The Open session of the International Spring School took place on April 9, 2025 at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade. We were delighted to welcome PhD students, researchers and clinicians from across Serbia who had a great opportunity to hear about the latest breakthroughs in research and therapy for human neurodevelopmental disorders, presented by leading experts from Europe and the USA. Academician Milena Stevanovic, PI of the STREAMLINE project, opened the session with overview of the STREAMLINE project. Prof. Donna McDonald-McGinn, MS, LCGC, Director of the 22 and You Center, Associate Director of the Clinical Genetics Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, gave overview of the relationship between chromosome 22q11.2 copy number variants and associated medical, cognitive and behavioral health challenges. Another outstanding presentation came from Ann Swillen, Professor at the Department of Human Genetics at KU Leuven and Head of the Lab for Behavior and Neurodevelopment. With over 30 years of experience, Prof. Swillen shared her extensive expertise in the clinical follow-up and research of neurodevelopmental disorders, emphasizing the role of Copy Number Variants (CNVs) in increasing the risk for such conditions. Prof. David Linden, Scientific Director of the Mental Health and Neuroscience Research Institute at Maastricht University, Netherlands, presented results from neuroimaging and phenotyping studies in genetic neurodevelopmental disorders, while Dr. Janet Harwood, from Cardiff University, UK, introduced MINDDS-connect – an innovative data and resource sharing platform aimed at accelerating research and collaboration in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders.
It was an honor and a pleasure to host such esteemed experts from both Europe and the USA, and we look forward to continued collaboration and knowledge exchange in the future.
