MSA Symposium 2023

In January 2023 the MSA Trust, in partnership with the UCL Institute of Neurology, hosted its first MSA Research Symposium.

This event provided a unique opportunity for researchers to share knowledge and learn about the latest advancements in Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) research.

The morning sessions focused on the structures of alpha-synuclein in MSA brains, revealing that distinct conformers or strains characterize MSA, differentiating it from other parkinsonian conditions. This was followed by a session on the genetics of MSA, discussing findings on somatic structural variants, brain DNA methylation, and the SNCA locus. Before lunch, there was a session on biomarkers, covering established biomarkers for predicting neurodegeneration and efforts to develop early diagnostic tests for MSA.

In the afternoon, the symposium addressed improving diagnosis and prognosis of MSA and exploring new drug trials. Topics included the latest diagnostic criteria, autonomic features as potential biomarkers, the PROSPECT-M Study, and the use of PEG feeding tubes in MSA patients. The final session covered clinical trials, including the Horizon Phase I trial on antisense therapy, the ATH434 trial, the Exenatide study, and data on Ampreloxetine for postural hypotension.

You can view the recording of MSA Symposium 2023: