PC Project made an impact at the European Society for Dermatology Research in Heidelberg, Germany, on September 9-11. For three days, we had the opportunity to connect with skin scientists from around the world – and to make sure PC and related pEDDs were part of the conversation.
A special thank you to Alain Hovnanian and Edel O’Toole for chairing our special PC Project session at the conference, and to Edel, Nicole Schwarz, Diana Blaydon, Marianne de Brito, and Janice Schwartz for presenting the work PC Project is supporting, the research we have funded, and the science we are helping accelerate.
Our exhibit table was a hub of activity throughout the conference. We talked with physicians and researchers about PC and related pEDDs, answered questions, shared our resources, and gave out every last brochure and educational item we brought, hundreds in all!
Being present at major scientific meetings like ESDR gives PC Project visibility on the world stage. For rare diseases like PC and pEDDs, that visibility matters. The more researchers who know about our diseases, our patients, and the urgent need for better treatments, the more opportunities we have to build collaborations and move research forward.
We’re grateful to everyone who stopped by our table, attended our session, asked questions, and shared ideas. We’re making sure PC and pEDDs are seen, heard, and remembered in the scientific community.
Rare Skin Diseases, Broad Insights: Keratin Biology to Therapeutic Innovation in Pachyonychia Congenita and Related Painful Palmoplantar Epidermal Differentiation Disorders
This featured session highlighted the latest scientific and clinical advances in pachyonychia congenita (PC) and related painful palmoplantar epidermal differentiation disorders (pEDDs). International experts discussed disease mechanisms, innovative disease models, and emerging therapeutic approaches, demonstrating how research in rare skin diseases continues to provide important insights into skin biology and translational medicine.
Program
Session Chairs
Alain Hovnanian, MD, PhD
Imagine Institute for Genetic Diseases, INSERM, Necker Hospital, France
Edel O’Toole, MD, PhD, FRCP
Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
13:15
Welcome
13:20
Accelerating Research in Pachyonychia Congenita and Related Painful Palmoplantar Epidermal Differentiation Disorders
Janice Schwartz, President & CEO, PC Project
13:30
Keynote: Pachyonychia Congenita Research: From Discovery to Therapy—Where Are We Heading?
Edel O’Toole, MD, PhD, FRCP, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
13:45
How Keratins Shape Organelle Localization and Function in Pachyonychia Congenita
Nicole Schwarz, PhD, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
13:55
Advancing Palmoplantar Epidermal Differentiation Disorder Modeling with Site-Specific Keratinocytes
Diana Blaydon, PhD, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
14:05
Mechanisms of Steatocystoma Formation in Pachyonychia Congenita: New Insights into Disease Pathogenesis
Marianne de Brito, BMBCh, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
14:15
From Mechanisms to Impact: Closing Remarks
If you’re attending the ESDR Annual Meeting, we invite you to join us for this exciting session and learn about the latest discoveries advancing research toward better treatments for PC and related pEDDs.
Learn more about the ESDR Annual Meeting at:
https://esdr.org/events-esdr/esdr-annual-meetings/
