SMAfrica

Are you are a physician who takes care of patients with spinal muscular atrophy? Do you want to learn more about this disease and the optimal care for these patients?

Join us for SMAfrica ahead of the 4th SMA Europe Congress in March 2024!

What is SMAfrica?

Learn everything you ever wanted to know about SMA: physiology, treatment, clinical trials, respiratory, orthopaedic, and nutritional management, physiotherapy (assessment and management), ethical considerations and newborn screening. Three full days of interactive training and discussion including plenary lectures, round-table discussions, and role-play around diagnosis announcement.

All with very high-flying speakers from Europe and the US.

And in the meantime a great opportunity to network with physicians from all aroundthe world and to become actively involved in the international SMA community.

For whom?

Physicians from Africa involved in Spinal muscular atrophy care.

Sessions will be held in French or English, depending on participants’ preferences.

Where and when?

SMAfrica: Monday 11th March - Wednesday 13th March In Leuven, Belgium

SMA Europe: Thursday 14th March - Saturday 16th March In Ghent, Belgium

What is the SMA Europe Congress?

Three full days of congress about SMA with cutting edge talks from international speakers and plenty of opportunity to network. https://ghent2024.sma-europe.eu

Who are the organisers and the speakers?

Organised by Prof. Liesbeth DE WAELE, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Belgium and Prof. Laurent SERVAIS, University of Oxford, UK; University of Liege, Belgium, with a prestigious faculty:

• Prof. Richard FINKEL, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, USA

• Prof. Maryam OSKOUI, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurosciences, McGill University, Canada

• Prof. Kristl CLAEYS, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Belgium

• Dr Tamara DANGOULOFF, University of Liege, Belgium

• Prof. Mieke BOON, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Belgium

• Dr Pierre MOENS, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Belgium

• Prof. Anne ROCHTUS, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Belgium

• Charlotte LILIEN, University of Oxford, UK

• Marleen VAN DEN HAUWE, University Hospitals Leuven/KU Leuven, Belgium

How much will it cost?

Following costs will be covered entirely:

• registration to both SMAfrica and SMA Europe
• travel to Leuven and to Ghent (economy class)
• accommodation in Leuven (SMAfrica) and Ghent (SMA Europe)
• catering during SMAfrica

This is made possible by grants from the generous sponsors.

Full participation to the three days of SMAfrica, and to SMA Europe is required.

We do not cover for Visa costs, insurance costs, incidental costs or any other cost exposed without pre-approval.

Is it face to face?

Yes, it is! We want to privilege a face-to-face interaction with a group of maximum 25 participants.

How can I register?

Please send an email to declare your interest in participating to: tamara.dangouloff@uliege.be with your CV and a 1-page statement describing your activities, your connection to neuromuscular diseases, if any, and how you foresee that your participation in the workshop could benefit your (patient) community.

We hope to be able to accommodate all requests, but if not, we will prioritise the most diverse audience in terms of region and specialism.

When should I register?

You should register now! And certainly before December 15th 2023.

Do I get help to obtain a visa?

We will be happy to send an official invitation in a letter with the university header. We cannot commit to any other form of help.

What do I commit to?

• To attend the entire duration of both events: SMAfrica and SMA Europe

• To actively participate to SMAfrica

• To submit in due time the required documents, including your CV