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SMART Symposium on Conquering the Challenges of ALS and Related Neuromuscular Diseases

SMART

Date

October 28-31, 2025

Registration Deadline

October 24, 2025

Venue

Cloud Park International Conference Center, Shenzhen, China

About

Organizers

Confirmed Speakers

Program

Registration

Call for Abstracts

Short Talk Presentation

Poster Session

Accommodation

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About

Neuromuscular diseases such as ALS present a global challenge to human health and medicine. Every year, millions suffer from these diseases, and there is still no effective treatment. Emerging efforts from cross-field collaborations led to significant progress toward FDA-approved therapeutics, such as ASO therapies. Our symposium aims to bring together academic, clinical, and industrial experts in ALS and other neuromuscular diseases. Through their brainstorming, we seek to identify ways to conquer the major challenges of these devastating diseases.

Organizers

Xiaojiang LI, Jinan University

Ke ZHANG, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory

Aaron D. GITLER, Stanford University

Shuying SUN, Johns Hopkins University

Confirmed Speakers

Keynote Speakers

(in alphabetic order)

Don W. CLEVELAND, University of California, San Diego

Jeffrey D. ROTHSTEIN, Johns Hopkins University

Junying YUAN, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Invited Speakers

(in alphabetic order)

Ge BAI, Zhejiang University

Gong CHEN, Jinan University

Xiangjun CHEN, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University

Yelin CHEN, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Sandrine Da CRUZ, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research

Dongsheng FAN, Peking University Third Hospital

Fen-Biao GAO, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Yun GE, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory

Siqi HONG, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

Justin K. ICHIDA, University of Southern California

Ralf JAUCH, The University of Hong Kong

Yichang JIA, Tsinghua University

Clotilde LAGIER-TOURENNE, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Andrew Stephen LEE, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School

Chunghun LIM, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Yi LIN, Tsinghua University

Bai LU, Tsinghua University

Magdalini POLYMENIDOU, University of Zurich

Manish RAISINGHANI, Target ALS Foundation

Linhao RUAN, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Neil A. SHNEIDER, Columbia University

Kun SUN, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Yi SUN, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology

Ruilin Tian, Southern University of Science and Technology

Christine VANDE VELDE, University of Montréal

Keqiang YE, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology

Program

Day 1 (Tuesday, October 28)
10:30-14:00	Registration

Short Talks Selected from Abstracts I: Chairs: Cong LI, Zijuan TONG
14:00-14:20	Peng HAN, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Reducing G3BP2 Delays Stress Granule Assembly and Ameliorates Neurodegeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia
14:20-14:40	Meizhen ZHENG, Southern University of Science and Technology PR₅₀ Induces ALS-like Phenotypes via Disruption of RNA Binding Proteins, Chromatin Architecture, and Microglia Homeostasis in Neonatal Mice
14:40-15:00	Kaixin YAN, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University ALDOA-Induced Glycolysis Exacerbates Motor Neuron Pyroptosis and Accelerates ALS Progression
15:00-15:20	Zirong LIANG, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Glycogen Promotes Condensation of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia Proteins
15:20-15:30	Break

Short Talks Selected from Abstracts II: Chairs: Zirong LIANG, Bojun YANG
15:30-15:50	Marian HRUSKA-PLOCHAN, MaxWell Biosystems AG High-Density Microelectrode Arrays (HD-MEAs) for Modeling, Phenotyping, and Screening in ALS and FTD
15:50-16:10	Yichen LI, Ractigen Therapeutics RAG-17, an Intrathecally Administrated SiRNA Therapy for SOD1-ALS
16:10-16:30	Meiling YU, The University of Hong Kong Ionisable Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) for Non-viral Gene Editing Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
16:30-16:40	Break

Short Talks Selected from Abstracts III: Chairs: Bowei LI, Xiaoyu DONG
16:40-17:00	Cong LI, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory TRPV1 Promotes Stress Granule Assembly and Neurodegeneration in ALS/FTD
17:00-17:20	Tianshuo ZHANG, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University TDP-43 Deficiency-Induced Triglyceride Catabolism Disorder in ALS: Lipid Droplets Accumulation, Insufficient Energy Supply, and Neuronal Degeneration
17:20-17:40	Zijuan TONG, Southern University of Science and Technology CRISPR Screen Reveals Hijacking of Stress Granule Components in Protein Inclusion Formation in Neurodegenerative Diseases
17:40-18:30	Poster Session

Day 2 (Wednesday, October 29)
08:00-09:00	On-site Registration
09:00-09:15	Opening and Introductory Remarks

