Rare Discussions

Merlin G. Butler, MD, Medical Geneticist and Professor, Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, and one of the pioneers in Prader–Willi syndrome research, discusses the clinical features of this very rare disease and the critical importance of early identification. 

Prader–Willi syndrome was first reported in 1956, and deletions in chromosome 15 were first identified in the 1980s. Dr. Butler has been working on the genetics of Prader–Willi syndrome since that decade. 
Dr. Butler said that Prader–Willi syndrome was the first example of a disorder caused by “genetic imprinting,” in which it matters whether genes are contributed by the mother or the father. In 70% of the cases of this disorder, the father’s contribution is missing from chromosome 15q13, and 25% of cases are the result of both copies of chromosome 15 being from the mother (referred to as “disomy”). 
Babies born with this genetic anomaly have severe hypotonia, and they have no interest in sucking or feeding. They often have decreased muscle mass and energy. “These infants look like they have a major problem at birth,” stated Dr. Butler. They need to be tube-fed. Once a genetic cause is suspected, Prader-Willi syndrome is quickly diagnosed; it is a very rare disease that also has very unique features. Pediatricians may see only one of these patients every 10 years. Therefore, according to Dr. Butler, “it is the parents who oftentimes make the diagnosis, through what they have seen on the Internet, prompting genetic testing.” 

Despite their problems with feeding in the neonatal period, infants with Prader–Willi syndrome will begin to gain an interest in feeding by around age 2 to 3 years. By age 6 years, they develop hyperphasia. “Once their appetite is turned on,” he said, “it is never off.” Uncontrolled, this results in obesity and life-threatening conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and stomach rupture.

Early identification is key, and determining the genetic subtype is extremely important to building a multidisciplinary care team. There are seven different genetic subtypes, which can impact outcomes and management. Typically, the care team will include the medical geneticist and genetic counselors, endocrinologists (to manage the use of growth hormone and diabetes-related treatment), dietitians to manage and monitor caloric intake, mental health experts to address behavioral issues and the risk of self-injury, gastroenterologists, and potentially even sleep medicine professionals. The specialists comprising the care team will change over the patient’s lifespan; occupational therapy and speech therapy may well be required as the patient ages. 

The treatment of hyperphagia associated with Prader–Willi syndrome, the number 1 issue, is a particularly active area of research. The idea is to avoid the onset of obesity, which can lead to most of the comorbidities and complications.  


Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.

Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.

Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.

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Amol Sura, MD, Foster Center for Ocular Immunology, Dept of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, discusses the diagnosis and management of plasminogen deficiency, a rare condition in which the eyes are first affected, but it manifests in mucous membranes throughout the body.

“The eyes are a window into the health of the entire body,” said Dr. Sura, and that is precisely the case for patients with plasminogen deficiency type 1 (PLGD-1). For this rare, inherited condition, the first symptom observed is the growth of ligneous or wood-like lesions on the surface of the eye or eyelid (in about 80% of patients, first seen at ages 9–10 months). It is often characterized as ligneous conjunctivitis. 

If left untreated, PLGD-1 may result in severe—even life-threatening—complications, affecting mucous membranes in many other areas of the body, including the respiratory tract, central nervous system, gingiva, and genitourinary tract. Vision loss, tooth loss, and other serious outcomes have been reported. 

In this homozygous condition involving the PLG gene, the plasminogen protein is defective; it cannot effectively perform its intended function of breaking down fibrin. The result is the formation of fibrin clots appearing as ligneous growths or pseudomembranes. Once removed, these lesions reappear, and this should tip off the physician (most often an ophthalmologist) that something systemic is the cause.
The diagnosis of PLGD-1 is straightforward: A blood test showing decreased plasminogen activity levels is confirmatory. A genetic test is not necessary. 

In the past, management of PLGD-1 was through the use of off-label therapies, including heparin eyedrops, immunologics, and plasma infusions. A form of intravenous human plasminogen was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021, and this is considered the standard of care today. With this therapy, plasminogen plasma levels can be restored, lowering the risk of new fibrin clots throughout the body. 

