Register Now for the Largest Patient and Caregiver Brain Tumor Conference

Registration is now open for the largest educational conference for brain tumor patients and caregivers! Join us Thursday, September 5 – Saturday, September 7 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Chicago, or online. 

Each year, the ABTA National Conference brings together more than a thousand patients, caregivers, and survivors to learn from the nation’s leading experts, ask questions, and interact with the brain tumor community. Registration is $40 for in-person and free for virtual attendees.

Look behind the scenes in this Q&A with our 2024 Co-Chairs, Dr. Marta Penas-Prado, MD, MSc, and Roy Strowd, MD, MEd, MS. 

Discover how innovations in targeted treatments and the power of community connection are driving this year’s dynamic program: 

What are you looking forward to most at the 2024 National Conference? 

Marta: Without a doubt, it’s an exciting opportunity for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates, to come together in the same space and engage with each other. This interaction can help us understand each other’s perspectives and have candid conversations about important issues that can improve patient care. This conference can help patients and caregivers understand their life experience better, while also helping healthcare professionals understand the needs of people affected by these diseases. 

Roy: Honestly, this is my favorite conference of the year! The chance to connect with patients and caregivers in this way is tremendously valuable for me as a neuro-oncologist, and for our field broadly. I’m excited to talk about the latest advances in brain and spinal cord tumors. I’m also excited to learn from the many patients, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare professionals who will be at this meeting. The opportunity to connect, collaborate, and build community for the brain tumor field could not be more important. 

What are some overarching themes or trends in your field that helped shape this year’s program? 

Marta: Exciting new research has led to the development of drugs that target specific genetic changes found in certain tumors, such as gliomas with IDH mutations. Other important themes are reviewing strategies to maintain patients’ and caregivers’ quality of life and balancing treatment decisions. 

Roy: As a neuro-oncologist, we have the chance to hear the key, burning questions on our patients’ minds. These key questions have been a guiding force behind this year’s program. I hope that attendees can come and learn about cutting-edge treatments like IDH inhibitors, the latest advances in radiation and surgery, and the truth about how to improve cognition, manage fatigue, and maintain wellness. 

What makes the ABTA National Conference stand out from other conferences and events in the brain tumor community?  

Marta: This is the largest conference and brings together all stakeholders, serving the needs of patients with all types of brain and spine tumors, ranging from the most frequent to the rare, as well as tumors that start in other organs and find their way into the brain (brain metastases). The breadth of knowledge and extensive content of the annual meeting are unparalleled in the field of brain and spine tumors. 

Roy: There are no other conferences like the ABTA National Conference. This is THE place to come, learn, connect with patients, caregivers, advocates, healthcare professionals, and thought leaders in the field of neuro-oncology. 

Any other thoughts on why new or past attendees will want to attend this year’s conference? 

Marta: This year’s program has a lot of exciting content for you, including a tumor board where you can learn about IDH-mutated gliomas, ependymomas and brain metastases. We also have a Brain & Spine Tumor Jeopardy session to learn more while having fun, and sessions to help you ask your doctor the right questions at different stages of your diagnosis. Additionally, we have a session to help you understand how experimental treatments advance through the drug development and approval process. We haven’t forgotten about caregivers, and the program includes a session on helping them navigate their role while taking care of themselves. 

Roy: We’ve taken a deep look at how to bring interactivity, engagement, time to connect, and opportunities to learn together at the conference. Past attendees will feel the same excitement and inspiration about brain and spinal tumor care. First-time attendees will make new connections and broaden their understanding of exciting treatments and new advances. This year’s conference is the time to bring your questions and get them answered. We could not be more excited to see you in Chicago (and online) this year. 

Visit our conference page to register, see the full program, and get information on the hotel room block and financial assistance.