Dear Colleagues,

With our strategic plan and mission always at our forefront, your PNS Board, SIGs, Committees, and Taskforces have been hard at work this fall advancing several key society initiatives forward. Our overarching Society aims which we will continue to build on into the new year, include:

• Promoting and developing careers in peripheral nerve research and clinical care – via our 2nd annual cycle of PNS-funded training grants. We thank our PNS Grants Committee, led by Drs. Alessandra Bolino and Luis Querol for their ongoing dedication to this new initiative over the past two years. Please watch your inboxes for the 2024 Call for Applicants in early November!
• Advocating for basic and clinical research in peripheral nerve disease – via our annual PNS education courses and joint symposia programs, held in partnership with regional PN groups and other scientific societies and planned by our PNS Education Committee, led by Dr. Brian Callaghan.
• Increasing the reach of the Journal of the Peripheral Nerve Society (JPNS) – via the implementation of a new social media communications plan in partnership with our publisher to help further our journal’s reach across social media platforms. We thank Dr. Giuseppe Lauria for his continued leadership as the JPNS Editor-in-Chief. We also thank our PNS Communications & Website Committee, led by Dr. Karissa Gable and supported by PNS Social Media Ambassador Dr. Robert Prior, for their help in this effort.
• Supporting the standards of care for peripheral nerve disorders – via the work of our PNS Guidelines Committee under the leadership of Dr. Peter Van den Bergh. We are delighted to announce:

• • The release of the highly anticipated new GBS diagnosis and treatment guideline, in partnership with the European Academy of Neurology (EAN). We thank the task force, led by Dr. Pieter van Doorn, for bringing this guideline to fruition.
  • The launch of a new ATTRv Neuropathy guideline taskforce charged with writing a new guideline covering both diagnosis and treatment. We thank Drs. Davide Pareyson, Michael Polydefkis, and Isabel Conceição for their leadership in advancing this new guideline.

We also continue to aim to be the organization for scientists and clinicians to come together to discuss, to investigate, and to learn about peripheral nerve disease, which is best accomplished through our PNS Annual Meeting. The PNS Scientific Program Committee, led by Drs. Nortina Shahrizaila and Marina Kennerson are hard at work organizing what we expect will be an outstanding meeting in Montréal, Canada (22 – 25 June 2024). Together with the Junior Committee led by Dr. Kathryn Moss and the Local Organizing Committee led by Drs. Angela Genge and Rami Massie, they are planning a meeting that will include all the elements that make PNS Annual Meetings memorable and impactful to the careers and work of every attendee. Abstract submission for the 2024 Annual Meeting will open later this month, and registration for the Annual Meeting will open in early 2024. View the preliminary program here.

2024 Annual Meeting program highlights include:

• • • • ‘Bench to Bedside’ mini symposia on a variety of transversal topics
      • A joint SIG meeting on Sunday featuring emerging talent (IDNC, TNC, and NPC)
      • Daily Lunch with the Expert roundtable sessions for Junior Members
      • An International Outreach Coffee Chat planned by our PNS International Outreach, Membership, and Diversity Committee under the leadership of Drs. Wilson Marques Jr. and Umapathi Thirugnanam
      • Lunchtime sponsored symposia programs, hosted by PNS Annual Partners
      • Two exciting off-site receptions at the Montreal Science Center and the St-James Theatre
      • The re-introduction of clinical cases during the Saturday Education Course
      • Two afternoon poster sessions, with posters up for the duration of the meeting for attendee viewing

To make the meeting as accessible as possible, we will also support the following:

• • • • Early abstract review for authors requiring a Visa to travel to Montreal
      • Gratis registration for all Junior Members presenting abstracts
      • Registration discounts for those attending the meeting from low-income economies
      • $500 USD travel grants and gratis registration for those presenting abstracts from low-income economies
      • Complimentary exhibit opportunities for patient advocacy group partners

If you have questions about PNS activities or suggestions for the future, please do not hesitate to contact PNS Executive Director, Allison Kindseth at akindseth@PNSociety.com.

Sincerely,

Laura Feltri, MD
PNS President