Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (SIMD)

Established in 1978, SIMD aims to increase knowledge of and promote research in inborn errors of metabolism in humans and to stimulate interactions between clinicians and investigators in inborn errors of metabolism. The Society seeks to foster training and maintenance of a core of qualified investigators and practitioners in the field and to promote public understanding of inborn errors of metabolism. These objectives are achieved by facilitating communication and interaction among experienced clinicians and investigators and by advocating for patients and research through public policy forums.

The rarity, uniqueness, and variability of metabolic disorders, as well as the need for an individual approach to treatment of each disorder, make treatment of inborn errors of metabolism very complicated. Moreover, clincial training of medical geneticists to care for patients with these disorders has lagged behind the entry of affected patients into the health care system.

In order to address the urgent need for educational collaboration, the Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (SIMD) has established the North American Metabolic Academy (NAMA). NAMA will provide a forum for providing medical genetic and biochemical genetic trainees to develop a base of knowledge of inborn errors of metabolism and exposure to the diagnosis and management of metabolic disease. Taught by an internationally renowned faculty in an informal setting that emphasizes interaction with other trainees, participants will learn an approach for understanding and managing metabolic emergencies and long-term treatment of biochemical disease. Ongoing access to an interactive web site will make NAMA a long-term opportunity for learning for participants.