ANN Congress 2024

AAN Congress 2024

Join us for an exciting in-person event at the Sheraton Melbourne Hotel in the heart of Melbourne, Australia. AAN Congress 2024 is a must-attend gathering for professionals in the industry. Discover the latest trends, network with like-minded individuals, and gain valuable insights from renowned speakers. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with experts in the field. Register now for AAN Congress 2024!

The Australasian Neuromuscular Network is a group of clinicians, allied health, researchers, patient organisations and representatives of pharmaceutical company who are all like-minded in their goal to improve the care of individuals affected with neuromuscular diseases across Australia and New Zealand. The network was formed in 2010 by a consortium led by Prof Kathryn North along with Dr Monique Ryan and A/Prof Kristi Jones, amongst others. The network acts to connect researchers and clinicians working within the field to aid collaboration, provide peer support and to smooth the process of developing therapies for these conditions. The network has provided the backbone for collaboration on such projects as development of the CMTpeds and the development of the CMT guidelines. The membership now comprises over 400 scientists, researchers, clinicians, industry partners and patient advocacy group representatives.

Members of the ANN meet annually at the Australasian Neuromuscular Network annual Congress to share their research, keep up-to-date with current scientific progress and discuss future collaboration potentials in a formal way, within a conference. Unfortunately, the 2020, 2021 and 2022 meetings were all disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and had to be cancelled. Last year's return to face-to-face meetings in Marcoola, Queensland was a huge success with extremely high level of scientific content.

We are expecting a large attendance at this year's meeting in Melbourne. This will be one of the premier neuromuscular scientific events of 2024 in Australia.

Plenary Guest Speaker Announced

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Conrad “Chris” Weihl MD/PhD, Professor of Neurology and Head of the Neuromuscular Section at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, USA as the plenary speaker for 2024.

The Neuromuscular Section at Washington University School of Medicine, established by Dr. Alan Pestronk in 1989, is a vibrant academic group with 13 physicians focused on clinical care, basic science research and clinical studies in neuromuscular disease. Dr Weihl received his MD and PhD from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine followed by a Neurology Residency and Neuromuscular Fellowship at Washington University. During his post-doctoral fellowship, Dr Weihl began to study the molecular pathogenesis of hereditary inclusion body myopathies and now has an active clinical and basic science research program focused on genetics, protein aggregate myopathies, inclusion body myositis and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies. His research has delineated the molecular mechanism of VCP associated inclusion body myopathy and identified the genetic cause of LGMDD1. He has received a number of honors including the Derek Denny-Brown Young Neurological Scholar Award from the American Neurological Association and the inaugural Daniel and Jephta Drachman Family Award from Johns Hopkins University. Dr Weihl is currently a member of the WMS meeting planning committee and past-chair of the ANA scientific program advisory committee. He is an active member ClinGen Neuromuscular Working Group and Chair of the ClinGen LGMD gene and variant curation expert panels. Dr. Weihl has a strong commitment to the training of future neuromuscular clinicians and myologists. He was awarded a K24 mid-career investigator award to mentor residents, fellows, junior faculty and early stage scientists in patient oriented research. In his free time he enjoys listening to live music and spending time with his wife and two sons.

ANN 2024 Programme At-a-glance

Conference Hotel:

Book your group rate for Australasian Neuromuscular Network - MAY 2024

You will find the information for your online reservation link below. If you have questions or need help with the link, please do not hesitate to ask. We appreciate your business and look forward to a successful event.

Event Summary:

Australasian Neuromuscular Network - MAY 2024

Start Date: Sunday, May 26, 2024

End Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Hotel(s) offering your special group rate:

• Sheraton Melbourne Hotel for 220 AUD per night

Book your group rate for Australasian Neuromuscular Network - MAY 2024

Conference Dinner

The Conference dinner will be held at Henry and the Fox restaurant on Little Collins Street

www.henryandthefox.com.au

Main Course Options are: (please pre-order when purchasing a ticket)

- 200gm S.A grain fed Porterhouse steak frites, pan fried with French fries and Café de

Paris butter - served medium-rare

- Pan seared barramundi with Kipfler potato, capers, cornichons, dill, parsley, red

onion and sour cream salad.

- Pan seared chicken breast saltimbocca, "Fabbris" prosciutto, sage and burnt butter

with a radicchio, walnut and orange salad

- Grilled “La Artisan” halloumi, watermelon and quinoa salad with cherry tomato,

cucumber, rocket, pecan kernels, mint and a balsamic dressing