For newly diagnosed patients, the best advice for caregivers is to establish a relationship with a hematologist, who will serve as the principal care provider. Although a multidisciplinary care team is required (e.g., ophthalmology, obstetrics/gynecology, dentistry), the need for other specific providers will depend on the other organs or sites affected. 

Dr. Sura believes that PLDG-1 is underdiagnosed, but with increasing awareness, and the availability of effective treatment, diagnosis and management of these patients can be improved today.
For more information on PLGD-1, visit https://checkrare.com/plasminogen-deficiency-fibrin-accumulation-and-its-effects-on-patients-2/

Dinesh Patel, PhD, CEO of Protagonist Therapeutics, discusses the New Drug Application (NDA) submission to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for rusfertide to treat adults with polycythemia vera (PV).

PV is characterized by excess red blood cells in the bloodstream, increasing the risk for blood clots. Most cases of PV are acquired and occur more frequently in men than in women. The condition has been associated with genetic changes in the JAK2 and TET2 genes. Rusfertide is an investigational first-in-class subcutaneously administered hepcidin mimetic peptide designed to regulate iron homeostasis and red blood cell production to control hematocrit levels in patients with PV.

The NDA submission is based on positive 32-week primary analysis and 52-week results from the phase 3, global, randomized, placebo-controlled VERIFY clinical trial (NCT05210790). In this study, patients receiving rusfertide plus standard of care therapy demonstrated a substantially higher response rate compared to placebo plus standard of care, including durable hematocrit control, a reduction in phlebotomy requirements and improvement in pre-specified patient reported outcome endpoints.

Rusfertide has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Orphan Drug Designation, and Fast Track Designation from the FDA.

Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.

Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.

Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.

Part of the CheckRare Podcast Network: Trusted conversations, news, education, and expert insights across the rare disease community.

Shunji Tomatsu, MD, PhD, Professor and Head, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware, USA; Alessandra d’Azzo, PhD, Emerita Faculty, Genetics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Tennessee, USA; Merve Emecen Sanli, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Texas, USA; and Ryan Colburn, patient with Pompe disease and president of Odimm Inc, discuss new and emerging gene therapies for lysosomal disorders.

This continuing education activity is provided through collaboration between the Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center (LDRTC), CheckRare CE, and AffinityCE. This activity provides continuing education credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and genetic counselors. A statement of participation is available to other attendees.

To obtain CME/CE credit, please visit https://checkrare.com/learning/p-grids2025-session6-current-issues-in-gene-therapies-for-lysosomal-disorders/  

Learning Objectives

• Describe current and emerging gene therapy data in lysosomal disorders and its clinical relevance
• Describe role of patients in gene therapy development

Faculty
Shunji Tomatsu, MD, PhD, Professor and Head, Nemours Children’s Health

Alessandra d’Azzo, PhD, Emerita Faculty, Genetics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Merve Emecen Sanli, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Ryan Colburn. Odimm, Inc.

Disclosures
AffinityCE staff, LDRTC staff, planners, and reviewers, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. Faculty disclosures, listed below, will also be disclosed at the beginning of the Program.

Shunji Tomatsu, MD, PhD 
Dr. Tomatsu has received the following grants: Morquio Foundations and families: Scarlett Grifith, Bennett, A Cure for Roberts, and Morquio Conference; MPS Societies: Japanese, National, and Austrian; NIH grants: 1-R01-HD102545, NIH, NICHD, Tomatsu (PI), 1R01HD104814-01A1, NIH, NICHD, Langan, T.J. (PI), Role: Site-PI, R43HD114328-01, NIH, ACOSTA, WALTER (PI), Role: site PI, 1R43AR084638-01, NIH, MOUNZIH, KHALID (PI); Foundation of NIH: FNIH RFP NUMBER: 2022-BGTC-005 Tomatsu (PI). 

Alessandra d’Azzo, PhD
Dr. D’Azzo has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Merve Emecen Sanli, MD
Dr. Sanli has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Ryan Colburn
Mr. Colburn has an advisory, consulting and/or project based relationship or stock holding with: Abeona Therapeutics, Amicus Therapeutics, Astellas Gene Therapies, Avidity Biosciences, Bayer, Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, Denali Therapeutics, M6P Therapeutics, Sangamo Therapeutics, Sanofi, Solid Biosciences.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
AffinityCE adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. Conflicts of interest for presenting faculty with relevant financial interests were resolved through peer review of content by a non-conflicted reviewer.

