Ever since the discovery by de Duve and colleagues of the existence of a 'new group of particles with lytic properties', the so-called 'suicide bags', which were subsequently named lysosomes, great interest has focused on their role in disease. Lysosomal storage disorders, of which more than 50 are known, are caused by the defective activity of lysosomal proteins, which results in the intra-lysosomal accumulation of undegraded metabolites. Despite years of study of the genetic and molecular basis of lysosomal storage disorders, and the advancement of new therapies (such as enzyme replacement therapy and substrate reduction therapy) little is known about the events that lead from lysosomal defects to cell dysfunction and clinical disease pathology.

This new Gordon Research Conference will have sessions on topics ranging from the basic science of lysosomal biology and function (but with strong emphasis on pathogenic mechanisms of lysosomal disease), relationships of lysosomal diseases to other neurological diseases, pathogenic cascades, biomarkers, recent advances in therapy, and clinical trials and design. In addition, there will be a hot topics session (with speakers only chosen closer to the time of the meeting, so as to include the most recent developments) and a poster session (nine short talks chosen at the meeting on the basis of those posters which generate the most interest during the afternoon poster sessions). In addition, a number of short talks will be chosen prior to the meeting based on abstract submissions.