2006 International Rare Neuroimmunologic Disorders Symposium

The 2006 International Rare Neuroimmunologic Disorders Symposium will be held in Baltimore at the Sheraton Inner Harbor from July 19th to July 23rd to continue the collaborations forged at the last symposium in 2004.  As before, this symposium will involve both a science and clinical track.

The science workshop will not be disease oriented, but rather, mechanism oriented, and will involve discussions of many neuroimmunologic disorders as they pertain to mechanisms of autoimmunity in the nervous system. This workshop will focus on rare neuroimmunologic disorders, rather than on the most common disease in this group, MS. However, participants will be invited to discuss advances in MS specifically as these advances inform and educate research in other neuroimmunologic disorders.

Participants will explore the following common themes: Genetics and triggering mechanisms; humoral contributions to autoimmunity; cellular contributions to autoimmunity, migration of immune cells; innate immune contributions; neuroprotection; neural-immune cross talk; remyelination; novel imaging and emerging immunotherapies. Participants will learn where the disorders are similar and therefore benefit from similar therapeutic approaches; and where they are distinct, elucidating the need for unique treatment strategies.

The central premise of the symposium is that by discussing unique and shared pathologic processes of a group of rare disorders, participants will stimulate novel, collaborative investigations necessary to advance understanding of these disorders. The workshop will be small and interactive, distinguishing it from other larger symposia which typically emphasize the more common neuroimmunologic disorders (especially multiple sclerosis) and are largely didactic. The workshop will solicit participation from both senior and junior scientists/students in order to stimulate long-term research in these disorders. The proceedings will be disseminated in the medical literature.

The clinical workshop will bring together patients, caregivers, physicians, primary care doctors, family practitioners, ER physicians, neurologists and other allied health professionals.  The goal of this workshop will be to provide up-to-date knowledge on the diagnosis and management of these diseases.  This will also be a platform for patients and caregivers to interact with other patients and with physicians and learn about novel therapies and clinical trials. 

This international workshop will serve a critical role in advancing our understanding of disorders that are pathophysiologically linked yet, because of their rarity, are poorly understood. Success will be defined by the following: 1) participants will have a better understanding of the mechanisms that are similar and unique in autoimmune disorders of the nervous system; 2) participants will initiate new and strengthen existing collaborations among those studying similar mechanisms in different rare diseases; 3) participants will disseminate findings to the medical community; and 4) participants will discuss ways to offer clinical and research services to patients with rare diseases through a consortium of providers, which will be formalized at this symposium.               

     
Registration materials will be mailed to all members of The Transverse Myelitis Association some time this spring.  You can make reservations at the hotel directly by identifying yourself as a member of The Transverse Myelitis Association and be sure to specify for the Rare Neuroimmunologic Disorders Symposium (RNDS).  A reception will be held Wednesday evening, July 19th.  The first science and clinical sessions will begin on Thursday morning, July 20th.  The clinical program will end on Sunday morning, July 23rd.  Please visit the TMA and Project RESTORE web sites regularly for additional information (including both science and clinical program agendas) and announcements about the 2006 Symposium.