Keynote Lecture I Chair: Ke ZHANG, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory
09:15-10:00	Jeffrey D. ROTHSTEIN, Johns Hopkins University TDP-43 Import: A Whole Genome CRISPRi Screen in Human Neurons Reveals Multiple ALS, FTD, and ALS Genes That Work by Altering TDP-43 Import
10:00-10:30	Group Photo & Break

Session I. ALS Cell Biology Chair: Yi LIN, Tsinghua University
10:30-10:55	Linhao RUAN, Huazhong University of Science and Technology INFINITE: A Screen Platform for Neuronal Nuclear Cytoplasmic Transport Regulators
10:55-11:20	Chunghun LIM, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology ER–Lysosome Contacts Drive Lipotoxicity in C9ORF72-Associated ALS
11:20-11:45	Sandrine DA CRUZ, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research Uncovering Local Mechanisms of Axon/Synapse Maintenance and Demise in ALS/FTD
11:45-12:10	Magdalini POLYMENIDOU, University of Zurich Understanding the Life Cycle of TDP-43: Aggregation Triggers & Toxicity Effectors
12:10-12:35	Bai LU, Tsinghua University New Strategies to Accelerate ALS Drug Development
12:35-14:00	Lunch

Keynote Lecture II Chair: Shuying SUN, Johns Hopkins University
14:00-14:45	Don W. CLEVELAND, University of California, San Diego TBA

Keynote Lecture III Chair: Aaron D. GITLER, Stanford University
14:45-15:30	Junying YUAN, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences RIPK1 and Neuroinflammation
15:30-15:40	Break

Session II. RNA Metabolism and Stress Granules Chair: Qin PENG, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory
15:40-16:05	Shuying SUN, Johns Hopkins University RNA Metabolism Dysfunction in C9ORF72-ALS/FTD
16:05-16:30	Clotilde LAGIER-TOURENNE, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School Disruption of RNA Metabolism in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
16:30-16:55	Christine VANDE VELDE, University of Montréal Stress Granules in ALS/FTD Pathogenesis: Friend or Foe?
16:55-17:20	Ge BAI, Zhejiang University Stress Granules and Neurodegeneration
17:20-17:45	Ke ZHANG, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Novel Ways to Target Stress Granules
17:45-18:30	Poster Session
18:30-20:30	Banquet

Day 3 (Thursday, October 30)
08:30-09:00	On-site Registration

Special Lecture Chair: Ke ZHANG, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory
09:00-09:25	Manish RAISINGHANI, Target ALS Foundation Target ALS: Pioneering Collaboration and Innovation to Accelerate ALS Research and Drug Discovery

Session III. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Chair: Linhao RUAN, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
09:25-09:50	Yi LIN, Tsinghua University Spatiotemporal Control of Biological Processes Through Dynamic Phase Separation
09:50-10:15	Yun GE, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Target Protein Manipulation to Reveal Glycosylation Functions in Condensates
10:15-10:25	Break

Session IV. Animal and iPSC models Chair: Clotilde LAGIER-TOURENNE, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School
10:25-10:50	Xiaojiang LI, Jinan University The Pathogenesis of Cytoplasmic TDP-43
10:50-11:15	Fen-Biao GAO, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Understanding Familial and Sporadic ALS/FTD: Novel Insights from Drosophila and iPSC-Derived Patient Motor Neurons
11:15-11:40	Justin K. ICHIDA, University of Southern California Identifying New Therapeutic Targets for ALS Using Rare Genetic Variants and CRISPR Technology
11:40-12:05	Ralf JAUCH, The University of Hong Kong Direct Somatic to Neural Stem Cell Conversion to Model and Revert Age-Linked Neurological Disorders
12:05-12:30	Ruilin Tian, Southern University of Science and Technology Decoding Neurodegeneration through in Vitro and in Vivo CRISPR Screening Technologies
12:30-14:00	Lunch

Session V. ALS Diagnosis and Therapeutics I Chair: Sandrine DA CRUZ, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research
14:00-14:25	Neil A. SHNEIDER, Columbia University Silencing FUS and Other Rare Genetic Forms of ALS
14:25-14:50	Gong CHEN, Jinan University In Vivo Neural Regeneration and Its Potential in the Treatment of ALS
14:50-15:15	Dongsheng FAN, Peking University Third Hospital Preliminary Study on the Treatment of ALS with rTMS Under the Guidance of pBFS
15:15-15:25	Break

