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11th Annual ECD Medical Symposium – Birmingham 2026
Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance Announces 2026 Medical Symposium
Birmingham, AL — The Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance (ECDGA) and UAB School of Medicine invites healthcare professionals and researchers.
- Medical Symposium: April 30–May 2, 2026
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Patient & Family Gathering: 8:00am-4:30pm
Location: Marnix E. Heersink Conference Center at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Celebration Dinner: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: Hilton at UAB Downtown
Friday, May 1, 2026
Medical Symposium: 8:00am-5:00pm
Location: Marnix E. Heersink Conference Center at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Medical Symposium Medical Reception: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: Marnix E. Heersink Conference Center at University of Alabama at Birmingham
Saturday, May 2, 2026
ECD Care Center Meeting: 8:00am-11:00am
Location: UAB Cancer Center
This event will bring together the global Erdheim-Chester disease community with leading medical experts to share the latest research, clinical insights, and community resources. Attendees can expect educational sessions, opportunities to connect with peers, and updates on emerging treatments and patient care.
Further details on the hotel and program highlights will be released in the coming months.
Agenda
| Time | Subject | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Registration & light breakfast | |
| 8:30 am | Welcome to Birmingham and the 11th Annual Erdheim-Chester Disease International Conference | Gaurav Goyal University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA |
| Keynote Address | ||
| 8:45 am | Diversity and Degeneration in Neurohistiocytic Disease | Nicole Coufal University of California, San Diego USA |
| 9:25 am | Break | |
| Morning Abstract Presentations Session 1: Cells, Clones & Circuits: Where Histiocytosis Begins (and Persists) | ||
| 9:35 am | ARAF Mutations Drive Histiocytic Neoplasms In Vivo and Provide Insights into Cellular Origin | Benjamin Durham Rutgers Cancer Institute, Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, Brunswick, NJ |
| 9:50 am | Tracking BRAF V600E Persistence under MEK Inhibition in Histiocytoses: a B-cell–enriched signal | Julien Haroche Department of Internal Medicine & E3M Institute, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP – Sorbonne University, Paris, France |
| 10:05 am | Distribution of MAP2K1 Variants Across Peripheral Blood Cells in Erdheim-Chester Disease and Other Histiocytoses | Irena Ungureanu Ambroise-Paré Hospital, Pathology Department, Boulogne-Billancourt, France |
| 10:20 am | The Clonal Origin and Evolution of High-Risk Multisystem Histiocytosis in Adults | Matthew Collin Newcastle University, United Kingdom |
| 10:35 am | Networking Break | |
| Morning Abstract Presentations Session 2: Genotype → Therapy: Biomarkers, Responses, and New Vulnerabilities | ||
| 10:50 am | KRAS Mutations in Histiocytic Neoplasms: Mutation Spectrum and Response to MEK Inhibition | Dongni Yi Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA |
| 11:05 am | Cyclin D1 Overexpression Drives Replication Stress and Creates Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Histiocytic Neoplasms | Dongni Yi Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA |
| 11:20 am | Clonal Hematopoiesis Predicts Response to Interferon-α in Erdheim-Chester Disease and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms | Jérôme Razanamahery Dijon University Hospital, France |
| 11:35 am | Impact of Additional Genetic Variants in the Course of Erdheim-Chester Disease… a Multicentric Longitudinal Study of 445 French Patients | Félicien Triboulet Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France |
| 11:50 am | Group Photo | |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch | |
| Afternoon Abstract Presentations Session 3: Pixels to Patterns: ECD and Xanthogranuloma | ||
| 1:00 pm | Central Nervous System Imaging Abnormalities in Erdheim–Chester Disease: A Systematic Review | Mustafa Abomohsen Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY USA |
| 1:15 pm | Musculoskeletal System Imaging Abnormalities in Erdheim–Chester Disease: A Systematic Review | Mustafa Abomohsen Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY USA |
| 1:30 pm | Patterns of Presentation and Outcomes in Adult Xanthogranuloma | Guneet Janda Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA |
| 1:45 pm | Networking Break | |
| Afternoon Abstract Presentations Session 4: Care in the Real World: Treatment Patterns and Survivorship | ||
| 2:00 pm | Real World Frontline Systemic Anti-Cancer Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Erdheim–Chester Disease | Carla Isabel Borre Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA |
| 2:15 pm | Burden of Chronic Health Conditions After Diagnosis of Erdheim–Chester Disease (ECD): Early Results from the Histiocytic Disorder Survivor Study | Gaurav Goyal University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USA |
| 2:30 pm | Destombes-Rosai-Dorfman Disease: Clinical, Molecular Characteristics and Treatment Response: data from a retrospective cohort of 107 patients | Julien Haroche Department of Internal Medicine & E3M Institute, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, AP-HP – Sorbonne University, Paris, France |
| 2:45 pm | Considerations for Assessment and Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in ECD | Anneka Johnston Rush University Medical Center, Chicago IL |
| Poster Presentations and Networking | ||
| 3:00 pm | Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD) is a Rare Histiocytic Neoplasm of Non-Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis | Abdalla Bowirrat Ariel University, Israel |
