Citrin Foundation’s Global Research Symposium 2019 in Singapore was held on 11th and 12th November in Duke-NUS Medical School and National University of Singapore respectively.
It has always been a core belief of Citrin Foundation to find a cure for citrin deficiency by bringing researchers, clinicians and patients together to work as a team. The Global Research Symposium was held with an aim to provide updates on the latest breakthroughs in our research efforts and the progress of the clinical study on possible treatments for citrin deficiency. It was also meant to provide an opportunity for clinicians and parents of patients from around the world to interact and have discussions with the researchers directly as well.
The first day of the symposium was attended by researchers. Among those present for the symposium were Professor John Walker, a Nobel Laureate and Emeritus Director and Professor at MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit of the University of Cambridge who helped to discover the citrin protein, and Emeritus Professor Takeyori Saheki from Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences in Japan, who is also known as the ‘father of citrin deficiency’.
The attendance of all the researchers conducting research funded by citrin Foundation brought forth valuable discussion and talking points as each of them presented the latest findings in their research. The Q&A segment after each presentation proceeded dynamically with continuous questions and suggestions. With the presence of all the researchers, the focus and direction of future research and collaborations were also discussed passionately.
Professor John Walker giving a speech
Professor Takeyori Saheki presenting
Team of researchers listening during a presentation
Group photo of the Citrin Foundation team and researchers on the first day
The second day of the symposium was attended by the researchers, local and overseas doctors, parents of patients, and the patients themselves. Professor Saheki was the keynote speaker and presenter on the second day of the symposium. His expertise in the subject brought about robust discussion and questions from fellow researchers and doctors present in the crowd.
A panel of presenters made up of doctors from United States, Japan and Hong Kong shared general clinical pictures of their patients. Their presentations gave everyone a better idea of citrin deficiency around the world.
In addition, there was a special guest invited to the symposium. A 14-year-old patient from the United States flew to Singapore to share his lifestyle pattern and eating habits. The mother of the patient was also in attendance and answered several questions from doctors after the presentation. The sharing session provided researchers, doctors, and other parents, a rare insight into the life of an older citrin deficiency patient.
Before the day concluded, the expert panel of presenters held a round of active discussion. We believe the dynamic Q&A sessions and discussions have benefited the researchers, doctors, and families of patients that were present. We have faith that the discussions and points brought up during the symposium will inspire greater work and research for the condition, and we are hopeful that it will bring us that much closer to finding a cure.
We are thankful to everyone for taking time out of their busy schedules to attend the symposium. This was only made possible with everyone’s unwavering support. We hope that this and future symposiums, continued patients and doctors’ outreach, funded scientific and clinical research, will help to raise the awareness and interest in this severely underdiagnosed condition.
We hope to see you at the next Global Research Symposium.
Audience focusing during one of the presentations
Panel of experts answering questions from the floor
14-year-old Carson sharing his experience of managing citrin deficiency while maintaining a normal life
We would like to thank Professor Paul Yen and Duke-NUS as well as Dr Tai Ee Shyong and National University of Singapore for graciously allowing us to host Citrin Foundation Global Research Symposium 2019 in their venues.
