Symposia & Research Initiatives

Defining the future of NF1 Research: A convening of leading scientists across Neurology, Oncology, Dermatology, and Gene Therapy.

$16.3M in new funding priorities identified for NF1 tumor research

What are NTAP Symposia?

  • A convening of leading researchers and innovators from across multiple fields and scientific backgrounds
  • A deliberate process for assessing the state of the science, reflecting on areas of priority and creating a framework for focused research.
  • A depth and breadth of expertise that creates unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and innovative thinking about the science of NF1.
  • By invitation only

 

Overview

Collaboration that identifies priorities and advances the field

NTAP convenes leading researchers and innovators from across multiple fields and scientific backgrounds in regular symposia to establish priorities for the future NF1-related research. These symposia provide a deliberate process for assessing the state of the science, reflecting on areas of priority to advance meaningful therapeutics for pNF and cNF and creating a framework for a focused research. These invitation-only events bring together a depth and breadth of expertise that creates unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and innovative thinking about the science of NF1.

Symposium participants are formed into teams that focus on specific topic areas. The teams meet and share knowledge in advance of coming together in person for the symposium. At the symposium, teams present to one another, determine the core questions and research priorities and draft the next NTAP request for applications. Manuscripts designed to benchmark the state of the science and areas of greatest need for investigation are often generated.

Symposia Calendar

Establishing the direction of NF1 research

2024
NTAP 2024 Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Biomarker Symposium
Middleburg, VA
May 15-17, 2024

Symposium on Atypical Neurofibroma Science
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
April 11-12, 2024

2022
NTAP 2022 Cutaneous Neurofibroma Symposium
San Diego, CA
9 projects awarded totaling $6.3 million in grants.
Launched studies in fly and mouse models to identify new druggable targets for cNF and markers of drug response as well as clinical trials for cNFs.
Read project descriptions in the Neurofibromatosis Spotlight in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 6 articles, 2023.

2016
NTAP 2016 Cutaneous Neurofibroma Symposium
Landsdown, VA
9 projects awarded totaling $3 million in grants.
Launched projects that generated the first genetically engineered mouse models for cNF, identified the cell of origin for cNF, created semi-immortalized cell lines and co-culture systems for cNF.
Read project descriptions in Neurology, July 9, 2018 issue.

2012
NTAP 2012 Plexiform Neurofibroma Symposium
Nemacolin, PA
13 projects awarded totalling $7 million in grants
Launched the cell culture initiative, pNF drug screening, NF1 Biorepository and NF Preclinical Consortia and plexiform PROs.