| Diagnostic challenges in mixed ErdheimChester Disease and Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in a 54-year-old male | Sameer Andani Mofitt Cancer Center & University of South Florida |
|
| A Mycosis Fungoides-like Drug Reaction Rapidly Resolving Following Switch from BRAF Inhibitor to MEK Inhibitor Monotherapy in Erdheim-Chester Disease | Saipriya Ayyar University of Cincinnati/UC Health, Cincinnati OH |
|
| Multimodality Imaging in Erdheim–Chester Disease: Radiologic Insights from Pediatric and Adult Cases | Priyanka Naranje All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India |
|
| Cardiovascular System Imaging Abnormalities in Erdheim-Chester Disease: A Systematic Review | Mustafa Abomohsen Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY USA |
|
| BRAF-Positive Erdheim–Chester Disease with Progressive Pulmonary and Vascular Involvement Successfully Treated with Vemurafenib: A Case Report | Hulya Yilmaz Tekinhatun Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital, Turkey |
|
| Concurrent Erdheim-Chester Disease and Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma with unexpected response to lymphoma-directed therapy | Rebecca Denson New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY |
|
| Abdominal Imaging Abnormalities in Erdheim-Chester Disease: A Systematic Review | Mustafa Abomohsen Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY USA |
|
| Prevalence and distribution of ErdheimChester Disease in the UK estimated from referral to a National Advisory Panel | Matthew Collin Newcastle University, United Kingdom |
|
| Challenging Case Study | ||
| 3:45 pm | All that glitters: retro-orbital xanthogranuloma or ECD? | Matthew Collin Newcastle University, United Kingdom |
| Challenging Case Study | ||
| 4:15 pm | The Clue Was the Blood Pressure: Atypical Erdheim–Chester Disease | Jithma Abeykoon Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN USA |
| Closing Remarks & Student Abstract Award | ||
| 4:45 pm | ECD Global Alliance into the Future | Jerome Henson Executive Director, ECD Global Alliance, DeRidder, LA USA |
| 4:55 pm | Junior Investigator – Best Student Presentation Award | Oshrat Hershkovitz-Rokah Ariel University & Assut |
NOTE: Register before February 1st to take advantage of the early bird registration cost! Save $200 USD and register for only $300 USD!
Mark Heaney Awareness Award & Community Champion Award
February 1st, 2026 – Last day to submit your nomination for the Mark Heaney Awareness Award & Community Champion Award .
- Please submit your nominations here.
- Mark Heaney Awareness Award. Nominate a medical professional who is working to improve the lives of ECD patients by bringing awareness to the disease within the medical profession.
- Community Champion Award. Nominate anyone (patient, caregiver, medical professional, friend, etc.) who has volunteered their time to help improve the lives of all of those impacted by ECD.
Oral / Poster Presentation Abstracts
February 1, 2026- Abstracts Due.
- Abstract submissions for the Medical Symposium on 1 May, are accepted here Please submit abstracts for oral and/or poster presentation. This is a great opportunity to share your work and the work of your colleagues. Please let them know of the opportunity.
Travel Scholarships
Travel Assistance – The Glenn Padnick Memorial Travel Fund Now accepting applications for the 2026 ECDGA Conference.
Glenn Padnick lived a full and impactful life while navigating Erdheim-Chester Disease (ECD) for decades. From 2011 to 2022, he served with unwavering dedication on the ECD Global Alliance Board of Directors, always ensuring that the voices and needs of patients remained central to every decision.
In honor of Glenn’s legacy of service and compassion, his family generously established the Glenn Padnick Memorial Travel Fund. This fund provides financial assistance to help patients, caregivers, and medical professionals attend the annual ECD conference for those who may not otherwise be able to participate due to financial constraints.
Applications are now open for travel assistance for the 2026 ECD Conference. Funding is limited, and priority will be given to individuals who have never attended the event before. Our goal is to make this opportunity available to as many community members as possible with the resources available.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2026 Award Notifications: No later than March 1, 2026
Apply Here: Glenn Padnick Memorial Travel Fund Request.
Conference Hotel & Travel Information
Conference Hotel
Hilton Birmingham at UAB
808 20th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone: +1 (659) 251-1934
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Birmingham at UAB for conference attendees.
Rooms must be reserved by April 6, 2026, to receive the group rate.
If you have any issues with booking your room, please contact Simon Hill at the Hilton Birmingham Downtown. His number is 205-910-1970 and his email is simon.hill@hiltoncom.
Airport Transportation
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Complimentary shuttle service is available from the Birmingham airport to the hotel and is provided directly by the Hilton Downtown at UAB.
To use the shuttle:
- Collect your luggage.
- Call the hotel at 205-933-9000 to request the shuttle.
- Proceed to Door #4L and wait for the bus marked “Hilton.”
Traveling via Atlanta
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is approximately 3 hours from Birmingham and offers direct international flights to most countries. Shuttle services are available between the Atlanta airport and Birmingham for travelers arriving through ATL.
Contact:
Erdheim-Chester Disease Global Alliance
Email: [email protected]
Our Sponsors
