The NR2F1 Foundation issued a grant to Dr. Magdalena Laugsch to support her attending the The European Society of Human Genetics 2024 conference. Dr. Laugsch is the team leader for a lab at the Institute of Human Genetics at Heidelberg University Hospital that studies neurodevelopmental disorders related to the neural crest.
The conference provided an opportunity for two members of Dr. Laugsch’s team, Ayat Omer Ahmed and Michael Eibl to present posters on NR2F1 research happening in the lab.
Here’s what Dr Laugsch shared with us after attending:
“The outcome of attending the European Human Genetics Conference (ESHG) 2024, which offered inspiring presentations from world-leading scientists, led to many intensive and constructive discussions and stimulated new collaborations that will have a positive impact on our research.
Ayat presented and discussed in her poster our findings on the role of lncNR21 in controlling the expression of NR2F1 in different cell types: cranial neural crest (a group of cells responsible for the development of face and head) as well as cortical neurons. We had the opportunity to meet and discuss our project with several renowned experts in the field of epigenetics and genome regulation. These meetings resulted in many great ideas, valuable input, and potential future collaborations that will accelerate our research to elucidate whether misregulation of NR2F1 expression caused by aberrant lncNR21 may be relevant for physiopathology of BBSOAS.
Michael had the unique opportunity to present his Master Thesis in the Best Poster Session at the ESHG. In his work, he is determining regulatory networks controlled by key transcription factors essential for proper neural crest cell development and that is including NR2F1. The very positive feedback we received led to intense discussions around the interpretation of genetic variants using the gene regulatory networks. Most importantly, we were able to initiate a collaboration with a leading group in the genetics of neural crest-related diseases. Ultimately, the ESHG 2024 was a real bridge between the basic research Michael is doing and the application in the clinic.
Altogether, our participation in the ESHG 2024 conference you supported was very fruitful for our research. The new insights we will gain with the new ideas will certainly also benefit the NR2f1 research community and NR2F1 Foundation. We would therefore like to thank you very much for your assistance.”
Michael presents his poster (with Ayat & Dr. Laugsch) on determining regulatory networks controlled by key transcription factors essential for proper neural crest cell development which includes NR2F1.
Ayat presents her poster (with Dr. Laugsch and Michael) on the findings on the role of lncNR21 in controlling the expression of NR2F1
Carlie is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the NR2F1 Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to those living with rare mutations on the Nr2f1 gene.
With a B.S. in Special Education and a M.S. in Counseling, Carlie has worked at EPU Children’s Center as a Resource Specialist serving parents of children living with disabilities and then directed a parent leadership group for disability advocacy through storytelling and public speaking.
Carlie lives with her husband Jeff and their two daughters, one of whom has the rare Nr2f1 gene mutation, in Royal Oak, Michigan. She wants all Nr2f1 families whose lives have changed dramatically to know they are not alone.
Jennifer lives with her husband Tim and daughters in London, UK, and has a BA in Business Management from Oxford Brookes University, UK. Before recently deciding to stay at home with Edith, Jennifer spent 14 years working at UBS as a Business Manager, in both New York and London.