Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre to Host Symposium on Pioneering Research and Innovation in Rare Disease Treatments

OXFORD, UK and CLEVELAND, Ohio, US, 24^th September 2024 – The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre (‘OHC’), a partnership between the University of Oxford, UK and Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals, Cleveland, Ohio, aimed at delivering cutting-edge rare disease breakthroughs, is pleased to announce it is hosting its bi-annual Symposium today through 26^th September 2024, at Trinity College, University of Oxford. The event will bring together leaders from academia, biotech, pharma, venture capital, philanthropy and patient groups to connect, engage and update the diverse and growing rare disease community. The Symposium explores how cutting-edge research, innovative treatment strategies, and collaboration is driving the development of effective therapies for rare diseases.

Symposium 2024 Highlights:

• The three-day in-person event begins with Opening Remarks from Professor Matthew Wood, Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the OHC, and Sir John Bell, President, Ellison Institute of Technology, and Chair of the OHC Advisory Council
• An Opening Session features Baroness Nicola Blackwood, Chair, Genomics England, Member of the House of Lords, and the OHC’s Advisory Council

Further notable speakers will include

• Jonathan S. Stamler, MD, President and co-Founder, Harrington Discovery Institute and Member of the OHC Steering Committee
• Julia Vitarello, Founder & CEO, Mila’s Miracle Foundation
• Professor Fyodor Urnov, Professor of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley

Other sessions examine critical topics in rare diseases, such as therapeutic genomics, drug development exemplars, lifelong therapies for neuromuscular diseases, and paediatric cancer. These sessions will showcase the latest research and innovations shaping the future of rare disease therapeutics.

The Symposium programme, available here, also offers updates on the OHC’s Therapeutics Accelerator, launched on October 3, 2023. This groundbreaking initiative, backed by up to £200 million in funding, operates under a unique non-profit/for-profit model through a partnership with Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals of Cleveland, University of Oxford, and Oxford Science Enterprises. A highlight of the Accelerator at this year’s Symposium is AlveoGene, an innovative company pioneering inhaled gene therapy for rare respiratory diseases. This session will feature David Hipkiss (Executive Chair).

Matthew Wood, Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the OHC, commented: “This year’s Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Symposium is a unique opportunity to bring the international rare disease community together to recognise scientific progress and innovation and foster collaboration among leaders in the field. I am delighted to welcome global leaders from academia, industry, government, and patient advocacy to come together with a shared commitment to translating science into tangible outcomes for rare disease patients and their families.”