Accreditation and Credit Designation

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and the LDRTC. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
AffinityCE is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). This activity provides a maximum of 1 hours of continuing nursing education credit.

Nurse Practitioners
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Nurse practitioners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Genetic Counselors
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Genetic Counselors should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Professionals
All other health care professionals completing this continuing education activity will be issued a statement of participation indicating the number of hours of continuing education credit. This may be used for professional education CE credit. Please consult your accrediting organization or licensing board for their acceptance of this CE activity. 

Participation Costs
There is no cost to participate in this activity.

CME Inquiries
For all CME policy-related inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]
Send customer support requests to [email protected]

Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.

Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.

Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.

Part of the CheckRare Podcast Network: Trusted conversations, news, education, and expert insights across the rare disease community.

Duarte C. Barral, PhD, Associate Professor, NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal; Nuno Raimundo, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology; Penn State College of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA; Betul Celik, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware, USA; and Gregory Newby, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Maryland, USA,
discuss the principles of theranostics and its application in lysosomal disorders.

This continuing education activity is provided through collaboration between the Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center (LDRTC), CheckRare CE, and AffinityCE. This activity provides continuing education credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and genetic counselors. A statement of participation is available to other attendees.

To obtain CME/CE credit, please visit https://checkrare.com/learning/p-grids2025-session5-theranostics-and-lysosomal-disorders/ 

Learning Objectives
Describe lysosomal and inter-organelle mechanisms that contribute to pathology in lysosomal disorders, and how these pathways are being leveraged for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Describe current and emerging theranostic strategies for lysosomal disorders.

Faculty
Duarte C. Barral, PhD, Associate Professor, NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, 

Nuno Raimundo, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology; Penn State College of Medicine

Betul Celik, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Nemours Children’s Health

Gregory Newby, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Disclosures
AffinityCE staff, LDRTC staff, planners, and reviewers, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. Faculty disclosures, listed below, will also be disclosed at the beginning of the Program.

Duarte C. Barral, PhD 
Dr. Barral’s group receives grant support from Sea4Us.

Nuno Raimundo, PhD
Dr. Raimundo has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Betul Celik, PhD
Dr. Celik has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Gregory Newby, PhD
Dr. Newby has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
AffinityCE adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. Conflicts of interest for presenting faculty with relevant financial interests were resolved through peer review of content by a non-conflicted reviewer.

Accreditation and Credit Designation

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and the LDRTC. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
AffinityCE is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). This activity provides a maximum of 1 hours of continuing nursing education credit.

Nurse Practitioners
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Nurse practitioners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Genetic Counselors
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Genetic Counselors should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Professionals
All other health care professionals completing this continuing education activity will be issued a statement of participation indicating the number of hours of continuing education credit. This may be used for professional education CE credit. Please consult your accrediting organization or licensing board for their acceptance of this CE activity. 

Participation Costs
There is no cost to participate in this activity.

CME Inquiries
For all CME policy-related inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]
Send customer support requests to [email protected]

Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.

Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.

Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.

Part of the CheckRare Podcast Network: Trusted conversations, news, education, and expert insights across the rare disease community.

Oral Alpan, MD, Immunologist, Amerimmune, Virginia, USA; Svenja Keller, PhD student, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Shoshana Revel-Vilk, MD, PhD, Director, Gaucher Unit & Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel; Patrick Deegan, MD, Consultant Metabolic Physician, University of Cambridge, UK; and Ravi Kamath, MD, PhD, Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Inova Health System, Virginia, USA, discuss the applications of AI in the diagnosis and treatment of lysosomal disorders.

This continuing education activity is provided through collaboration between the Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center (LDRTC), CheckRare CE, and AffinityCE. This activity provides continuing education credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and genetic counselors. A statement of participation is available to other attendees.

