Frequently Asked Questions
You can attend the Symposium in person at the Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks, CT, or attend virtually through Zoom.
No. There is no registration fee to attend the 2025 SPS Symposium.
Yes, travel assistance is available through NORD here.
Download the full agenda here to see what’s in store.
No. There will be no on-site registration. You must pre-register to ensure we can accommodate everyone properly.
Please fly into Bradley International Airport (BDL). The Sheraton Hotel is attached to the airport and only a short walk from baggage claim.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bradley International Airport (1.5 miles from the event venue with a free shuttle available).
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Rate: $179/night (plus taxes & fees)
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Booking Deadline: June 20, 2025
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Reservations:
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DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reservations
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Or call 860-627-5171 and request the 2025 Stiff Person Syndrome Symposium group rate
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Transportation:
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A free shuttle runs between the DoubleTree and the Sheraton Hotel (event venue).
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Yes! Food will be provided on:
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Saturday, July 19: Breakfast and lunch buffet
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Sunday, July 20: Light breakfast and late-morning buffet brunch
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A Zoom link will be emailed to all virtual attendees the day before the event.
If you are no longer able to attend in person (after registering), please let us know by emailing events@stiffperson.org.
Yes! The Symposium will be recorded, and the recording will be made available after the event.
We are happy to help! Please reach out to events@stiffperson.org.
This year, we are honored to welcome COMBINEDBrain to the Symposium.
COMBINEDBrain is a collaborative organization dedicated to accelerating the development of treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders. At the event, they will be collecting biological samples from SPS participants.
Why is this important? The development of effective therapies relies heavily on the availability of de-identified biological samples to help identify biomarkers—biological indicators that can aid in diagnosis, track disease progression, and measure responses to potential treatments.
For rare diseases like SPS, one of the biggest challenges in research is the limited access to patient samples.
The SPS Symposium will be the largest known gathering of individuals with SPS, creating a rare and powerful opportunity to make a real impact.
By contributing a sample, you are directly supporting future treatments and helping pave the way toward a cure. Join COMBINEDBrain's efforts and be part of this groundbreaking step forward in SPS research.
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2025 SPS Symposium
July 19-20, Windsor Locks, CT & Online
Held July 19–20 in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, the 2025 SPS Symposium brought together leading experts, researchers, patients, and caregivers for two days of education, connection, and collaboration. With both in-person and virtual attendance options, the event featured expert presentations, community-led panels, small-group discussions, and the launch of key research initiatives—including the SPS Global Registry and Biorepository.
This page hosts full video recordings from the event, offering on-demand access to every session so that our global community can continue learning, sharing, and advancing the future of SPS care and research—together.
The Stiff Person Syndrome Research Foundation Update
Presenter: Tara Zier, DDS,
Founder & CEO, The Stiff Person Syndrome
Research Foundation
Disclaimer: Closed captions are auto-generated by our video hosting service and may not always reflect the spoken dialogue with complete accuracy. The SPSRF team reviews and edits captions on an ongoing basis to improve their quality.
What is Stiff Person Syndrome?
Presenter: Duarte Machado, MD
Chase Family Movement Disorders Center
Ayer Neuroscience Institute, Hartford Healthcare
Disclaimer: Closed captions are auto-generated by our video hosting service and may not always reflect the spoken dialogue with complete accuracy. The SPSRF team reviews and edits captions on an ongoing basis to improve their quality.
Diagnostic Testing & Stiff Person Syndrome
Presenter: Andrew McKeon, MD
Co-Director Neuroimmunology Laboratory
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Disclaimer: Closed captions are auto-generated by our video hosting service and may not always reflect the spoken dialogue with complete accuracy. The SPSRF team reviews and edits captions on an ongoing basis to improve their quality.
Biomarkers & Rare Disease: Mapping a Path to Hope
Presenter: Scott Newsome, DO, MSCS, FAAN, FANA
Professor of NeurologyDirector, Johns Hopkins Stiff Person Syndrome Center of Excellence
Director, Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center
Director, Johns Hopkins Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infectious Disease Fellowship
Co-Director, Multiple Sclerosis Experimental Therapeutics Program
Member, Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Disclaimer: Closed captions are auto-generated by our video hosting service and may not always reflect the spoken dialogue with complete accuracy. The SPSRF team reviews and edits captions on an ongoing basis to improve their quality.
SPS Research Updates from the University of Colorado and Clinical Trials
Presenter: Dr. Amanda Piquet
Director, Autoimmune Neurology Program,
Céline Dion Foundation Endowed Chair in Autoimmune Neurology
Associate Program Director, Neuro-infectious Disease & Autoimmune Neurology Fellowship Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Disclaimer: Closed captions are auto-generated by our video hosting service and may not always reflect the spoken dialogue with complete accuracy. The SPSRF team reviews and edits captions on an ongoing basis to improve their quality.
SPS & Mental Health
Presenter: Abbey J. Hughes, PhD, ABPP-RP
Associate Professor, Rehabilitation Psychologist
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Disclaimer: Closed captions are auto-generated by our video hosting service and may not always reflect the spoken dialogue with complete accuracy. The SPSRF team reviews and edits captions on an ongoing basis to improve their quality.
Exploring the Global Landscape of SPS Research
Presenter: Marinos C. Dalakas, M.D. PhD, FAAN
Professor of Neurology,
Director, Neuromuscular Division and Clinical Neuroimmunology
Thomas Jefferson University, USA
Disclaimer: Closed captions are auto-generated by our video hosting service and may not always reflect the spoken dialogue with complete accuracy. The SPSRF team reviews and edits captions on an ongoing basis to improve their quality.
Stiff Person Syndrome Spectrum Disorders: What Research Is Teaching Us
Presenter: Scott Newsome, DO, MSCS, FAAN, FANA
Professor of Neurology
Director, Johns Hopkins Stiff Person Syndrome Center of Excellence
Director, Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center
Director, Johns Hopkins Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infectious Disease Fellowship
Co-Director, Multiple Sclerosis Experimental Therapeutics Program
Member, Miller-Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Disclaimer: Closed captions are auto-generated by our video hosting service and may not always reflect the spoken dialogue with complete accuracy. The SPSRF team reviews and edits captions on an ongoing basis to improve their quality.
