11th Annual Lafora Disease Science Symposium

The 2026 Lafora Symposium will be in Dallas, Texas, from October 19-21, 2026.

The Symposium will be hybrid, so you can attend in person or remotely. All registrants will receive exclusive access to the recordings of the Symposium sessions after the event.

The recordings are a valuable resource for families affected by Lafora, researchers, healthcare professionals, and our industry partners, ensuring that the knowledge shared at the conference is accessible to all.

Please find more details about the Symposium and Dallas on our website or below.

Interested in becoming a sponsor?

Email info@chelseashope.org to learn more about 2026 Symposium Sponsorship opportunities, starting at $500.

Conference Information

Poster Submission

If you would like to present a poster, please fill out the Poster Presenter Request Form by September 1st.

Posters should be no larger than 48 inches tall and 70 inches wide to fit on the easels. If you have any questions about the poster session, please contact Dr. Kit Donohue at katherine@chelseashope.org.

Agenda

We will email registrants with the agenda once it's finalized. Participants can plan on attending the Symposium sessions from Monday afternoon until Wednesday afternoon.

About Chelsea’s Hope Lafora Children Research Fund

Our History

As the only U.S.-based patient advocacy organization for Lafora disease, Chelsea’s Hope began as a website in the fall of 2007 to share Chelsea Gerber’s Lafora story with her family and friends.

Chelsea was spirited, joyful, and curious. She loved life in a big way, played softball, and enjoyed learning in school. In 2005, Chelsea was diagnosed with Lafora disease. She was only 15. Because of the rapidly progressive disease, Chelsea lost her ability to speak, walk, or care for her basic needs. Chelsea passed away in December 2016 at age 26.

Chelsea's Hope became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2009, dedicated to honoring Chelsea as we aim to improve the lives of those affected by Lafora disease by raising awareness, connecting families worldwide, and accelerating research.

Our Mission

Our mission is to improve the lives of those affected by Lafora disease and help accelerate the development of treatments.

Email: info@chelseashope.org

2026 Lafora Disease Science Symposium

Registration is open!