The 2026 MDF Regional Conference in Palo Alto brought the myotonic dystrophy community together for a day of learning, connection, and support.
2026 MDF Regional Conference in Palo Alto
Palo Alto, California | April 25, 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 MDF Regional Conference in Palo Alto! Held in partnership with Stanford University, this one-day, in-person conference brought together people living with myotonic dystrophy (DM), caregivers and family members, clinicians, researchers, and industry partners for a day of learning, connection, and community.
In MDF’s 18th year of conferences, the 2026 Palo Alto Regional Conference welcomed more than 189 attendees from 12 states. Built for the DM community, the conference featured sessions from leading DM experts, updates on the latest research, community discussion, and opportunities to connect with others who truly understand life with DM.
View Photos from the Conference on Facebook! >>>
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Program Highlights
The conference offered a robust, full-day program that included general sessions, breakout sessions, and a community reception with networking.
Session topics included clinical trials and emerging treatments, industry updates, DM1 and DM2 introductory sessions, cardiac care, speech and swallowing, brain health, central nervous system involvement in DM, GI issues, sleep, exercise, medical emergencies, and practical DM life hacks. The program also featured community favorites like Stump the Doctor and a Movement Moment.
The Palo Alto program reflected the diverse needs of the DM community, with sessions designed for people newly diagnosed, longtime community members, caregivers, and families seeking practical information, research updates, and opportunities to connect with expert clinicians and researchers.
Explore the 2026 MDF Conference Program for Palo Alto! >>>
In Partnership with Stanford University
MDF was proud to host 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. He has more than 30 years of experience diagnosing and caring for patients of all ages living with DM.
Dr. Day is involved in ongoing research focused on the causes, diagnosis and novel treatments of genetic neuromuscular disorders. He also serves as an advisor to many scientific committees researching neuromuscular diseases, including NIH advisory committees focused on muscular dystrophy research.
The Palo Alto conference also featured a special pre-conference Research Tour hosted by MDF and the Stanford Division of Neuromuscular Medicine. Through presentations, interactive activities, and informal connection with researchers and attendees, the tour offered community members a closer look at DM research underway at Stanford.
Find out more about the myotonic dystrophy research at the John W. Day Lab and related clinical trials.
Access and Support
MDF worked to make the conference as welcoming and accessible as possible for the DM community. Registration was priced at $20 USD per adult ticket, and children 18 and under attended free. Tickets included conference sessions, meals, and other activities throughout the day.
To help reduce barriers to attendance, MDF offered financial aid for community members attending in person. This reflects a goal of the MDF Regional Conferences: making it easier for individuals and families to participate, ask questions, and connect closer to home.
MDF also supported a range of attendee needs. Dietary needs were collected in advance. In-person registration included breakfast, lunch, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and all-day coffee and tea. MDF also secured a discounted hotel room block and arranged a mobility rental discount to help support attendees who needed mobility assistance. The venue offered convenient transportation access for attendees traveling from around the region and beyond.
Sponsors
Special thanks to our conference sponsors for helping make this event possible.
Lead Sponsor
Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Supporter Sponsors
