Beyond Batten Disease Foundation (BBDF) is focused on accelerating research to find a cure for Batten disease.  As part of its mission, BBDF is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation to sponsor 20-25 clinician scientists and investigators in Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL) research to attend ADDF’s 5th Drug Discovery in Neurodegeneration: An Intensive Course on Translating Research into Drugs immediately followed by a one-day conference focused exclusively on Drug Discovery in JNCL.

The goals of the combined Course and Conference are:

1) education in drug discovery for neurodegeneration; 

2) identification and prioritization of key targets in JNCL drug discovery;

3) the initiation of an international dialogue in JNCL drug discovery; and

4) the creation of international strategic partnerships, collaborations, resources and other opportunities that move JNCL basic science research into drug discovery.

Driving treatment-oriented research in JNCL through education, collaboration and resource partnerships with key thought leaders in emerging areas are just a few of BBDFs strategies to cure JNCL.

APPLICATION TO ATTEND:

If you would like to apply for acceptance to attend the 5th Drug Discovery in Neurodegeneration: An Intensive Course on Translating Research into Drugs in San Diego, California, February 6-8, 2011, immediately followed by the Drug Discovery in JNCL Conference on February 9, 2011, please fill out a copy of the application and email it in WORD format to Danielle M. Kerkovich, PhD, Scientific Consultant to Beyond Batten Disease Foundation at dkerkovich@beyondbatten.org  no later than December 17, 2010.

• Space is limited to less than 25 and acceptance will be based upon your identification of potential drug targets in JNCL and your ability/interests in contributing to a global effort in JNCL drug discovery.

• If accepted, BBDF will pay for your air travel, accommodations and course registration.

• Your attendance at the entire Course and Conference, and a three-part Webinar tutorial on JNCL will be required. 

• Local travel and any meals outside of the Course and Conference will be the responsibility of each participant.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Kerkovich at dkerkovich@beyondbatten.org (preferred) or by phone at +1-202-812-6462. Please share this information with your colleagues.   

Together with NCL-Stiftung, our German-based colleagues, and the Batten Disease Support and Research Association (BDSRA), BBDF is driving policy, creating strategic partnerships, identifying much-needed physical and intellectual resources, and recruiting talented investigators to join us in the fight against JNCL. 

The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) is the only public charity solely dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery and development of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and cognitive aging. In addition to supporting the Alzheimer’s and related disorders, ADDF expanded their efforts in 2006 to share drug discovery education and awareness with academic researchers and clinician scientists in Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Amyolateral Sclerosis (ALS). BBDF is proud and thankful for its partnership with ADDF which adds Lysosomal Storage Disease to this list.