Connective Issues Winter 2023

SCIENCE IN PARIS Brings Toget and Clinicians from All Over the W

The Marfan Foundation and its divisions hosted Science in Paris in August 2022, bringing together more than 270 registrants from 21 countries, which made it our most well-attended scientific conference in our history. Attendees included students, postdocs, and a number of leaders from international volunteer organizations as well as the leading experts in the field. The four-day event featured three separate but connected meetings focusing on the latest research on genetic aortic and vascular conditions, including the 11 th International Symposium on Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, and Related Conditions (two days); the DEFY Foundation 5 th Scientific Meeting on Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (one day); and the 7 th GenTAC Aortic Summit (one day). The program included: • 62 oral presentations at the International Symposium on Marfan, Loeys-Dietz, and Related Conditions • 20 oral presentations at the DEFY VEDS meeting • 20 oral presentations at the GenTAC meeting • 165 poster displays of research studies over four days “It is so encouraging to see the many young researchers learning from the leaders in the field, who are mentoring them while continuing to search for answers,” said Josephine Grima, PhD, chief science o ffi cer for the Foundation. “These experiences and collaborations are essential to the future of research for these conditions.”

p Talha Niaz, MBBS, Laura Muiño Mosquera, MD, PhD, Anna Huguenard, MD, and Marc Schönholzer, MSc

New exciting research studies were presented at the meetings. Here are a few highlights. Marfan Syndrome Studies • Data analysis from multiple trials confirm that losartan or irbesartan reduces the rate of aortic enlargement with or without beta blockers. See related article on page 3. • Studies suggest mild to moderate exercise is safe and possibly protective. (Watch the related video on our YouTube channel.) • Multiple new signaling processes emerge as viable therapeutic strategies in mice. Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Studies in Mice • Studies are looking to identify and validate biomarkers of aortic health. (See related article on page 12.) • Processes that cause altered response to mechanical stresses in the aortic root are being investigated. • Methods to restore microfibril sheath in LDS3 may help reduce degeneration in the aorta.

This is the only meeting devoted to the connective tissue disorders associated with aortopathies thus it is vitally important to those of us caring for these patients. The meeting brings perspective from physicians in many disciplines from

around the world keeping us updated on the current research and also very instrumental to my practice.

Science in Paris is truly what a medical conference is supposed to be – a warm, collaborative gathering of brilliant minds to discuss research, engage in meaningful conversation, and create long-lasting professional partnerships and even closer friendships.

Tala Curry

Robert Peña, MD, with Sherene Shalhub, MD

Rodrigo Barbosa De Souza, PhD

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