Since 2015, the APS Type 1 Foundation has supported an international symposium on this rare disease every two years. Our symposium brings together families, clinicians, and scientists from around the world to discuss the latest developments in research and management of APS Type 1. In 2015, over 30 families attended as leaders to share their knowledge with physicians. We are proud to run a world class conference with many of North America and Europe’s leading doctors. Since then, we’ve been growing rapidly and in 2021, approximately 150 people, including patients, families, caregivers, researchers, clinicians and others, gathered for our 4th International Symposium on APS Type 1. We hope many more families will join at our upcoming symposium in this summer and look forward to seeing you in DC!
Our 5th International Symposium on APS Type 1 will take place at the Melrose Hotel, in Washington, D.C. from Friday, July 7th to Saturday, July 8th, 2023, with a welcome reception on the evening of Thursday, July 6th. Patients, families, caregivers, researchers, and clinicians are all welcome to attend! There is no admission fee, but registration is required. To register, please click here.
You can reserve your hotel room at preferred rates here.
Below is a tentative agenda for the upcoming event. Details subject to change. Check back often for more information.
Thursday, July 6
5:00-7:00pm Welcome Reception (light refreshments)
President’s Welcome Remarks
Friday, July 7
8:00-9:00 Registration
8:00-9:00 Continental Breakfast
9:00-9:10 President’s Welcome
9:10-10:30 Updates from the NIH Natural History Study and Clinical Trial
10:30-10:45 Health Break
10:45-11:45 Latest developments in managing hypoparathyroidism in APS Type 1
11:45-12:30 Managing Type 1 Diabetes in APS Type 1
12:30-1:30 LUNCH
1:30-2:15 Adrenal Insufficiency in APS Type 1—staying well and avoiding crisis
2:15-3:30 Managing Your Mental Health with APS Type 1
3:30-3:45 Health Break
3:45-5:00 Panel and Group Discussion on the Future Work of The APS Type 1 Foundation
Saturday, July 8
8:00-9:00 Continental breakfast
Physician Scientist Track
9:00-12:00 Physician Scientist Meeting
Patient/Family Track
9:00-11:00 Four separate expert-led discussion groupsSetting yourself up to succeed in school
- Disability supports and strategies for dealing with insurance
- Transitioning from pediatric to adult care
- Feeling great! Living well with alopecia and other differences

Past Events
We were very proud to host our 3rd International Symposium on APS Type 1 as a part of the Immune Deficiency Foundation’s (IDF) Annual Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, USA. In addition to presentations on the latest findings from the NIH’s natural history study, we held presentations on the challenges of puberty in APS Type 1 and managing adrenal insufficiency and hypoparathyroidism in emergencies and for planned procedures. Our group also benefitted from the presentations at the larger IDF conference.
We had an incredible Symposium in 2017 in Stony Brook, New York, USA. Hosted by Sherri and David Seyfert, along with their family and friends, we enjoyed world-class presentations at the beautiful facilities at Stony Brook University. Highlights included talks on eye care, malabsorption, the role of the thymus in APS Type 1, and connecting APS Type 1 research to other diseases, such as Type 1 Diabetes.
The 1st International Symposium on APS Type 1 was held at SickKids Hospital in Toronto, Canada. Over 20 families joined with speakers from across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Highlights included a problem-solving panel discussing the challenges that occur in managing endocrine symptoms combined with malabsorption, autoimmune hepatitis in APS Type 1, the biology and immunology of AIRE, and growing up with APS Type 1.
We were pleased to host a virtual symposium in 2021 as we continued to manage our health during the Covid-19 pandemic. Videos from our virtual event can be accessed here.