Kleefstra Syndrome 2026 Family and Scientists Conference in Massachusetts

From August 6 to 9, 2026, families, clinicians, researchers, and people working on the development of new treatments met in Waltham, Massachusetts for the North American Kleefstra Syndrome Family Conference + Scientific Summit.

The event brought together in the same space two worlds that are equally important for the Kleefstra community: on the one hand, the daily care and needs of families and, on the other hand, scientific research that paves the way for future treatments. The central message could be summarized in one phrase, from care to cure. The significance of the meeting lies in the coordination of the international community, a better understanding of the syndrome, and the preparation of the scientific tools that will be needed so that, in the future, new therapeutic approaches can be evaluated.

Science and families at the same event

Η Scientific Symposium, held on August 6 and 7, focused on topics such as preclinical models, biomarkers, investigational therapeutic approaches, and preparation for future clinical trials. At the same time, the conference for families and caregivers had a more practical character, with updates on care, contact with experts, planning for the future, and, most importantly, the opportunity for families to meet and share experiences.

These two strands are not independent of each other. In rare diseases, research cannot progress without the participation and knowledge of the community itself. Families know better than anyone which changes in the daily life of a person with Kleefstra have real significance, whether they concern communication and self-care or sleep, behavior, and the ability to participate in everyday life.

What does clinical trial readiness mean?;

The term clinical trial readiness, meaning «readiness for clinical trials,» can easily create the impression that a treatment is already very close to being tested in humans. In reality, it describes something different: all the necessary preparation that must precede a reliable clinical study. Before a new treatment can eventually be evaluated to see if it works, researchers must first understand very well the natural history of the syndrome. They need to know what changes may occur with age, how much they differ from person to person, and which tools can reliably measure a real improvement or deterioration. They also need appropriate Biomarkers, clinical measurements and evaluations that not only capture a laboratory change, but also something that has a meaningful impact on the individual's daily life. This is particularly important in Kleefstra Syndrome, where the clinical picture and developmental trajectory can vary significantly among individuals.

EHMT1 and gene therapy, what was discussed

One of the topics of the scientific program that gathered particular interest was Early preclinical investigation of an AAV-vector gene therapy approach for EHMT1.

Kleefstra syndrome is usually caused when one of the two functional copies of the gene EHMT1 is not working adequately. This condition is called EHMT1 haploinsufficiency and it means that the single remaining functional copy is not sufficient to produce the normally required activity of the EHMT1 protein. EHMT1 is involved in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and plays an important role in the development and function of the nervous system.

The basic idea of a gene addition approach is relatively simple in theory. If there is insufficient EHMT1 function, it is investigated whether providing a functional gene could restore some of that activity. AAV, adeno-associated virus, is used in such research approaches as a vector for transferring genetic material into cells. The vector itself is not the treatment, but serves as the «vehicle» through which the transfer of genetic information is attempted.

In practice, however, the question is much more complex.

In the case of EHMT1, it is not enough simply to produce more protein. Because the gene is involved in regulating the activity of many other genes, the amount of expression, the cells it will reach, its duration, and potential adverse consequences must be studied with great precision. Therefore, such approaches are first tested in laboratory systems and animal models. Preclinical data can show whether an idea is promising enough to proceed to the next stages, but they cannot predict with certainty what will happen in humans.