2026 MDF Regional Conference

Palo Alto, California
April 25, 2026

Register as a Community Member!
 

Join Us at the 2026 MDF Regional Conference in Palo Alto!

The Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation invites you to attend the 2026 MDF Regional Conference in Palo Alto, California on April 25th! This one-day, in person conference, held in partnership with Stanford University, will offer a robust program built for the DM community. The agenda will feature sessions from DM experts, updates about DM research, and community panel discussions! Check out the Program section below to learn more as updates are available. 

MDF is thrilled to be hosting this event in partnership with Stanford University, an important hub for DM research. Dr. John Day is a professor of neurology, pediatrics and pathology at Stanford University, and the Director of Neuromuscular Medicine. Dr. Day has more than 30 years of experience diagnosing and caring for patients of all ages with DM. 

He is involved in ongoing research defining causes, diagnosis and novel treatments of genetic neuromuscular disorders. Dr. Day serves as an advisor to many scientific committees researching neuromuscular diseases, including NIH’s Advisory Committees on Muscular Dystrophy and Muscular Dystrophy research.

Find out more about the myotonic dystrophy research at the John W. Day Lab and myotonic dystrophy clinical trials.

Registration Types and Fees

Registration is $20 USD per adult ticket and children 18 and under register free. Tickets include access to all general and breakout sessions, meals (breakfast, lunch, and reception), and other activities. Click here to register now! >>>

Conference registration does NOT include your hotel room. 

Professional Registration

Professional registration for 2026 MDF Regional Conferences is by invitation only. Regional conferences will not feature a professional track. If you would like more information about attending the conference as a professional, please email info@myotonic.org.

Program

Each Regional Conference will include participation from local DM experts, researchers, and community members to provide a robust program including popular sessions from our past International Conferences. More detailed information on programming coming soon!

Note: The Regional Conference Sessions will be held as one primary community track and will not be split into multiple day-long Community Tracks.

Looking for Juvenile-onset Adults (JOAs) Specific Sessions? This MDF Regional Conference in Kansas City and Montréal will include a track for our Juvenile-onset Adults (JOAs). 

Conference Venue

MDF is working to find the perfect venue for this Conference. Check back here for the latest updates!

Financial Aid

Link to applications coming soon! MDF will be providing an opportunity to request financial support at varying tiers to attend a Regional Conference in person this year.

Dining & Dietary Needs

During Conference Registration, you will be asked about your plans to attend certain receptions and meals to help MDF and the caterer tailor meals to any dietary requirements and anticipate how much food to prepare. All in-person registrations include the following meals:

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Hors d’oeuvres & beverages
• All day coffee/tea are also included

Hotel Discount

MDF is working on securing discounts at local hotels, so if you would like to take advantage of those rates hold off on booking your hotel for now!

Transportation

2026 Regional Conference Attendees traveling by plane can use the following airports:

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Oakland Airport (OAK)
• San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)

Visitors seeking transportation to the Regional Conference location have a variety of options, including taxi service, ride-sharing apps, and public transportation. Please note that attendees are responsible for arranging all of their own ground transportation to and from the airport and throughout the duration of the conference.

Childcare

Due to low demand, Childcare services will not be provided at the 2026 MDF Regional Conferences. Please make all necessary arrangements prior to arrival so that you can take full advantage of all the Conference has to offer.

Registration Cancellation Policy

We understand that circumstances can change. MDF is happy to process registration cancellations made two weeks before the conference you’re registered for. Donations to MDF are non-refundable. Hotel room cancellations must be made directly with the hotel.

Additional Information

Check back here for the latest program and speaker updates as they become available.

Questions?

If you have registration questions or need assistance with registration, contact MDF at 415-800-7777 or by email at info@myotonic.org.

Corporate Sponsorships

For questions on corporate sponsorship opportunities at the 2026 MDF Regional Conferences, please contact MDF at development@myotonic.org.

Click here to download an overview of Sponsorship Opportunities in 2026.