Report: Fourth International Workshop for Glycosylation Defects inMuscular Dystrophies

The Fourth International Workshop for Glycosylation Defects in Muscular Dystrophies took place on April 16- 17, 2015 at the Fairfield Inn and Suites Charlotte Uptown, Charlotte, North Carolina. The workshop was hosted by the McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, and sponsored by the Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), funds raised by “Riding 4 Research” and generous support from the McColl and Lockwood families. Clinicians and scientists from the US, UK, Germany and Japan presented a total of 21 talks spread out over 2 days. The workshop was divided into three sessions: Session A focused on the current status of the development of animal models for diseases caused by defects in muscle-protein glycosylation, on our current understanding of such glycosylation and on the mechanisms that lead to disease. Session B focused on preclinical therapeutics, in particular on AAV- and drug-based therapies. Session C covered the clinical management of muscular dystrophies and endpoint evaluation.