Each year the Family Conference gathers researchers, medical professionals and families in person. Here are some of the highlights.

Family Workshops: Friday focuses on families, with sessions including Sporadic CJD Workshop, Genetic Prion Disease Workshop, Clinical Prion Disease Basics Information Session, Prion Disease Research Overview, and Bereavement Workshop. The day concludes with a welcome reception to families to meet one another or catch up with friends met in prior years.

Keynote Presentation: In 2025, Glenn Telling, PhD, presented the Keynote Address in Honor of Dr. Pierluigi Gambetti: Novel Mouse Models of Prion Diseases

Research Grant Reports: Thanks to our supporters, the CJD Foundation funds many research grants each year, and each of those researchers provides an overview of their work at the conference, followed by Q&A sessions.

Moving Roundtables: In this segment, always a favorite of both families and professionals, families rotate among tables in small groups, and sit for informal Q&A with keynote and other speakers, workshop leaders, and grant recipients.

CDC and NPDPSC Updates: Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center provide updates on their important work.

Family Panel: We hear directly from family members whose loved ones had unique experiences with CJD and learn how they are now making a difference in the fight against CJD.

Banquet: At each year’s banquet, we present an overview of the CJD Foundation’s accomplishments and year in review. We also recognize key volunteers and leaders in the prion disease community. Winners of the Strides for CJD fundraising competition present memorial tributes to their loved ones, and other highlights are shared.

Drug Development Updates: New to 2025, we hosted a panel discussion with five companies that are developing drug therapies to give updates.