Rare Neurotransmitter Diseases (RND) Researchers Forum organized by the Patient Organisation “Lil’ Brave One (Hrabriša)”
Connecting the Network: From basic research and clinical phenotypes to patient voice
16th May 2025, Zagreb, Croatia
On Friday, May 16, Zagreb will host some of the most prominent researchers and Health Care Professionals in the field of rare neurotransmitter diseases (RND). The RND Researchers’ Forum is an international conference that will bring together specialists and experts from across Europe — including Croatia, Serbia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Bulgaria.
This is the first international event organized by patient organization “Lil’ Brave One (Hrabrisa)” as part of a project supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Rare As One program.
“Lil’ Brave One (Hrabrisa)” is the only patient organization from this region to receive support from this eminent CZI. Thanks to this, we will be able to promote collaboration and networking between researchers studying these diseases and medical practitioners in the coming years.
The inaugural event, the Forum in Zagreb, is being organized in collaboration with the International Working Group on Neurotransmitter Related Disorders (iNTD).
Speakers at the Forum will include:
- Dr. Thomas Opladen from the University Children’s Hospital in Heidelberg
- Dr. Ivo Barić from the University Children’s Hospital in Zagreb
- Dr. Nenad Blau from the University of Zurich
- Neurologists specializing in RND from Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Slovenia
- Representatives of patient organizations from Serbia, Croatia, and the United States.
The aim of the RND Researchers Forum is to contribute to knowledge exchange on research advancements, diagnostic tools, and treatment modalities and provide an opportunity for experts to gather insights from patient-led organizations and patients themselves. The RND Researchers Forum aims to strengthen and enlarge the RND network, particularly emphasizing the involvement of young researchers, which will further stimulate research and innovation in this field. The Forum aims to align experts on the latest scientific developments, identify key research gaps, and establish shared, patient-driven research priorities.
The Forum aims to strengthen and expand the RND network, with a particular focus on supporting the inclusion of early-career researchers, thereby fostering further innovation and research in the field.
We eagerly look forward to this expert gathering. Highlights and key takeaways will be shared on our social media channels following the event.
This forum has been made possible in part by a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
