The Rare Neuro-immunologic Disorders Symposium was held on Oct 25-26, 2013 at University of Texas at Southwestern campus in Dallas, TX. This symposium focused on current strategies and research projects addressing opportunities for recovery of function after central nervous system (CNS) damage including Transverse Myelitis (TM), Acute Disseminated Encephalitis (ADEM), Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO), Optic Neuritis, Autoimmune Encephalitis and other immune disorders of the central nervous system. It was hosted By The Transverse Myelitis Association, University of Texas at Southwestern & Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, TX and The Johns Hopkins Project RESTORE in Baltimore, MD.
With the 2013 symposiums focus on repair, recovery and restorative therapies, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Johns Hopkins, and Director of the International Neurorehabilitation Institute Dr. Daniel Becker presented data on activity based rehabilitation. It included a detailed discussion on the use of functional electrical stimulation for people with spinal cord and brain injuries from inflammation. The symposium was a great opportunity for patients, physicians and scientists from all over the US to get together and exchange the latest advances in treating these diseases.
Dr. Becker’s patients at the Symposium (from left to right): Anjali Forber-Pratt, Dr. Daniel Becker, Melissa Smith.