The 2026 Dystonia Think Tank meeting, hosted by the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases and Tyler’s Hope for a Dystonia Cure, will take place in Gainesville, FL on April 24. This annual event brings together researchers and clinicians who work on dystonia to explore cutting-edge scientific discoveries, develop innovative therapeutic strategies, and enhance interdisciplinary care models.
Register now to attend the 2026 Dystonia Think Tank virtually!
Breakfast: 7:00-8:00 AM
8:00–10:00 AM
Basic Science Session
Session Moderator: Yuqing Li, Ph.D.
Session speaker
Mohammad Moshahid Khan, Ph.D
Title: Beyond the Gene: Microbiome Contributions to DYT1 Dystonia Pathobiology
session speaker
Hyder (Buz) Jinnah, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Inherited Dystonias
session speaker
Meike van der Heijden, Ph.D.
Title: Cerebellar Signals in Dystonia
10:30 AM–12:30 PM
Clinical Session
Session Moderator: Aparna Wagle Shukla, M.D.
Session Speaker
Nutan Sharma, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Biomarkers in Genetics forms of Dystonia
session speaker
Michael Kruer, M.D.
Title: Potential utility of local field potentials in DBS for early-onset dystonia
session speaker
Ian Bledsoe, M.D.
Lunch: 12:30-1:30 PM
1:30–3:30 PM
Gene Therapy Session
Session Moderator: Mark Moehle, Ph.D.
Session Speaker
Koen Breyne, Ph.D.
Title: Therapeutic Genome Editing for Genetic Dystonia
session speaker
Christian Schlieker, Ph.D.
Title: Aberrant Phase Transitions in DYT1 Dystonia
session speaker
Nicole Calakos, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: In search of disease-modifying treatments for dystonia: Update on efforts to develop small molecule ISR modulators