To obtain CME/CE credit, visit https://checkrare.com/learning/p-grids2025-session4-expanded-applications-of-ai-in-lysosomal-disorders/

Learning Objectives

• Describe how emerging AI and machine learning technologies are advancing disease modeling and biomarker development.
• Describe how emerging AI and machine learning technologies are advancing therapeutic target identification across lysosomal disorders.

Faculty
Oral Alpan, MD, Immunologist, Amerimmune

Svenja Keller, PhD student, University of Zurich

Shoshana Revel-Vilk, MD, PhD, Director, Gaucher Unit & Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit, Shaare Zedek Medical Center

Patrick Deegan, MD, Consultant Metabolic Physician, University of Cambridge

Ravi Kamath, MD, PhD, Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology, Inova Health System

Disclosures
AffinityCE staff, LDRTC staff, planners, and reviewers, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. Faculty disclosures, listed below, will also be disclosed at the beginning of the Program.

Oral Alpan, MD 
Dr. Alpan has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Svenja Keller
Ms. Keller has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Shoshana Revel-Vilk, MD, PhD
Dr. Revel-Vilk receives grant/research support from Sanofi and Takeda. She is a member of the Speakers Bureau for Sanofi and Takeda, and a member of the Advisory Board for Takeda.

Patrick Deegan, MD
Dr. Deegan is a consultant and advisory board member with Sanofi, Takeda, and Amicus.
He also receives research support from Sanofi and Amicus.

Ravi Kamath, MD, PhD
Dr. Kamath is on an advisory board for Intrinsic Therapeutics. He is also a consultant for
Sanofi, Takeda, and Spur Therapeutics.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
AffinityCE adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. Conflicts of interest for presenting faculty with relevant financial interests were resolved through peer review of content by a non-conflicted reviewer.

Accreditation and Credit Designation

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and the LDRTC. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
AffinityCE is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). This activity provides a maximum of 1 hours of continuing nursing education credit.

Nurse Practitioners
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Nurse practitioners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Genetic Counselors
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Genetic Counselors should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Professionals
All other health care professionals completing this continuing education activity will be issued a statement of participation indicating the number of hours of continuing education credit. This may be used for professional education CE credit. Please consult your accrediting organization or licensing board for their acceptance of this CE activity. 

Participation Costs
There is no cost to participate in this activity.

CME Inquiries
For all CME policy-related inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]
Send customer support requests to [email protected]

Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.

Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.

Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.

Part of the CheckRare Podcast Network: Trusted conversations, news, education, and expert insights across the rare disease community.

Mia Horowitz, PhD, Tel Aviv University; Aitor Aguirre, PhD, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA; and Ying Sun, PhD, University of Cincinnati, discuss the use of organoid models in lysosomal disorder research and drug development.

This continuing education activity is provided through collaboration between the Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center (LDRTC), CheckRare CE, and AffinityCE. This activity provides continuing education credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and genetic counselors. A statement of participation is available to other attendees.

To obtain CME/CE credit, visit https://checkrare.com/learning/p-grids2025-session3-organoids-and-lab-grown-models-in-lysosomal-disorders/

Learning Objectives

• Describe the use of heart organoid models to better understand the pathophysiology of lysosomal disorders and its clinical relevance
• Describe the use and application of brain organoid models in neuropathic Gaucher disease research and treatment

Faculty
Mia Horowitz, PhD, Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University.

Aitor Aguirre, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Chief, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology (IQ), Director, MSU Stem Cell Core, Michigan State University.

Ying Sun, PhD, Professor, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati.

DisclosuresAffinityCE staff, LDRTC staff, planners, and reviewers, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. Faculty disclosures, listed below, will also be disclosed at the beginning of the Program.

Mia Horowitz, PhD
Dr. Horowitz has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Aitor Aguirre, PhD
Dr. Aguirre has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Ying Sun, PhD
Dr. Sun receives research support from Enkefalos Biosciences and Yuhan Corporation.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
AffinityCE adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. Conflicts of interest for presenting faculty with relevant financial interests were resolved through peer review of content by a non-conflicted reviewer.

