LAMA2 conference
Getting Closer to a Treatment for LAMA2 RD
Patients, clinicians, and scientists united
The conference
After successful conferences in Maastricht (2019) and Barcelona (2023), we are pleased to announce the third LAMA2-RD-focused meeting, to be held in Istanbul, Türkiye, from March 27–29, 2026. The event will bring together clinicians, researchers, patient organizations, patients, and families to share progress in understanding and treating LAMA2-MD.
While patients have been involved in previous meetings, their participation will now be a strong focus. LAMA2-MD is a rare condition and most patients, or their families never meet others with the same condition, and clinicians may see only one or two cases in their careers. This will offer a unique opportunity for patients, families, and experts to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another.
To learn more, navigate the website using the hyperlinks in the header of the page.
LAMA2 muscular dystrophy
LAMA2-related muscular dystrophy (LAMA2-RD) is an inherited muscle disease which manifests with muscle weakness and reduced muscle tension, often present since birth. This is because of the absence of, or a defect in the structure of a protein that anchors the muscle to the surrounding tissue. Although the condition is inherited, the parents of a child with LAMA2-RD do not usually have any symptoms, as for it to occur, 2 copies of a mutated gene are needed, each inherited from a single parent.
“I am perfect the way I am, even though I have a muscle disease.”
-Hicham Amirouch (29)
Location
The conference will take place in Istanbul, as Turkey has a large and active LAMA 2 community and to pay tribute to the Turkish doctor Haluk Topaloglu, who discovered the LAMA 2 gene.
Istanbul is a beautiful and easily accessible city in Europe, making it an ideal location of an international gathering. Additionally it brings together the east and the west, connecting Europe and Asia.
Just like Istanbul, this international conference connects people and ideas from around the world, helping strengthen cooperation between Europe and the rest of the world.
Registration
We look forward to seeing you in Istanbul! To get an accurate estimate of the number of participants and the space we need to reserve, we kindly ask patients and families planning to attend the conference on-site to complete the form. The conference will take place from March 27 to March 29, 2026, in Istanbul, Türkiye. By filling out the form, you consent to being recorded during the conference for educational and promotional purposes.
At this time, travel and accommodation costs are at your own expense. However, we will provide food and drinks for all on-site participants during the conference. We are actively seeking sponsorship and hope to secure funding soon. If successful, we may also be able to contribute toward accommodation costs for participants. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Together, we can unite patients, clinicians, and scientists!
Note for researchers and clinicians: Participation for researchers and clinicians is by invitation only. If you are a researcher or clinician and would like to attend the conference, please contact us via email