The next Clinical & Scientific Conference hosted by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) will take place March 21-24, 2027, in Orlando, Florida, and registration for the signature annual event — dubbed by the MDA “the leading international meeting dedicated to neuromuscular diseases” — is now open.
The conference, to be held at Rosen Shingle Creek — a massive convention center at the starting point of the Everglades — will bring together scientists, clinicians, advocates, and others in the field to discuss the latest advances in research and care for muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions. Early-bird registration rates are available through the end of the year, and the conference website is now open for bookings.
“Neuromuscular research is entering a period of unprecedented acceleration,” Sharon Hesterlee, PhD, president and CEO of the MDA, said in a press release from the nonprofit. In an interview ahead of this year’s meeting, Hesterlee noted the “interesting conversations” that occur when all those involved are “in the room.”
“We are seeing breakthroughs move from discovery to clinical application faster than ever before, driven by advances in genetics, data science, and emerging technologies. The MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference is where that momentum converges, bringing the global community together to transform promising discoveries into the next generation of treatments, care, and scientific understanding,” Hesterlee said.
The MDA Conference aims to provide a yearly opportunity for scientists to share and discuss cutting-edge research related to a range of diseases — not only the different forms of muscular dystrophy, but also related conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, myasthenia gravis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Researchers can submit abstracts until mid-December, and late-breaking abstracts will be accepted in early 2027.
“The greatest advances in neuromuscular disease happen when science, care, and advocacy move in alignment,” said Angela Lek, PhD, the MDA’s chief research officer. “This conference brings those domains together at a critical moment for the field, where advances in AI [artificial intelligence], precision medicine, and collaborative research are helping to accelerate discovery and bring meaningful therapies to people living with progressive disease faster than ever before.”
New advocacy collaborative to convene at 2027 MDA Conference
In addition to highlighting advances in science, the conference also serves as an invaluable opportunity for discussions about advocacy and policy, according to the MDA. This year, there will be a dedicated NeuroMuscular Advocacy Collaborative (NMAC) and Patient Advocacy Pavilion, bringing together advocacy organizations to discuss how best to advance the community’s goals and priorities.
“The NeuroMuscular Advocacy Collaborative (NMAC) convening at the MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference brings together patient advocacy organizations across the neuromuscular community to align on shared priorities and strengthen collective impact,” said Paul Melmeyer, the MDA’s executive vice president for public policy and advocacy. “That collaboration ensures that as science advances, it translates more quickly into access to treatments, stronger caregiver support, and policies that enable independence, inclusion, and full participation in society.”
The MDA Clinical and Scientific Conference is the best opportunity to link early discoveries with new opportunities for clinical care.
Although the conference is geared mainly toward researchers and clinicians, people living with neuromuscular diseases and other community members are also invited to participate. People and families registered with the MDA can apply to attend virtually at no cost via an online portal.
In addition to running this annual conference, the MDA also issues grants to fund research into neuromuscular diseases; currently, more than 130 such research grants are active. The MDA also coordinates the MDA Care Center Network, a coalition of specialty centers dedicated to providing exceptional care for people with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular diseases.
“The future of neuromuscular medicine depends on how effectively we translate scientific discovery into real-world therapies,” said Barry Byrne, MD, PhD, chief medical advisor and board member at the MDA. “The MDA Clinical and Scientific Conference is the best opportunity to link early discoveries with new opportunities for clinical care. Clinicians, researchers, and industry partners directly interact and help to advance the science and shorten the path from bench to bedside. Every year, we see ideas presented at conference evolve into the next generation of treatments.”
Byrne has noted that, at these meetings, “there’s also a tremendous amount of information that’s shared between people in the hallway.”
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