About the Workshop
At the first IWRTH, a consensus statement was issued establishing the nomenclature of thyroid hormone receptor ß-gene mutations in resistance to thyroid hormone (J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 78:990-3, 1994; Clin Endocrinol. 697-700, 1994; Eur J Endocrinol. 130:426-8, 1994; J Endocrinol Invest. 17:283-7, 1994). At the third IWRTH the first mouse models of RTH were presented and their role in advancing the understanding of the mechanism of thyroid hormone action was discussed. At the seventh IWRTH it was proposed to broaden the definition of thyroid hormone hyposensitivity to encompass all defects that can interfere with the biological activity of a chemically intact thyroid hormone secreted in normal or excessive amounts. The term reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormone (RSTH) was adopted at the eight IWRTH and the newly identified syndromes caused by defects of thyroid hormone cell membrane transport and metabolism were added to the program. Also the term “thyroid hormone action” was added to the name of the workshop to better define the field of interest. At the tenth IWRTH, based on presentations and discussions, a committee was established to classify and propose a nomenclature for inherited defects of thyroid hormone action, cell transport, and metabolism, bringing to light the term Impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone (ISTH) to encompass all these defects (Thyroid, 24:407-409, 2014; J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 99:768-770, 2014; Eur Thyroid J. 3:7-9, 2014). At the twelfth IWRTH a task force was set to establish a more precise nomenclature for Thyroid hormone signaling pathways (Endocrinology, 158:2052-2057, 2017). This attests to the leadership role of the workshops.
The RTH Workshop provides a forum for presentation of work-in-progress and extended vigorous discussion of ideas, to stimulate further advances in the understanding and treatment of RTH and other genetic forms of impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone. These conditions, which result from errors of nature, have been crucial to the understanding of the many varied steps involved in the mediation of thyroid hormone action on body tissues. Topics will include:
The RTH Workshop provides a forum for presentation of work-in-progress and extended vigorous discussion of ideas, to stimulate further advances in the understanding and treatment of RTH and other genetic forms of impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone. These conditions, which result from errors of nature, have been crucial to the understanding of the many varied steps involved in the mediation of thyroid hormone action on body tissues. Topics will include:
•Genomic and non-genomic actions of thyroid hormone
•Thyroid hormone receptors alpha and beta and their cofactors
•RTH phenotypes, alpha and beta, genotypes, unusual clinical cases, diagnosis and treatment.
•Thyroid hormone transporter biology, gene defects and treatment.
•Deiodinase and selenoprotein biology, SBP2 gene defects and treatment.
•Animal models for all these defects.
As in the past, emphasis will be given to new findings and to the identification of new syndromes. This workshop provides the opportunity to present and discuss well studied but difficult to interpret clinical and basic research data that precludes development of a firm conclusion.
THE FORMAT
As in the past, the Workshop will bring together clinicians, basic scientists and senior investigators interested in syndromes of impaired sensitivity to thyroid hormone, and thyroid hormone action. The Program will include sessions and presentations covering RTH syndromes and therapy in humans, animal models, thyroid hormone transporters, thyroid hormone metabolism, novel aspects of T3 action, and the physiological actions of thyroid hormones in various target organs, during development and in ageing and tissue repair.
The meeting will include a plenary presentation usually given at the opening the Workshop
The structure of the 16th IWRTH workshop will be similar to previous Workshops. The Workshop will be restricted to a maximum of 90 attendees in order to preserve our previously highly successful format of extended discussion, and we will continue to favor presentations by committed young investigators with senior researches contributing in discussion periods. The workshop will support the room and board (all meals) of active participants (presenters, discussants and moderators). Sessions will be structured to promote discussion among the participants and enhance interaction with shared meals, breaks, poster sessions and activities. Apart from brief optional abstracts, there will be no published proceedings, enabling groups to present their latest, unpublished observations.
HISTORIC BACKGROUND
The first IWRTH was held in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in 1993. It has since been taking place every two years with the exception of a one-year lapse in 2009 and again in 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic. To cover the hiatus, the 14th and 15th IWRTH were scheduled less than 2 apart. The workshops covered three continents and after nearly two decades it returned to Ponta Delgada in 2026. All workshops have been planned as satellites to a national or international scientific congress of interest to those attending the IWRTH. Take place again in the Azores, it will immediately preceding the 47th Annual Meeting of the European Thyroid Association in Porto, Portugal.