Invitation To Attend

February 20, 2003

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) Research Group on Huntington’s Disease (HD) and the International Huntington Association (IHA) join together with the Hereditary Disease Foundation (HDF), the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA), the Huntington Society of Canada (HSC), and the Huntington Study Group (HSG) to invite you to participate in the World Congress on Huntington’s Disease, August 16-19, 2003 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This international scientific conference is being organized to examine the advances and direction of HD research as it moves forward at a quickening pace to achieve substantive treatments and a cure for this devastating disease. In a departure from past meetings of the WFN and IHA, scientific sessions for this World Congress on HD will be held jointly and include leaders in the international HD community as well as scientists, physicians and other health care professionals who are working together to generate and apply new knowledge for our collective research effort.

Representatives from our HD organizations have fashioned a scientific program intended to provide an overview of research topics with the opportunity for sharing new information and ample discussion of the issues. Topics include: Genetics, Clinical Onset, Genetic Animal Models of HD, Pathogenesis (Cellular Dysfunction and Survival), Experimental Therapeutics (Symptomatic, Protective, Restorative, Preventive) and Social and Historical Perspectives on HD. Each session will be organized by a moderator and include a scientist to provide a broad perspective on the topic and an investigator to inform of late-breaking research developments in the field. English will be the official language of the Congress. All scientific presentations for the Congress will be conveyed in a clear and concise fashion to meet the needs and interests of the diverse international audience.

After the Congress scientific sessions (August 16 – 19, 2003), the IHA delegates and a limited number of observers will meet for two additional days (August 20 – 21, 2003). This meeting will feature updates and reports on families; psychological, social and historical views; the work and development of member organizations, and the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The city of Toronto offers a wide variety of social opportunities. You and your accompanying family and friends will find it a warm and welcoming city with an international flair. For more information on things to see and do in Toronto, please go the Toronto Convention and Visitors Association Web Site located at http://www.torontotourism.com/.

Come to The World Congress on Huntington's Disease in Toronto and experience first-hand the coming together of the world's leading Huntington's disease researchers, thinkers and activists. We look forward to seeing you there.

DATE AND LOCATION

The World Congress on Huntington’s Disease will be held starting Saturday, August 16 through Tuesday, August 19, 2003, in Toronto, Ontario at the Marriott Toronto Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street. Immediately following, the IHA meeting will be held Wednesday, August 20 through Thursday, August 21, 2003, in Toronto, Ontario at the International Conference Centre at Ryerson University, 240 Jarvis Street.

MEETING PROGRAM

Those of you traveling overseas are encouraged to arrive in Toronto on Friday, August 15. This will enable you to participate in the opening Congress events, which begin at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 16. The Congress opens with a Welcome Reception on Saturday from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. Our opening forum “Social and Historical Perspectives on HD” will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The scientific Congress program continues on Sunday, August 17, at 7:45 a.m. until Tuesday, August 19 at 12:00 p.m. The Congress Reception and Dinner will be held on Sunday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The IHA meeting will begin with an IHA Meet and Greet at the Marriott on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. The actual meeting will convene from Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. until Thursday 12:30 p.m. Please review the enclosed draft programs for the Congress and the IHA meeting for specific presentation information

Congress Objectives:

1. to provide an overview of research advances in HD
2. to discuss advances in treatment of HD
3. to provide a forum for discussion of clinical, basic science and translation research in HD

This program has been approved for Section 1 credits of the Royal College of Canada Maintenance of Certification Program.

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REGISTRATION

Registration for the Congress will open at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 16 and will take place at the Marriott Eaton Centre. The Registration Fee will include your attendance at the Congress and/or the IHA Meeting, all handouts, and meals as outlined in the programs. All rates are quoted in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Early Bird Registration Fee is applicable if payment is received by July 23, 2003. Registration Fees after July 23th will be $50 more per meeting.

A bus trip to Niagara Falls has been organized for Tuesday, August 19. $20 per person (Canadian) includes the cost of the transportation to the Falls and back to Toronto on Tuesday afternoon.

