Program

The interactive Breakthroughs in Muscular Dystrophy (November 19-20, 2024) program below is updated live as speakers and sessions are confirmed.


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Program

Tuesday, November 19

Attendee Breakfast
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Opening Remarks from Jeffrey Chamberlain, PhD
8:30 - 8:35 a.m.

Keynote - Genetic Therapies for Muscular Dystrophies: Opportunities and Challenges
8:35 - 9:35 a.m.
Chair: Jeffrey Chamberlain, PhD, University of Washington

  • Cloning the Duchenne Gene - An Origin Story
    Louis Kunkel, PhD, Children's Hospital Boston
  • Clinical Aspects of Gene Therapies for Muscular Dystrophies - Challenges and Opportunities
    Carsten Bönnemann, MD, NINDS/NIH

Non-Viral Delivery
9:35 - 10:35 a.m.
Chair: Monkol Lek, PhD, Yale School of Medicine

  • Advancing Non-Viral Delivery via Battelle's HIT SCAN Platform
    Kenneth Sims, PhD, Battelle Memorial Institute
  • A targeted, non-viral platform to deliver the full-length dystrophin gene
    Nick Whitehead, PhD, Myosana Therapeutics

Coffe Break (Paid Presentation) + Exhibits
10:35 - 11:05 a.m.

Viral Delivery
11:05 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.
Chair: Melissa Spencer, PhD, UCLA

  • Monitoring Viral Delivery with Non-invasive Imaging
    Oluwatayo Ikotun, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Split-Inteins
    Jeffrey Chamberlain, PhD, University of Washington

Attendee Lunch + Exhibits
12:05 - 1:05 p.m.

Monitoring AAV Delivery
1:05 - 2:30 p.m.
Chair: Carsten Bönnemann, MD, NINDS/NIH

  • Intro to Monitoring AAV Delivery
    Federico Mingozzi, PhD, Spark Therapeutics Inc
  • Vector Immunology
    J. Fraser Wright, PhD, Stanford School of Medicine

  • Modeling and Tolerizing Dystrophin Immunity in Mice
    Armando Villalta, PhD, UC Irvine

  • Enabling Readministration/Redosing
    Barry Byrne, MD, PhD, University of Florida

Coffee Break + Exhibits
2:30 - 2:40 p.m.

Gene Editing
2:40 - 3:30 p.m.
Chair: Angela Lek, PhD, VP of Research, MDA

  • A Novel Dual Vector Approach for Safe and Efficient Expression of Large Genes using RNA End-joining (REJ)
    Samuel Pfaff, PhD, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
  • Genome Editing for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    Charles Gersbach, PhD, Duke University

Coffee Break (Paid Presentation) + Exhibits
3:30 - 4 p.m.

Oral Abstract Session
4 - 5:45 p.m.
Chairs: Evrim Atas, PhD and Angela Lek, PhD MDA

  • 1. Editing of Postmitotic Muscle and Satellite Cells for Continuous Correction of Dystrophin Expression in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 
    Niclas Bengtsson, PhD, University of Washington 

  • 2. CSF Delivery of INS1201 AAV9-Micro-Dystrophin as a Potential Therapy for DMD 
    Gretchen Thomsen, PhD, Insmed, Inc. 

  • 3. Therapeutic Potential of ENTR-601-44, an Endosomal Escape Vehicle (EEVTM) - Oligonucleotide Conjugate for the Treatment of Exon 44 skip Amenable DMD 
    Mahasweta Girgenrath, PhD, Entrada Therapeutics Inc 

  • 4. Development of Gene Therapy for LGMD-R9 
    Evelyne Gicquel, PhD, Genethon

  • 6. GNT0004, Genethon's AAV8 Vector-delivered Microdystrophin Gene Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: First Data from Phase 1/2 Part of GNT-016-MDYF All-in-one Clinical Trial in Ambulant Boys 
    Serge Braun, PhD, AFM TELETHON / GENETHON  

  • 58. RGX-202, an Investigational Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Interim Clinical Data 
    Jahannaz Dastgir, DO, REGENXBIO Inc. 

  • 5. The Venture Philanthropy Model of Drug Development - Working with Non-Profit Foundations and Governments from Concept to Drug Approval 
    Eric Hoffman, PhD, Binghamton University 

Poster Reception + Exhibits
5:45 - 7 p.m.

