CurePSP Exhibits for the First Time at the American Academy of Neurology Conference

For neurologists, each spring is marked by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual conference. Neurology professionals from across the United States and beyond gathered at AAN, a multi-day meeting from April 22 to 27 in Boston, MA, to learn about clinical and scientific developments in the field. 

CurePSP hosted an exhibitor table at AAN as an important step in building connections across the larger neurology community, staffed by three members of the CurePSP team: Jessica Shurer, Director of Clinical Affairs and Advocacy, Sabrina Da Rocha, Director of Marketing and Communications, and Dr. Larry Golbe, Chief Clinical Officer and member of the Board of Directors. 

General neurologists, neurology residents, sub-specialized neurologists (e.g., movement disorders, cognition), neuropsychologists, medical students, allied health professionals, researchers, industry professionals and non-profit leaders are among the over 9,000 people who attend AAN each year. 

“As patients and families often explain to us, one of the most frustrating aspects of living with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD) or multiple system atrophy (MSA) is having a diagnosis that most healthcare providers have little to no familiarity with,” Shurer said. “In an effort to address this, we must build programs and partnerships towards education of the medical community about these diseases. AAN is a key opportunity to do that.” 

Attendees came up to the CurePSP exhibitor table to ask questions about symptoms, treatments and research for PSP, CBD and MSA as well as to gather information on CurePSP’s services. 

“The clinicians we spoke with were particularly excited to learn that they could order our printed educational materials for their clinics as they shared that they often do not know what resources to point their patients and families to after giving a diagnosis of PSP, CBD or MSA,” Da Rocha said. 

CurePSP staff were also able to take advantage of AAN’s extensive educational programming and showcase of the latest scientific advances in neurology.  

“The AAN meeting is the world’s leading clinical neurology conference each year. It’s the main place neurologists go to discuss research before it’s published and to hear about new things through the grapevine. I learned things that will help me to do my job at CurePSP better,” Dr. Golbe said. 

CurePSP staff also spent time networking with neurologists working as directors of CurePSP’s Centers of Care, colleagues from multiple sister non-profit organizations and representatives from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies interested in PSP, CBD and MSA. Shurer felt encouraged by how many of the conversations were centered around possible collaborations and the needs of patients and hopes to continue that progress in the coming years. 

“We are already looking forward to representing CurePSP at AAN 2024 in Denver, CO.”