Penn Education & Support for Familial FTD/AL Conference: February 27, 2021

The Penn FTD Center is hosting a virtual conference for persons affected by frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on Saturday, February 27, 2021. “Fighting for the Future: Education and Support for Familial FTD/ALS” will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (6:00 to 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time).

The conference will address the unique challenges and situations that arise from familial or genetic disease. There will be three breakout sessions:

1. Persons Diagnosed
2. Persons At-Risk
3. Supporters

Presenters will include genetic counselors, neurologists, and social workers speaking on the genetics of FTD and ALS. They will answer questions posed during the event, or you can submit a question for the speakers in advance when you register.

Sessions and speakers include:

• Welcome — Murray Grossman, MDCM, EdD, and Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre, MD, PhD
• Genetics of FTD-ALS Spectrum Disorders — Laynie Dratch, ScM, LCGC, and Tanya Bardakjian, MS, LCGC
• Panel: Do You Really Want to Know?  —  Beth Wood, MS, CGC, and Bardakjian
• State of the Research & Staying Informed — Michael Benatar, MD, PhD
• Panel: So You Got Tested, Now What? — Weiyi Mu, ScM, CGC, and Dratch
• Finding Support, Coping & Connecting — Cynthia Clyburn, MSW, LSW

While the conference is being offered free of charge, participants who register are encouraged to make a donation to the Penn FTD Center to help support future events like this one. The suggested minimum donation is $20.

This conference is supported by Gold Sponsors PassageBio and Alector. Other sponsors include Prevail Therapeutics and The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

The secure link to access the live event will be shared with registrants prior to the conference.