Accreditation and Credit Designation

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and the LDRTC. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
AffinityCE is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). This activity provides a maximum of 1 hours of continuing nursing education credit.

Nurse Practitioners
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Nurse practitioners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Genetic Counselors
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Genetic Counselors should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Professionals
All other health care professionals completing this continuing education activity will be issued a statement of participation indicating the number of hours of continuing education credit. This may be used for professional education CE credit. Please consult your accrediting organization or licensing board for their acceptance of this CE activity. 

Participation Costs
There is no cost to participate in this activity.

CME Inquiries
For all CME policy-related inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]
Send customer support requests to [email protected]

Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.

Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.

Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.

Part of the CheckRare Podcast Network: Trusted conversations, news, education, and expert insights across the rare disease community.

Stephan Stern, PhD, DABT, Director of Research and Development, Nanotechnology Characterization Lab (NCL), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Maryland, USA; and Ruben Boado, PhD, Professor of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, California, USA, discuss the use of nanotechnology in the treatment of lysosomal disorders.

This continuing education activity is provided through collaboration between the Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center (LDRTC), CheckRare CE, and AffinityCE. This activity provides continuing education credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and genetic counselors. A statement of participation is available to other attendees.

To obtain CME/CE credit, visit https://checkrare.com/learning/p-grids2025-session2-nanotechnology-and-lysosomal-disorders/

Learning Objectives

• Describe recent advances in the use of nanotechnology to treat lysosomal disorders
• Describe the role of nanotechnology in addressing unmet needs in lysosomal disorders

Faculty
Stephan Stern, PhD, DABT
Director of Research and Development, Nanotechnology Characterization Lab (NCL), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research

Ruben Boado, PhD
Professor of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles

Disclosures
AffinityCE staff, LDRTC staff, planners, and reviewers, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. Faculty disclosures, listed below, will also be disclosed at the beginning of the Program.

Stephan Stern, PhD, DABT
Dr. Stern has no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 


Ruben Boado, PhD
Dr. Boado has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
AffinityCE adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. Conflicts of interest for presenting faculty with relevant financial interests were resolved through peer review of content by a non-conflicted reviewer.

Accreditation and Credit Designation

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and the LDRTC. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
AffinityCE is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). This activity provides a maximum of 1 hours of continuing nursing education credit.

Nurse Practitioners
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Nurse practitioners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Genetic Counselors
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Genetic Counselors should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Professionals
All other health care professionals completing this continuing education activity will be issued a statement of participation indicating the number of hours of continuing education credit. This may be used for professional education CE credit. Please consult your accrediting organization or licensing board for their acceptance of this CE activity. 

Participation Costs
There is no cost to participate in this activity.

CME Inquiries
For all CME policy-related inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]
Send customer support requests to [email protected]

Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.

Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.

Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.

Part of the CheckRare Podcast Network: Trusted conversations, news, education, and expert insights across the rare disease community.

Behzad Najafian, MD, Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Department of Medicine at the University of Washington, Washington, USA discusses the use of artificial intelligence in identifying and managing lysosomal disorders.

This continuing education activity is provided through collaboration between the Lysosomal and Rare Disorders Research and Treatment Center (LDRTC), CheckRare CE, and AffinityCE. This activity provides continuing education credit for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and genetic counselors. A statement of participation is available to other attendees.

To obtain CME/CE credit, visit https://checkrare.com/learning/p-grids2025-session1-ai-in-medicine-transforming-the-landscape-of-tissue-based-diagnostics/

Learning Objectives
Describe recent advances in the applications of AI in lysosomal disorder diagnosis and its clinical relevance

Faculty
Behzad Najafian, MD 
Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington

Disclosures
AffinityCE staff, LDRTC staff, planners, and reviewers, have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. Faculty disclosures, listed below, will also be disclosed at the beginning of the Program.
Behzad Najafian, MD
Dr. Najafian is on the Advisory Board/Consultant for Sanofi, Amicus, Avrobio, 4DMT,
Sangamo, Freeline, AceLink, Relay, CRISPR, ELOXX, SPARK, UNIQURE. He receives grants/research support from Amicus. 

