Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

After five previous successful neuromuscular disease conferences in Ottawa, the 2023 conference again promises to offer an outstanding program emphasizing recent breakthroughs in basic and translational research and clinical discoveries in neuromuscular disease. The Conference is structured for both basic researchers and clinicians at all levels of training, and will feature internationally-recognized invited speakers, oral presentations and poster sessions. The Conference will highlight advances in all aspects of NMD research, including novel techniques to diagnose NMD, biology of disease pathogenesis, expanding clinical phenotypes, basic muscle and stem cell biology, and promising therapies to treat these devastating disorders. As in past years, trainees are encouraged to attend and participate - selected abstracts will be featured for platform presentation during the scientific sessions. This year, we engaged and utilized a diverse committee to establish our scientific and clinical program, and aid in selection of moderators and speakers, to ensure inclusion from a wide range of sex, gender-identity, LGBTQ2S+ and ethnicity and includes individuals from all stages of careers. Ottawa NMD 2023 has emphasized the importance of equal and meaningful partnerships with patient organizations. Several patient organizations will speak during our keynote session to ensure the visibility of patient perspective and engagement in research and clinical care in NMD. In addition, we have partnered with The Neuromuscular Disease Network for Canada (NMD4C), to hold a satellite meeting immediately prior to Ottawa NMD2023.