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EMPOWER & INSPIRE
5TH ANNUAL VIRTUAL LEIGH SYNDROME SYMPOSIUM

September 17, 2026

The Empower & Inspire Symposium is the only global virtual event dedicated to Leigh syndrome and is widely attended by the entire mitochondrial disease community.

It unites patient families, industry professionals, academic researchers, and clinicians, providing a unique platform to share information and insights that advance research and empower families.

Registration details are coming soon!

Agenda

Times provided are in Eastern Time (ET). To convert these to your local time zone, please use World Time Buddy.

Kasey Woleben

11-11:10 AM

Executive Director, President and Co-Founder, Cure Mito

Introduction

Emily Andersen

11:10-11:25 AM

Mom to 4-year-old Jack and Cure Mito Support and Education Director

Many Faces of Hope

Steven Gray, PhD

11:25-11:40 AM

Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Updates on SURF1 Gene Therapy Translational Efforts

Qinglan Ling, PhD

11:40-11:55 AM

Assistant Professor, Umass Chan Medical School

Developing a gene editing approach to restore mitochondrial function of cells with MT-ATP6 pathogenic mutations

Alessandro Prigione, MD, PhD

11:55 - 12:10 PM

Professor of Pediatric Metabolic Medicine, University of Düsseldorf

Brain organoid models identify repurposable drugs for Leigh syndrome

Ibrahim Elsharkawi, MD

12:10 - 12:25 PM

Assistant Professor of Genetics and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The Gut Microbiome in Mitochondrial Disease

Jonathan R. Brestoff, MD, PhD, MPH

12:25 - 12:40 PM

Associate Professor, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Mitochondria transplants for Leigh syndrome in mice and patient-derived cells

Maria Hopfgarten

12:40-12:55 PM

Senior Legacy Parent Champion, Courageous Parents Network

An Overview of Courageous Parents Network and Anticipatory Grief

Kasey Woleben

12:55 - 1:10 PM

Q&A with the Speakers and Conclusion

Thank you to our sponsors!