Session VI. ALS Diagnosis and Therapeutics II Chair: Ge BAI, Zhejiang University
15:25-15:50	Aaron D. GITLER, Stanford University ALS Therapeutic Targets
15:50-16:15	Yi SUN, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology Autologous Rejuvenated Cell Therapy for ALS
16:15-16:40	Yichang JIA, Tsinghua University From ALS disease models to ALS gene therapy
16:40-17:05	Kun SUN, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Translational Advances in SMA Care: From Novel Diagnostics to Prenatal Gene Therapy in Murine Systems

Day 4 (Friday, October 31)
08:30-09:00	On-site Registration

Session VII. Other Neurodegenerative Diseases Chair: Ralf JAUCH, The University of Hong Kong
09:00-09:25	Keqiang YE, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology NMNAT-1 Binds to TDP-43 and Mediates its Copathology in Alzheimer’s Disease
09:25-09:50	Andrew Stephen LEE, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School Clinical Translation of Extracellular Vesicle Based Gene Therapy
09:50-10:15	Siqi HONG, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University Diagnosis and Treatment of NMDs in Children: Current Status and Clinical Challenges
10:15-10:40	Yelin CHEN, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences Using ApoE C-terminal Domain to Treat Alzheimer’s Disease
10:40-11:05	Xiangjun CHEN, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University Oligogenic ALS Modeling Based on Genotype-Phenotype Correlation from the Huashan TRC Study
11:05-11:15	Closing Remarks and Poster Award Announcement

Registration

Registration Deadline: October 24, 2025

Please click the Register link at the top of this web page to proceed with the registration process.

Registration will be closed when the number of applications reaches 250.

Registration Fees

*Please upload valid documents for review if you are a student.

Notice

1. When making transfers, please include the following note: ALS + [Your Full Name].

2. Please complete the registration and payment before October 24, 2025. Attendees registering on-site will be provided with only the electronic program.

3. The electronic invoice for the registration fee will be sent to the registered email address within 15 working days after the symposium.

Refund Policy

1. A 2% administrative fee will be charged for all refund transactions.

2. Refund requests submitted after 18:00 (GMT+8) on October 27, 2025 will not be processed.

Call for Abstracts

Abstract Submission Deadline: September 30, 2025

Submission Guidelines:

Submit an abstract when registering. Select whether you prefer to present a poster or short talk. Note: Due to limited slots of short talks, we cannot guarantee every abstract selected for short talks. So please be prepared to present a poster even if you selected "Short talk" as your preference.
Each presenting author can submit one abstract only.
Abstracts will be reviewed by the organizing committee for quality and alignment with the symposium's scope and topics. The organizing committee will also select abstracts for short talks.
A confirmation email will be sent to the corresponding authors of each accepted abstract.

Short Talk Presentation

In the afternoon of October 28, we will have a student/postdoc/junior scientist session featuring short talks selected from submitted abstracts. The symposium will cover the registration and accommodation fees for the short talk presenters.

Poster Session

This conference will feature poster presentation sessions, with awards for outstanding posters. We sincerely invite you to submit your topics and participate in the poster presentation (encouraging the display of the latest research advancements or unpublished research topics).

How to participate: Upload poster information to the registration website.

Poster requirements: If you will present a poster, please print it yourself and bring it to the conference venue. The staff will post it in the designated area.

Poster size: Width 80 cm * Height 120 cm

Accommodation

We do not provide centralized accommodation for this symposium. Participants can arrange their own accommodation by contacting nearby hotels. (If you encounter any difficulty in booking a hotel, please contact us at symposium@smart.org.cn.)

1. EVEN Hotels Shenzhen Guangming Cloud Park, an IHG Hotel

Address: No. 98 Zhenyuan Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen

The hotel is 200 meters (~3-minute walk) from the conference venue.

Contact: Mr. Zhou, Tel: +86-135 0841 8360

2. Holiday Inn Express Shenzhen Guangming Cloud Park, an IHG Hotel

Address: No. 98 Zhenyuan Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen

The hotel is 200 meters (~3-minute walk) from the conference venue.

Contact: Mr. Zhou, Tel: +86-135 0841 8360

3. SYSU Academic Vila, Shenzhen Campus

Address: No.66 Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, Guangming District, Shenzhen

The hotel is 2.5 kilometers (~5-minute drive) from the conference venue.

Contact: Mr. Ran, +86-133 3028 2207

4. Guangming CIMC Executive Apartments Hotel

Address: CIMC Executive Apartments Hotel, Qiaoming Road, Fenghuang Street, Guangming District, Shenzhen

The hotel is 7.6 kilometers (~20-minute drive) from the conference venue.

Contact: Mr. Lu, Tel: +86-138 2659 2644

Email: symposium@smart.org.cn

Tel: +86-173 2236 4121

Download

Official Symposium Notice (Chinese)

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