Watch: Advanced Therapeutics webinar – transforming the way we care for children

The first in a series of educational webinars by Kids Research, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network was held on 27 November 2020. The webinar series will explore the way Advanced Therapeutics is driving clinicians and researchers to prepare for a new wave of therapies that will revolutionise the future of paediatric health care.

Watch the video of this webinar to:

• gain an understanding of the basis of gene therapy and
• learn about current trends of gene therapy in paediatric clinical research
• hear about the successful case study of Australia’s first Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) trial
• hear about where we are now with Advanced Therapeutics and how it will be further developed to change the future of paediatric health care

Speakers:

Professor Ian Alexander Prof Alexander is the Head of the Gene Therapy Research Unit, a joint initiative of Children’s Medical Research Institute and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Within the Hospital he holds appointments as a senior staff specialist and as the Director of Laboratory Research. He is Professor in Paediatrics and Molecular Medicine in the Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health at the University of Sydney and an Honorary Consultant in Clinical Genetics at Westmead Hospital. His specific expertise and interests include virus-mediated gene transfer with a focus on target organs including the liver and bone marrow, both of which show great promise for the treatment of genetic disease in children.

Associate Professor Michelle Farrar A/Prof Farrar is an Associate Professor in Paediatric Neurology at UNSW Sydney and specialist child neurologist at Sydney Children’s Hospital, leading the Neuromuscular clinical and research programs. She is a leading researcher in paediatric neuromuscular and rare neurogenetic disorders, successfully translating research to improve health practice and outcomes for patients, their families and the community. A/Prof Farrar’s team is focused on developing and translating innovative ways of providing the best possible care from the time of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond to people with neuromuscular, neurodevelopmental or rare neurogenetic diseases. The research program also integrates interdisciplinary genomics research, together with community and consumer involvement.

Host & panelists (speakers joined by):

• Professor Chris Cowell, Director of Research, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
• Professor Craig Munns, Endocrinologist and Advanced Therapeutics Lead at Children’s Hospital at Westmead
• Dr Laura Fawcett, Respiratory Paediatrician and Advanced Therapeutics Lead at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick

Stay tuned for our next webinar in February 2021!