Poster Hall 1: Great Lakes Room

  • 7. U7snRNA as a Tool for Restoring Dystrophin Expression in Patients with Exon 17 Skip-Amenable Deletions 
    Liubov Gushchina, PhD, The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital RI 
     
  • 8. KT809 Dose-Dependently Improves Muscle Function in a Severe DMD Mouse Model and Results in High and Uniform Microdystrophin Expression in the Heart and Skeletal Muscles of Non-Human Primates 
    Chady Hakim, PhD, Kate Therapeutics 
     
  • 9. Full-Length Dystrophin Gene Delivery Using Triple MyoAAV Vectors 
    Renzhi Han, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine
     
  • 11. (Withdrawn) CRISPR/hfCas12Max DNA Editing Therapy Restores Dystrophin Protein and Muscle Functions in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    Guoling Li, PhD, HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd
     
  • 12. (Withdrawn) Precise Correction of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy via Exon-Skipping Using Compact Base Editor
    Guoling Li, PhD, HuidaGene Therapeutics Co., Ltd
     
  •  13. A Comparative Analysis of Long-Term and Short-Term Outcomes of AAV-CRISPR Treatment in a Canine Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 
    Rika Maruyama, PhD, University of Alberta 
     
  • 14. (Virtual) Rational Design and Rigorous Testing of Novel, Non-Immunogenic Dystrophin Mimetics Providing Superior Cardioprotection and Biomechanical Stability in vivo
    Hansell Stedman, MD, University of Pennsylvania
     
  • 15. Wearable Device Outcomes From EMBARK, a Pivotal Phase 3 Study in Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Treated With Delandistrogene Moxeparvovec 
    Paul Strijbos, PhD, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd 
     
  • 16. Turbo-Charging Gene Therapy for Genetic Muscle Disorders using Novel Transcriptional Cis-Regulatory Elements 
    Thierry Vandendriessche, PhD, Free University of Brussels (VUB) 
     
  • 18. Development of Pilot Potency Assessments for MyoDys45-55, a Gene Editing Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 
    Courtney Young, PhD, MyoGene Bio 
     
  • 19. (Virtual) A Transformative DMD Cytosine Base Editing Drug
    Chunyan He, PhD, Suzhou GenAssist Thx
     
  • 20. (Virtual) Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics in Mice Systemically Administrated with a Base Editing Drug for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophin (DMD)
    Chunyan He, PhD, Suzhou GenAssist Thx
     
  • 21. Screening of Treatment-Emergent Anti-Dystrophin Antibodies: A Validated, Regulatory-Compliant LIPS Assay Covering 100% of Dystrophin
    Eric Hoffman, PhD, Binghamton University
     
  • 22. Development of a 248 Kilodalton Midlength-Dystrophin Gene Therapy for DMD using an AAV-Based RNA End-Joining Approach
    Gretchen Thomsen, PhD, Insmed, Inc.
     
  • 23. Optidys, a New Gene Therapy Product for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Shows Therapeutic Potential and Advantage over Current Treatments
    Evelyne Gicquel, PhD, Genethon
     
  • 24. AUF1 Gene Therapy for DMD Increases Durable Endogenous Utrophin Expression, Muscle Regeneration, Muscle Function Performance and Synergizes With Microdystrophin Therapy
    Dounia Abbadi, PhD, NYU School of Medicine
     
  • 25. AUF1 Gene Therapy Restores Muscle Morphology and Function in Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Recessive 1 (LGMDR1, calpainopathy)
    Dounia Abbadi, PhD, NYU School of Medicine
     
  • 26. An Engineered AAV Targeting Integrin Alpha V Beta 6 Presents Improved Myotropism Across Species
    Anthony Brureau, PhD, GENETHON
     
  • 27. Overcoming Phenotypic Variability in Dystrophic Models: A Machine Learning Method for Refined Gene Therapy Evaluation
    Anthony Brureau, PhD, GENETHON
     
  • 28. A Universal Approach to Potency Assay Development for AAVs Delivering Micro-RNAs
    Jason McCoy, PhD, Nationwide Children's Hospital
     
  • 29. Developing a Second Generation Proviral Plasmid to Reduce Aberrant Cross Packaging and ITR Promoter Activity in AAV Vector Preparations
    Pranali Mistry, Nationwide Children's Hospital
     
