First Research Roundtable!!

We had such an amazing first roundtable in June with amazing speakers and a little time at the end for discussion and connection.

These were our amazing speakers!!

Please see Dr. Thomas's slides below!!

SMOC1 foundation presentation_Thomas_06042024 (2).pdf

Download PDF • 2.37MB

Toward the end of the roundtable we also had an amazing announcement from Jackson Laboratory that our SMOC1 gene and a variant of interest had been accepted into their F0 program! This meant that, with no cost to the foundation, they intend to study the embryos of mice affected by partial and complete SMOC1 dysfunction (the variant Hope carries and a knockout of the whole gene). This represents an amazing step forward in SMOC1 research that was catalyzed by Dani's attendance of the May 2024 Global Genes Drug Development Symposium where she connected with the amazing human beings over at "Jax" Labs.

Shout out to Global Genes for convening such wonderful people:

https://globalgenes.org/rare-drug-development-symposium-2024/

We really want to encourage cross-talk between researchers in fields that may seem very distinct (Alzheimers, Diabetes, direct SMOC1 dysfunction) but that all center on the SMOC1 gene. At the very end of the roundtable this started happening but we needed to end the session and regretted that there was not quite as much time for this networking to occur. We will try to schedule more time at the next roundtable!!

Thanks for all who presented, participated, and supported this roundtable and for all who continue to support this mission!!