Seattle FSHD Workshop 2006

On December 1-2, 2006, an intensive FSHD workshop was held at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. This workshop was sponsored by a consortium of Pacific Northwest Friends of FSH Research, the Fischer-Shaw Foundation and the University of Washington's Division of Neurogenetics. Current research findings were presented and discussed with the purpose of identifying the best pathways for future research studies. These meetings were novel among research workshops in providing open sharing of proprietary and unpublished information by the participants. Partnerships among the scientists were developed through these meetings with promises to share crucial resources and specimens.

Attending this two-day workshop moderated by Dr. Thomas Bird of the UW Neurology Department and Jack Shaw of Seattle, were some of the leading investigators in the field of FSHD research. From the University of Washingtons Medical Center were Brian Kennedy, Ph.D., Steven Hauschka, Ph.D., and Joe Marx, Ph.D. This research team received FSHD pilot project funding in 2005 from Pacific Northwest Friends of FSH Research. Another team funded by Pac. NW Friends in 2006 -- Dr. Dan Miller, from Childrens Hospital and Stephen Tapscott, M.D. Ph.D. of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center ("the Hutch") -- also participated. Research scientists working with Tapscott and Miller, Barb Trask, M.D. of the Genome Research Project and Elena Linardopoulou, Ph.D. from the Hutch, were also in attendance.

Internationally-respected FSHD researchers Dr. Silvere van der Maarel of the Leiden University in the Netherlands, Sara Winokur, Ph.D. of the University of California, Irvine, and Dr. Rabi Tawil of the University of Rochester's Center for Muscular Dystrophy Research shared their recent scientific findings. Dr. Jeffrey Chamberlain from the University of Washington was invited to share his extensive laboratory expertise and experience in genetic viral transport vectors. Muscle physiologist John Faulkner, Ph.D. from the University of Michigan added his expertise on dynamic testing of muscle fibers. And Dr. Tom Cooper from Baylor's College of Medicine, an expert in gene splicing, added his expertise to the discussions.

Through these important meetings, partnerships and collaborations were formed that will facilitate a greater understanding of FSHD, focus future research on critical areas of investigation, and accelerate progress toward a treatment for those suffering from this disabling disorder.

For further information about the participating scientists and their work, see the following links.

http://depts.washington.edu/neurolog/faculty/bird_tom.html

http://depts.washington.edu/mcb/facultyinfo.php?id=218

http://depts.washington.edu/mcb/facultyinfo.php?id=74

http://depts.washington.edu/medgen/faculty/miller-dan.html

http://depts.washington.edu/mcb/facultyinfo.php?id=160

http://depts.washington.edu/medgen/faculty/trask.html

http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/biochem/faculty/winokur.htm

http://www.bcm.edu/pathology/labs/cooper/index.htm

https://stronghealth.com/services/neurology/Bio/tawil.cfm

http://www.iog.umich.edu/faculty/faulkner.html

http://depts.washington.edu/chamblab/