  • 30. CRISPR-Cas13d Gene Therapy for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy
    Kate Neal, Nationwide Children's Hospital
     
  • 31. Development of KT323 as a Potent and Safe Gene Therapy Candidate for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) Through High Throughput AAV Capsid and Cargo Engineering
    Saurav Seshadri, PhD, Kate Therapeutics
     
  • 32. Efficient Expression of Full-Length SMCHD1 in Muscles Using Split Inteins
    Merlin Premalatha Thangaraj, PhD, Nationwide Children's Hospital
     
  • 33. (Virtual) The Prevalence of Sleep Disorders among Individuals with Muscular Dystrophy: A Review of the Literature
    Nedra Whitehead, PHD, CGC, RTI International
  • 34. (Virtual) BIN1 Gene Replacement Reverts BIN1-Related Centronuclear Myopathy in a Preclinical Model
    Jocelyn Laporte, PhD, CERBM IGBMC

  • 35. Functional Benefit of CRISPR/Cas9-Induced Deletion for RYR1 Dominant Mutation
    Isabelle Marty, PhD, Inserm

Poster Hall 2: Ontario and Erie Rooms

  • 36. Correcting Mutations in the DYSF Gene Using Prime Editing 
    Jacques Tremblay, PhD, Université Laval and CRCHUQ
     
  • 37. Multiplex Base Editing in Primary Human Muscle Stem Cells to Address Compound Heterozygous Muscular Dystrophy
    Supriya Krishna, MDC Berlin
     
  • 38. Functional Efficacy of SRP-9004 in Young and Aged LGMD2D/R3 Mice
    Luke Lemmerman, PhD, Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.
     
  • 39. Patient-derived stem cells for in vitro modeling of LAMA2-related Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
    Jaquelyn Villalba, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
     
  • 40. AAV Delivery of ADAR Mediated RNA Editing for Treatment of Collagen VI Related Muscular Dystrophy
    Russell Butterfield, MD, PhD, University of Utah
     
  • 41. Etiology of a Mouse Model of CHKB mediated muscular dystrophy - A Platform for Gene Therapy for Disorders of Lipid Synthesis
    Christopher McMaster, PhD, Dalhousie University
     
  • 42. Treatment of a Severe DM1 Mouse Model with Verapamil, Amlodipine, and Ranolazine
    Lily Cisco, University of Rochester
     
  • 43. Splicing is improved using a novel AAV-microRNA delivery platform as a treatment for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
    Martin Goulet, PhD, Sanofi
     
  • 44. Enhancing Antisense Oligonucleotide Efficacy Using Small Molecule Oligonucleotide Activity Enhancers (OAEs) 
    Saeed Anwar, University of Alberta
     
  • 45. Development of a New DUX4-Responsive Reporter Mouse
    Jessica Camp, Nationwide Children's Hospital
     
  • 46. Spatial Transcriptomic Characterization of an AAV-DUX4 Mouse Model of FSHD Identifies Focal and Widespread Cell Type Expression Changes in Muscle
    Joel Chamberlain, PhD, University of Washington School of Medicine
     
  • 47. Development and Characterization of a Minipig Model of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)
    Chris Rogers, PhD, Exemplar Genetics
     
  • 48. Human Stem Cell-derived Engineered Skeletal Muscle Tissues to Test Epigenetic Modulators and Deimmunized Gene Transfer Strategies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy 
    David Mack, PhD, University of Washington Medicine 
     
  • 49. Delandistrogene Moxeparvovec Promoter Activity in Human Cardiomyocytes and Cardiac Safety Assessment in Mice and Nonhuman Primates 
    Stephen Baine, PhD, Sarepta Therapeutics 
     
  • 50. Reduction of Dystrophin-Targeting microRNAs Increases Expression of Clinically Relevant Dystrophin Isoforms
    Alyson Fiorillo, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
     
  • 51. Template-Assisted Sequence Knock-In Rescues a Deletion Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    Sina Fatehi Someeh, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)
     
  • 52. Correction of DMD Exon 45 Deletion Using Homology-Independent Targeted Integration
    Stefan Nicolau, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital
     
  • 53. Ultrasound-Mediated Delivery of Non-Viral Gene Therapy Payloads to Skeletal and Cardiac Muscles in Mice and Non-Human Primates
    Ivan Krivega, PhD, SonoThera
     