Seating capacity for the Congress and the IHA Meeting is limited. Please complete and return the enclosed Registration Form as soon as possible.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The Congress meetings will be held at the Marriott Toronto Eaton Centre on August 16, 17, 18 and 19. The IHA meetings will be held at the International Conference Centre at Ryerson University on August 20 and 21. We have secured lodging at both locations. Ryerson is approximately 1 mile from the Marriott. Ryerson sleeping rooms have a queen-size bed and a sofa pullout bed, only. The lodging prices are as follows:

Please contact the Marriott Toronto Eaton Centre Hotel or Ryerson University Campus directly for a lodging reservation. Advise the reservation desk that you are attending the World Congress on Huntington’s Disease so that you can secure the above-mentioned room rates. There is an extra charge for more than 2 people in a room. Hotel reservations are based on availability and will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

RESERVATION AND REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

Air Transportation:

All Congress attendees are asked to book their own reservations with the travel agent or airline of their choice. It is recommended you book your airline reservation as soon as possible in order to take advantage of super-saver rates as well as to avoid scheduling difficulties. Those traveling from overseas are encouraged to arrive Toronto on Friday, August 15. Please note that the Marriott Toronto Eaton Centre Hotel and International Conference Centre at Ryerson University Campus are located approximately 25 minutes from Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

Ground Transportation:

The recommended mode of transportation between the Toronto Airport and the Marriott Toronto Eaton Centre or Ryerson Campus is taxicab. The approximate cost is $40 Canadian one-way.

The Huntington Society of Canada volunteers have generously offered to meet and greet you at the Toronto Airport. If you would like to take advantage of this, please be sure to include your flight information and the date and time of your arrival and departure on your registration form. If you do not fill this flight information in, the Huntington Society of Canada will assume you will arrange your own transportation between the airport and your hotel.

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Hotel:

Lodging reservation and payment are your responsibility. Please contact the Marriott Toronto Eaton Centre Hotel or International Conference Centre at Ryerson University Campus no later than August 8th, 2003 to take advantage of the discounted group lodging rates. There is an extra charge for more than 2 people in a room. Hotel reservations are based on availability and will be accommodated on a first- come, first-served basis.

Registration:

Please complete the Registration Form. Fax or mail the form along with your payment to Donna Wanzo at the Huntington Society of Canada. Registrations received prior to July 23, 2003 will be at the discounted (Early Bird) rates.

SCIENTIFIC POSTER PRESENTATIONS – CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

The Congress is currently accepting abstracts for the scientific poster presentations. Posters from the scientific community as well as those from IHA are welcome. These abstracts will be collected through our web site. Please click here. The Call for Abstracts deadline is Monday, April 14, 2003.

SUMMARY

We hope you will join us at the World Congress on Huntington’s Disease. We look forward to seeing you in Toronto. Please contact the Huntington Society of Canada with any questions at 519-749- 7063.

LINKS

Additional information for IHA delegates

Please plan to arrive early for a special IHA meet and greet at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 16.

Delegates can save money by sharing rooms at the hotels. Please contact Donna Wanzo at the Huntington Society of Canada by email [email protected] if you are prepared to share a room and with whom you would share it.

IHA delegates who cannot find funding for their travel, registration and lodging expenses can make a request for financial support – one person per country. Please note that no one should be excluded for financial reasons. Those who do get financial support will have to share hotel rooms.

Huntington Society of Canada volunteers will meet and greet you at the Toronto Airport. Please be sure to put your flight numbers, the date and time of your arrival and departure, and the hotel you are staying at on your registration form.

Please note that IHA member associations are allowed to send two delegates and should submit one registration for all their delegates and observers.

There will be display areas available to show examples of your organization’s publications or anything else you would like to share. Please bring your materials.

For other assistance or special requests, please contact the Huntington Society of Canada (Phone +1-519-749-7063, Fax +1-519-749-8965, E-mail [email protected] or Mr. Gerrit Dommerholt, the International Development Officer of the IHA (Phone +31-573-43-15-95, Fax +31-573-43-17-19,
E- mail [email protected].

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