Virtual Symposium On Gene Therapy

About Us

The Symposium is an exciting three-day meeting at Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on March 13, 2025. It includes more than 500 leading researchers, physicians, clinicians, stakeholders, advocates, and social workers from all over the world—all with the goal of finding better treatment and, ultimately, a cure for sickle cell disease.

The Foundation for Sickle Cell Disease Research, a multi-specialty non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to making sickle cell disease a non-threatening condition. Our Symposia attract hundreds of unique individuals, who are leading researchers, physicians, clinicians, stakeholders, advocates and social workers with the common goal of finding better treatment, and ultimately, a cure for sickle cell disease. Our attendees also originate from every corner of the world.

Virtual Symposium On Gene Therapy

Hybrid Meeting

Session Highlights

Educational Sessions:

  • Individualized Therapy
  • Bone Health
  • Mental Health
  • Stem Cell Health

Oral Abstract Breakouts:

  • Basic Science
  • Psychosocial
  • Health Services
  • Clinical Research
  • Clinical Trials Clinical Epidemiology
Thursday, June 6 – Grant Writing Institute (additional fee)
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM Registration Open
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM Breakfast
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM Opening Remarks
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM What is Success and How Do You Get There?
9:45 AM – 10:10 AM Presentations
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM Break
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM Dr. Smith’s Afternoon Assignment
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Students Revise Specific Aims
3:00 PM – 3:20 PM Break
3:20 PM – 5:20 PM Students Present Revised Specific Aims
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Wrap Up/Closing
Friday, June 7
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Registration Open
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Exhibit Hall Opens
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Poster Viewing
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Welcome + The State of Sickle Cell Disease
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM Access to Care Keynote Presentation
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM Break
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM The Patient Symposium
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Investigational New Drug, Device and Therapeutics Symposium
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Panel Discussion
6:30PM – 7:30 PM FSCDR’s Welcome Reception
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM Adult, Child and Caregiver Town Hall & Dinner Panel (RSVPs Required, intended for patients and families)
Saturday, June 8
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM Registration Open
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Exhibit Hall Open
9:30 AM – 7:00 PM Poster Viewing
7:00 AM – 8:15 AM Breakfast
8:15 AM – 8:30 AM 2023 Scientific Chair Welcome
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM Top Abstract Oral Presentations
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM Networking Break
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Educational Sessions – Four Concurrent Sessions

Topics Include:

  • Individualized Therapy
  • Mental Health
  • Bone Health
  • Stem Cell Health
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Keynote
2:00 PM – 3:15 PM Plenary Session
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM Break
3:30 PM – 5:45 PM Curative Options in Sickle Cell Disease Plenary Session
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Live Poster Session
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM FSCDR’s Presidential Reception – invite only
Sunday, June 9
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Open
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Exhibit Hall Open
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Poster Viewing
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM An Update on Sickle Cell Disease from Federal Agencies
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM Scientific Keynote Presentation – Women’s Health
10:15 AM – 12:15 PM Dr. Kwaku “KOF” Ohene-Frempong East Meets West Global Sickle Cell Disease Symposium
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Lunch
1:15 PM – 2:45 PM Abstract Breakout Session 1 – Three Concurrent Sessions

Topics Include:

  • Psychosocial
  • Health Services
  • Basic Science/Health Services
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Abstract Breakout Session 2 – Three Concurrent Sessions

Topics Include:

  • Health Services
  • Clinical Trials/Clinical Epidemiology
  • Clinical Research

Whether you attend every year or this will be your first, THE FOUNDATION FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE RESEARCH’S promises to be an unforgettable, invaluable and one-of-a-kind career opportunity.

Virtual Symposium On Gene Therapy

Santosh Saraf, MD

Santosh Saraf, MD

Scientific Chair

Dr. Santosh L. Saraf received his medical degree from the Temple University School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residency and hematology & oncology fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Dr. Saraf joined the Division of Hematology & Oncology at UIC in 2012 and completed a Master of Science in Clinical and Translational Research through the University of Illinois School of Public Health in 2014. He currently serves as the Director of Translational Research for the Sickle Cell Center and the Fellowship Program Director for Hematology & Oncology. Dr. Saraf focuses his clinical care and research on understanding the mechanisms of kidney disease in patients with sickle cell disease and on developing curative therapies through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with clinically aggressive sickle cell disease.

Alan Anderson, MD

Alan Anderson, MD

Scientific Co-Chair

Dr. Anderson is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville, SC. He completed his pediatric residency at the Medical University of SC in Charleston, SC and pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship training at Emory University. He is the director of the Comprehensive “Lifespan” Sickle Cell Disease Program at Prisma Health-Upstate in Greenville, SC. His program provides care for over 450 individuals with sickle cell disease and includes services for patients of all ages within the same dedicated clinical space. Dr. Anderson is involved in both cooperative and industry-sponsored research trials for SCD and his program is part of the American Society of Hematology SCD Clinical Trials Network (ASH SCD-CTN). In addition to his work in the United States, Dr. Anderson partners with clinicians in W. Africa to establish newborn screening programs for SCD. He believes strongly in engaging the voice of the patient and the community in all aspects of care.

Become a Member of the Sickle Cell Research Society of America.

Price: $375

Whether you attend every year or this will be your first, THE FOUNDATION FOR SICKLE CELL DISEASE RESEARCH’S promises to be an unforgettable, invaluable and one-of-a-kind career opportunity.

Virtual Symposium On Gene Therapy

June 7th - 9th, 2024

Virtual Symposium On Gene Therapy

We are currently have an open waitlist for those interested in keeping up to date with symposium details and information. Thank you for your interest in joining us for this very exciting event!

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