Mitochondrial Medicine

We are pleased to announce the fourth in our series of meetings on mitochondrial disorders and the search for novel effective therapies.

Mitochondrial disorders have emerged as a major cause of inherited human disease. The past decade has seen major advances in our understanding of their genetic basis and the underlying pathology, but these findings have yet to translate into new therapies. There is a growing appreciation that new treatments will only emerge through a concerted collaboration between clinicians, laboratory scientists and the life sciences industry, based on a firm understanding of the disease mechanisms and how these cause the symptoms most important to patients.

Mitochondrial Medicine 2019 aims to build new partnerships that harness our understanding of the disease mechanisms to accelerate the pace towards effective treatments for mitochondrial diseases. This year’s meeting will include pre-clinical models for mitochondrial disease, biomarkers for disease progression, and a discussion on outcome measures for translational and clinical research.

This conference will bring together leaders in the field of translational mitochondrial medicine, with a programme designed to engage and inspire the next generation of mitochondrial researchers. The meeting attracts international participants interested in mitochondrial diseases, working in molecular genetics, biochemistry, pathology, and clinical medicine.

The conference will start at approximately 11:30 with registration on Wednesday 11 December and close at approximately 16.00 on Friday 13 December 2019.

Topics will include:

• Mitochondrial medicine: current landscape of therapeutic opportunities
• Pre-clinical mitochondrial disease models
• Translatable biomarkers of disease progression
• Seeking impact: outcome measure selection for translational and clinical research
• Non-drug therapies
• Advocating for mitochondrial medicine therapeutic development

Scientific programme committee

Keynote speaker

Steve Jackson
University of Cambridge, UK

Confirmed speakers

Sherine Chan  – Medical University of South Carolina, USA
Marni Falk – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA
Amy Goldstein – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, USA
Michio Hirano – University of Columbia, USA
Yasu Koga Kurume – University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
Natalie Ohaha – Minovia, Israel
Akira Ohtake – Saitama Medical University, Japan
Shamima Rahman – UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health,  UK
Jim Stewart – Max Plank Inititute of Biology and Ageing, Germany
Anu Suomalainen-Wartiovaara – University of Helsinki, Finland
Michael Teitel – University of California Los Angeles, USA
Paul Thompson – MissionTherapeutics, UK
Valeria Tiranti – Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute C. Besta, Italy

Scientific Conferences Team

Lucy Criddle – Conference & Events Organiser
Treasa Creavin – Scientific Programme Manager

The registration fee includes entrance to the lectures and poster sessions, an abstract book, meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked accommodation.

Accommodation
Accommodation is provided for the nights of 11 and 12  December 2019. Please note: there is limited onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, early registration is recommended.

If you wish to book onsite accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Conference Centre directly.

Travel visas
Contact the conference organiser if you require a letter to support a travel visa application. Please note: letters will only be provided to confirmed registrants.

Non-European Economic Area or Swiss nationals may be required to have a visa to enter the UK.
Early application is strongly advised, as this process can take 6-8 weeks or longer.

Please visit the following websites for further information:

• UK Border Agency website
• Information for general visitors and business visitors

Accommodation services phishing scam – please be vigilant. More information.

A limited number of registration bursaries are available for PhD students to attend this conference (up to 50% of the standard registration fee) from Wellcome Genome Campus Scientific Conferences.

To apply, please contact the conference organiser. You will be sent a unique registration link which will hold your place, without taking payment, until you have been notified of the outcome of your application.

The following documents will need to be provided as part of the bursary application:

• Abstract (to be submitted via the portal during the registration process)
• CV
• A justification letter (explain how you will benefit from attending the conference)
• A supporting letter from supervisor stating financial need

If you have already registered for the conference you are still welcome to apply for a bursary, please contact the conference organiser.

Bursary deadline: 1 October 2019

Additional funding opportunities
Visit our support page for additional financial support currently available.

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted.

Abstracts will only be considered from registered delegates. Please use our online abstract submission system and follow the instructions given to ensure your abstract is submitted correctly. All abstracts must be submitted by the deadline. If you are intending to submit more than one abstract, please contact the conference organiser prior to registration.

The scientific programme committee will assess your abstract after the deadline has passed and you will be notified whether you have been selected for an oral or poster presentation.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0- portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the conference programme book and poster boards will be allocated at the conference.

Abstract deadline: 15 October 2019

How to upload an abstract once you have already completed registration:

1. Log back into your registration account using either Firefox or Internet Explorer as your browser, via link above the ‘Share’ button on the right hand column of this page
2. Click on ‘Account’ (top right).
3. Then click on ‘View account history’. This will show a table of your event registrations.
4. In the right-hand column you will see the option to ‘Upload file’ – click on this and select to upload an abstract.