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships
AffinityCE adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity. Conflicts of interest for presenting faculty with relevant financial interests were resolved through peer review of content by a non-conflicted reviewer.

Accreditation and Credit Designation

Physicians
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of AffinityCE and the LDRTC. AffinityCE is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physician Assistants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses
AffinityCE is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). This activity provides a maximum of 1 hours of continuing nursing education credit.

Nurse Practitioners
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Nurse practitioners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Genetic Counselors
AffinityCE designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Genetic Counselors should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other Professionals
All other health care professionals completing this continuing education activity will be issued a statement of participation indicating the number of hours of continuing education credit. This may be used for professional education CE credit. Please consult your accrediting organization or licensing board for their acceptance of this CE activity. 

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Alan Beggs, PhD
Director of the Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research
Sir Edwin and Lady Manton Professor of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
 
Julie A. Parsons, MD
Haberfield Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neuromuscular Disorders
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Neurology
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado
Aurora, CO, USA

The ASPIRO Clinical Trial is on clinical hold since September 2021. In this part, Doctors Beggs and Parsons will discuss key issues on gene therapy development.

Question: Is there a standardized immunomodulation regimen being considered for gene therapy?

Julie A. Parsons, MD
As I mentioned, right now, I think there are a number of different concepts that are being utilized. We don't really have a recommended standard regimen at this point. There are a number of different trials that are ongoing looking at trying to answer this question. In some of the clinical trials, there is an immune modulating regimen that is being put in place but being looked at. There isn't anything that we have as a standard at this moment for all gene transfer therapies, but I'm hopeful that we will come up with something that really makes sense in each patient population as we go forward with specific gene transfer therapies.

Question: What are the long-term implications, safety and efficacy of a one-time gene therapy in pediatric patients with neuromuscular diseases?

Alan Beggs, PhD
One question is the efficacy. For example, Donovan Decker's story, he had an experimental treatment of one muscle. It was a phase one safety trial, and he knew that nothing was going to come of it in terms of direct benefit to him. As a result, though, 25, 30 years later, he still has a tighter against AAV vectors. He's not a candidate for gene therapy under current protocols, although there's a lot of work going on to redosing. But for now, it's a one-time treatment. What you get is what you get, and there's not a chance to go back and do it again.

The other question is durability. We really don't know about the long-term durability for these treatments. I should say that, for example, in the studies that we did, David Mack, who's here in the audience, managed a dog colony for a dog model of excellent tubular myopathy. Those animals lived 10 years in a... We never used the C-word, but they were cured. They were healthy, happy, normal dogs who would have had to be put down at 6 months of age otherwise. And then, as we heard, I'll let you talk about the concern for unanticipated SAEs as time goes on, but I think there's other aspects we need to think about.

Julie A. Parsons, MD
Yeah. I think that this is really the key question that all of us are going to need to help answer over the next several years. Efficacy, we're looking at outcomes, and outcomes come in a variety of flavors. I think we do a decent job with motor outcomes. We don't do a decent job with some other outcomes. I think we need to look more broadly in terms of what we mean in terms of beneficial outcomes and really take some of those cues from the patients themselves about if these are efficacious treatments, because, again, the risk is high as we deliver these agents, and we need to know that it's worth it to the patients and families.

In terms of safety, we're working on it. There are all sorts of things that are coming forward as issues with these patients. I think that collectively as a community, that our responsibility is to follow patients for the long term. There are lots of registries and outcome studies. We're not very good as a community about reporting adverse events to central groups. We're not great about broadcasting that to each other in real-time. I think those are things that we really need to work on as a community in terms of helping with the safety issues so that we all have a communal better understanding of what some of those issues are.

Rare Discussions is produced by CheckRare, the leading multimedia platform dedicated to advancing education, awareness, and innovation across the rare disease community.

Explore additional physician interviews, podcasts, CME activities, and rare disease resources at CheckRare.com.

Subscribe to the CheckRare Podcast Network for expert conversations, weekly news, accredited education, and the latest advances across the rare disease community.

Part of the CheckRare Podcast Network: Trusted conversations, news, education, and expert insights across the rare disease community.