The GLF is a scientific meeting sponsored by Genzyme that brings together approximately 200 participants from around the world, including physicians, academics, researchers and patient organization representatives to discuss current care for patients with Gaucher disease and the direction of future disease management. This year’s GLF will be chaired by Timothy M. Cox, Professor of Medicine at the University of Cambridge. The theme for 2015 is: “New Clinical Science of Gaucher Disease” and will focus on the following objectives:

• Advancing therapeutics through greater understanding of pathogenesis (molecular & otherwise)
• Fostering collaborative and interdisciplinary research
• Inspiring (recruiting) the next generation of clinician researchers and scientists

“In designing this year’s GLF program, we have sought to encompass the hugely diverse aspects of Gaucher disease as they impinge on the lives and well-being of patients all over the world. It is chastening to realize that despite radical improvements over the last 25 years, many aspects of this condition remain very hard to treat; and even when the diagnosis eventually has come to light, not every patient can gain access to the best standards of care,” said Prof. Cox. “This meeting will give time for open sharing of experience and seeks to explore under-recognized aspects of the disease that are often neglected in the heat of routine practice.”

The opening plenary session highlighted the most recent scientific discoveries in the field of Gaucher disease research. Additionally, several interactive working groups have been established to focus on: (1) Spectrum of Clinical Manifestations in Gaucher Disease; (2) Gaucher Disease Type 3: Addressing Patients’ and Families’ Concerns; (3) Unmet Needs in the Assessment of Bone Disease in Gaucher; and (4) Gaucher Disease and Cancer: Mechanisms and Management.

“The GLF is an excellent example of global collaboration and partnership, with the Gaucher community working together to propel research forward and further our understanding of Gaucher disease,” said Genzyme’s Acting Head of Rare Diseases, Richard Peters, MD, Ph.D. “While much progress has been made, great need still exists, particularly around the neuronopathic forms of Gaucher disease. We look forward to lively discussion while we work to achieve our collective goal to support the needs of the global Gaucher community.”

From Macedonia, Vesna Aleksovska attended the forum, invited as a member of the Board of Directors of the European Gaucher Alliance.