POPS
Global Patient Advocacy and Partnering Summit
The first global, virtual, meeting of its kind to provide patients, caregivers, scientists, physicians, and all other stakeholders with an opportunity to connect and discuss all things related to Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome research and advocacy.
Registration is now closed.
To access the recordings, log in to the meeting platform (below).
For assistance or to request access, email Ashley Ferreira at outreach@SDSAlliance.org.
Agenda
Tentative, subject to change.
All times in ET (New York Time)
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Networking
Breakout rooms with prompts to help build connections. All attendees and speakers welcome!
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Welcome and Patient Stories
12:00 PM - 12:20 PM
Lunch Break
See you back here in a few!
12:20 PM - 12:45 PM
Reflections from the Scientific Congress
The 10th International Scientific Congress on Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome took place this April in Cambridge, UK. Dr. Eszter Hars ➲ had the privilege to attend as a parent and will share with you a high-level overview of public information with context from published literature. We won't share any unpublished results or private discussions, of course.
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Coffee Break
See you back here in a few!
2:40 PM - 2:45 PM
Closing Remarks
A summary of the Summit, with opportunities to get involved at every level.
2:45 PM - 3:30 PM
Networking
A fun activity for all to connect. All attendees and speakers welcome!
Speakers
In alphabetical order
Dr. Alexandre Bétourné
Alexandre Bétourné, Ph.D., Pharm.D., is Executive Director for the Rare Disease Cures Accelerator-Data and Analytics Platform initiative and previously served as its Scientific Director. Dr. Bétourné works with the RDCA-DAP team to expand its reach into new diseases areas accessing new data and enhancing C-Path’s relationships within the rare disease community. He holds both a PhD and a PharmD from the University of Toulouse in France, has three patents, and has written multiple papers that intersect with several different rare disease areas. Before joining C-Path, he led a team of senior U.S. scientists, CMC and regulatory consultants at a small company developing therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Dr. Valentino Bezzerri
Dr. Valentino Bezzerri is Principal Investigator, Cystic Fibrosis Center, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Italy. His research interest is mainly focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS), specifically in regards to the Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. In addition, my group is investigating the effect of PTC-readthrough inducer drugs (e.g. ataluren) on the restoration of nonsense mutated SBDS gene expression and function.
Dr. Christian Brendel
Dr. Christian Brendel is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Hospital Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Brendel’s research focuses on gene therapy for inherited diseases of the blood system. He contributed to the development and clinical translation of lentiviral gene therapies for X-CGD and Sickle Cell Disease, and his current research includes genome editing and the design of new delivery tools to make future gene therapies safer, more effective and accessible.
Dr. Eszter Hars
Dr. Eszter Hars, Mother of an SDS patient, and Founder/President/CEO/Science Director of the Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance. Dr. Hars holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, where she studied cancer and leukemia. She has over 20 years of experience in scientific research and the biotech industry. As VP of Regulatory Affairs at CytoVera Inc., a lab equipment developer for hematopoeitic stem cell banking, Dr. Hars was in charge of regulatory approval of medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Hars has also managed business development as well as customer relationships at Quosa Inc., an information technology company, which was acquired in 2012 by Elsevier, the largest scientific publisher in the world. Currently, Dr. Hars is President of a biotech startup that specializes in developing new tools for various new therapies, including CAR-T cell cancer therapy and beta cell replacement therapy for diabetes. Dr. Hars has been engaged in SDS community building and volunteering wherever possible, since her daughter was diagnosed with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS) in 2015. In 2020, Dr. Hars founded the SDS Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Through the SDS Alliance, Dr. Hars is dedicated to accelerating the development of new therapies for SDS.
Julie Martindale
Julie Martindale is the parent of Elijah, a 17 year old with SDS. Along with her husband Mark, they have raised 11 children, many who have medical complexities. Julie has worked to assure our children's stories are told and never forgotten. She holds a bachelors degree in psychology and two years advanced training in child welfare.
Lisa Superina
Lisa lives on Long Island, New York, with her husband and four daughters. Her two youngest daughters, Nora and Kayla, were genetically diagnosed with SDS after an extensive diagnosis journey - read their story, here. Lisa is a Special Education Teacher at Half Hollow Hills High School West in Dix Hills, New York. She has certifications from Birth-12th grade in Special Education, General Education, and English Language Arts and has a master's degree in Literacy. Lisa is passionate about helping the SDS community by supporting research and helping families advocate for their children. She jumped into action on the very same day her first child was diagnosed, raising funding, researching resources, and connecting with SDS families everywhere, and has not stopped ever since. Her drive and creativity have inspired countless other families to engage and she is an unstoppable positive driving force toward therapies and cures for people with SDS everywhere. In her role at the SDS Alliance, she helps find and support new SDS families, identify and offer new resources for families, and develop family educational materials and events.
Gracie Van Brunt
Gracie Van Brunt is a 28 year old singer/songwriter/topliner from Boston, MA. When she was two years old, she was diagnosed with a rare disease called Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome which affects her bone-marrow, skeleton and pancreas. There are an estimated 5,000 known cases world-wide. She spent the first 6 years of her life in and out of the hospital battling this illness and in 2019 received a bone-marrow transplant with her brother being her doner. Gracie started singing when she was 6 and writing when she was 12 and has written over 1,000 songs in her lifetime. After attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music and majoring in Songwriting for two years, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her songwriting and vocal career. She is now cementing her place in electronic music with her ethereal, yet sultry vocals and infectiously catchy lyricism. The acclaimed singer, songwriter, recording artist and vocal producer has garnered over 4 million streams across multiple genres, emerging as one of EDM’s most versatile and highly sought after vocalists. With the electronic genre of Drum & Bass on the rise, she is leading the charge in spreading drum and bass across the states, with her massive collaborations with DNB icons like “Deep Blue” with Kanine, which has almost 2 million streams, and “Alone” with Culture Shock, which has almost a million streams along with her most recent collaboration, “Commencement” with Dubstep Legend, 12th Planet. Gracie’s 2022 live festival performances include Insomniac’s Beyond Wonderland, Project Z and Lost in Dreams Festivals, as well as Excision’s Lost Lands Music Festival. She also performed “Live For The Highs” with GAWM to a sold out crowd at Exchange LA located in Los Angeles, California. Gracie continues to be an advocate not only in the Shwachman Diamond Syndrome Community, but in the rare disease community in general appearing on patient panels, supporting families looking for guidance and sharing her story through her music. She is the recipient of the 2013 Rare Champion of Hope Patient Advocacy Award, has performed at many different Rare Disease Conferences and Galas including multiple times at the Global Genes Conference and is an advocate for all SDS patients.