  • 54. Bioengineered Synthetic Chromosomes as Therapeutics for Muscular Dystrophies
    Edward Perkins, PhD, CarryGenes Bioengineering
     
  • 55. Exon 45 Skipping and Dystrophin Production with ENTR-601-45 in Preclinical Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    Amy Hicks, PhD, Entrada Therapeutics
     
  • 56. A Synergistic Oligonucleotide Therapy to Improve Muscle Health and Dystrophin Restoration in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    James Novak, PhD, Children's National Hospital
     
  • 57. A Novel IP-Mass Spectrometry Method to Characterize the Dystrophin Associated Protein Complex in Skeletal Muscle
    Emily Canessa, Binghamton University
     
  • 59. (Virtual) Cellular Mapping of DMD Transcript in Human Myogenic Cells and Skeletal Muscle by RNA in Situ Hybridization and Multiphoton Imaging
    Alessandra Ferlini, MD, PhD, University of Ferrara
     
  • 60. Gene Transfer to Muscle Using HSV Vectors
    Selene Ingusci, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
     
  • 61. Correction of Nonsense Variants in DMD Using AAV-Compatible Base and Prime Editing
    Ryan Marks, The Hospital for Sick Children
     
  • 62. Extensor Digitorum Brevis Feasibility for Cell-Based Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    John Martone, University of Minnesota
     
  • 63. (Virtual) Transcriptomics Reveals DMD Driven Cell Dynamics and Mechanisms of Myofiber Death and Innate Immune Memory in Human Dystrophic Muscle; Potential Barriers to Microdystrophin Gene Therapy
    Stanley Nelson, MD, UCLA
     
  • 64. Development of Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles for Enhanced Micro-Dystrophin Delivery in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Therapy
    Andrea Pirrottina, University of Rome
  • 65. A Novel Engineered Membrane Repair Protein Therapeutic Increases Sarcolemma Repair by Producing Phosphatidylserine Binding in Models of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
    Noah Weisleder, PhD, University of Kentucky

  • 66. Prime Editing Permits to Correct Point Mutations Responsible for Many Muscular Dystrophies
    Jacques Tremblay, PhD, Université Laval and CRCHUQ

  • 67. Combinatorial in vitro and in vivo Phage Display Methodology to Identify Skeletal Myocyte Targeting Cell Penetrating Peptides
    Maliha Zahid, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic

Wenesday, Novemeber 20

Attendee Breakfast
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

RNA Targeted Therapies
8:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Chair: Scott Harper, Ohio State University & Nationwide Children's Hospital

  • Enhancing the Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapies: Innovative Approaches for Muscular Dystrophy
    Toshifumi Yokota, PhD, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
  • Translating RNAi-based Gene Therapies for Dominant Neuromuscular Disorders
    Lindsay Wallace, PhD, Nationwide Children's Research Institute, Columbus, OH
  • RNA Therapies to Investigate the Impact of Dystrophin Restoration in the CNS of Dystrophic Mouse Models
    Aurelie Goyenvalle, PhD, University of Versailles Saint Quentin En Yvelines
  • Panel Discussion

Coffee Break (Paid Presentation)
10:15 - 10:45 a.m.

Panel: Future of Genetic Therapies for Muscular Dystrophies
10:45 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Chair: Sharon Hesterlee, Chief Research Officer, Muscular Dystrophy Association

  • Panelists
    Jeffrey Chamberlain, PhD, University of Washington
    Carsten Bönnemann, MD, NINDS/NIH
    Katherine High, MD, Rockefeller University
    Barry Byrne, MD, PhD, University of Florida
    Melissa Spencer, PhD, UCLA

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Thank You to the Organizing Committee

  • Jeffrey Chamberlain, PhD
    University of Washington
  • Angela Lek, PhD
    Muscular Dystrophy Association
  • Evrim Atas, PhD
    Muscular Dystrophy Association
  • Charlie Gersbach, PhD
    Duke University
  • Toshifumi Yokota, PhD
    University of Alberta
  • Manuela Corti, PhD
    University of Florida
  • Monkol Lek, PhD
    Yale University
  • Julie Crudele, PhD
    University of Washington
  • Melissa Spencer, PhD
    UCLA
  • Carsten Bönnemann, MD
    NIH
  • Scott Harper, PhD
    The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital
2024

Breakthroughs in Muscular Dystrophy

November 19-20, 2024 | Chicago, IL

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