinki was the site of the 6th Congress and the practice has been to alternate the Conference between Europe and the USA, resulting in the establishment of international collaborative research and facilitating better understanding of this devastating disease.