NEW YORK June 5, 2015 – The Children’s Tumor Foundation, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research to end neurofibromatosis (NF), is hosting the 2015 NF Conference, the premier gathering of NF experts from around the world, in Monterey, California. Neurofibromatosis, or NF, is a genetic disorder that can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, and may lead to a number of health issues, including deafness, blindness, learning disabilities, bone abnormalities, disabling pain, and sometimes cancer. There is currently no cure, but the Foundation’s innovative research work is accelerating the path to treatments. The NF Conference is being held at the Portola Resort June 6-9, 2015.
More than 300 clinicians and researchers from around the world will convene to present the latest developments in NF research and clinical care. The NF Conference includes seminars by NF experts, as well as high-profile keynote speakers from related disciplines such as cancer, neuroscience and genomics, serving to stimulate groundbreaking ideas and build connections between NF and other disorders. It is an opportunity to share information and build relationships, driven by the goal of ending NF.
“For the past 20 years, the NF Conference has been a key event within the international NF research community, offering a remarkable opportunity for communication and partnerships.” said Annette Bakker, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer. “This year’s theme, ‘The Path Forward,’ builds on our commitment to working together towards a cure, with an emphasis on accelerating NF research through the innovative Synodos collaboration and developing more clinical trials for patients.”
The Children’s Tumor Foundation’s Friedrich von Recklinghausen Award is given to individuals in the professional neurofibromatosis community who have made significant contributions to neurofibromatosis research or clinical care. On Saturday, June 6, the Foundation will present the prestigious award to Dr. Eric Legius. Dr. Legius is currently the head of the Human Genetics Department of the University of Leuven as well as clinical director of the Center for Human Genetics of the University of Leuven. For over 20 years, Dr. Legius has dedicated himself to the understanding of NF1 and to the advancement of patient care.
Keynote presentations will include topics such as Myths and Realities of Transformative Healthcare (Anna Barker, PhD, Arizona State University); Academic-Industry Partnership in Drug Discovery for Neurological Diseases (Barbara Slusher, PhD, Johns Hopkins University); Exploiting Cellular Pliancy to Identify Tumor Vulnerability in Childhood Cancer (Michael Dyer, PhD, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital); and Neuropathic Pain and Peripheral Nerve Repair (David Bennett, MD, Oxford University, UK).
Please click here for more information about the NF Conference.
About Children’s Tumor Foundation
The Children’s Tumor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding effective treatments for the millions of people worldwide living with neurofibromatosis (NF), a term for three distinct disorders: NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. NF can cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and may lead to blindness, bone abnormalities, cancer, deafness, disfigurement, learning disabilities, and excruciating and disabling pain. NF affects one in every 3,000 people, more than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Huntington’s disease combined. The Children’s Tumor Foundation funds critical research into neurofibromatosis. In addition to benefiting those who live with NF, this research is shedding new light on several forms of cancer, brain tumors, bone abnormalities, and learning disabilities, ultimately benefiting the broader community. For more information, please visit www.ctf.org.
