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Amidst the enchanting atmosphere of Orlando, Florida, The Cute Syndrome Foundation (TCSF) hosted its 9th Annual Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering from December 1st to December 2nd, 2023. This event illuminated the path forward for SCN8A research, treatments, and support and brought together families, clinicians, researchers, and industry leaders in a shared journey of discovery, unity, and resilience. Family SCN8A Education The weekend commenced on December 1st with a family meet and greet, setting the tone for a weekend of connection and collaboration. The educational portion of the event featured talks by esteemed researchers, including "SCN8A 101" by Dr. Eric Wengert and "Emerging Treatment Options for SCN8A" by Dr. Madeleine Oudin, a distinguished researcher as well as the mother of a child with SCN8A.
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In 2019, we all left Baltimore, Maryland thinking we’d hug each other once again in 2020, but we all know what happened next…COVID-19 destroyed all plans for an in-person event in both 2020 and 2021. Although both events, virtual and hybrid, were a huge success, nothing can replace the magic of being in the same room with other families and the clinicians, researchers, and industry partners fighting for our community. So, after three long years, TCSF’s community traveled distances near and far to attend the 8th Annual SCN8A Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering as an in-person event in Nashville, Tennessee! There was a very large presence of families this year and TCSF was thrilled to cover all travel and lodging costs for all 19 families that applied for the Dr. Mandy Harris Family Travel Grant program! The festivities began the afternoon of Friday, December 1st and continued until late in the afternoon on Saturday, December 2nd. Everything in 2020 felt different, didn't it? This year The Cute Syndrome Foundation's 6th Annual Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering was no exception...as we moved forward with a fully virtual Gathering. While we have always offered live streaming of the event for our families who cannot travel, this year we focused on creating a virtual gathering experience that increased the opportunities for interaction and a sense of connection. We certainly missed seeing one another in person. And we all we all know that the experience of being present together, of wrapping our arms around someone we've only ever known on Facebook, of playing with each other's children is entirely irreplaceable.   2020 has been quite a year. I know we are all disappointed about not being able to all be together in person for our 6th Annual SCN8A Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering in December. However, with the help of John Schreiber, Manoj Patel, and TCSF's volunteer team, we are planning a virtual Gathering so that we can convene as a community to share our work and updates from the last year. The Gathering is tentatively scheduled for Dec 4.
When we heard about The Cute Syndrome Foundation's Annual Gathering, I thought, oh, that would be so neat, but there’s no way we could make that happen. Then we realized it was only 2 hours away, and my husband insisted we try to make it work if we could. I went in, not knowing what to expect. I felt unease and uncertainty, but, in hindsight, it was a great decision. My time at the Gathering it left me wanting to create a guide for other SCN8A caregivers for when they attend their first Gathering. However, since my experience is unique, I thought I would reach out to my new-found friends, to inquire what other first-time Gathering parents experience. Here is what I learned:  Help us continue to support the SCN8A community through events like this Gathering.A week ago today the SCN8A community started arriving in Baltimore, Maryland in order to take part in the fifth annual Cute Syndrome Foundation SCN8A Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering. This event, which is held over two days every year in conjunction with the American Epilepsy Society meeting, began as a way to bring together all of the stakeholders within the SCN8A community, including the families. We hold this event because we believe in the power of SCN8A families to not only observing, but actively participating in driving the changes in medical science to help our children. This year, with 265 people registered for this event, it was, by far, our largest Gathering to date.  On November 30 and December 1st The Cute Syndrome Foundation held our fourth annual SCN8A Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering, in conjunction with the American Epilepsy Society meeting in New Orleans, LA. We were joined by more than 100 medical professionals, industry representatives, and family members as we presented two days of important activities—including discussions of SCN8A research, forthcoming potential therapeutics, and parent/patient perspective.  TCSF's 3rd Annual SCN8A Epilepsy Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering in Washington, D.C.12/22/2018  In December 2017 The Cute Syndrome Foundation hosted the third annual SCN8A Epilepsy Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering in Washington, DC.
Over 100 guests met, including professionals working on SCN8A research and treatment and more than 75 members of our SCN8A family community, including 14 children with SCN8A. Families traveled internationally from Canada, Germany, Brazil, and New Zealand.
The Cute Syndrome Foundation held our second annual SCN8A Epilepsy Research, Clinician, and Family Gathering on Friday December 2nd, in conjunction with the American Epilepsy Society Conference in Houston Texas. For the second year in a row we hosted over 100 SCN8A clinicians, researchers, and family members for an event built around sharing clinical information, research data, and family stories -- and the idea that these three groups can work together and help inform each other.
 On December 5th in Philadelphia about 85 guests--including seven children with SCN8A, 35 family members, and over 50 researchers and clinicians--met for the Cute Syndrome's first SCN8A Epilepsy Clinician, Researcher, and Family Gathering. The meeting allowed parents of children with SCN8A to tell leading researchers and clinicians more about their children and their lives. The meeting also served as a venue for clinical data about effective treatment of SCN8A to be shared among clinicians, and for researchers to share their research with the families--and each other.
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