VARESE

16th Conference on Tourette Syndrome & Tic Disorders 2024

WORLD

STAGE

52

DAYS

20

HOURS

15

MINUTES

18

SECONDS

Andiamo a Varese!

Bookmark: the 16th Conference on Tourette Syndrome & Tic Disorders will take place in Varese, Italy, on 12-14 June 2024.

Our hosts and co-organisers:
Professors Cristiano Termine and Andrea Cavanna, from the University of Insubria and University of Birmingham respectively.
After a multiple record-breaking meeting in Brussels (thank you!), with new colleagues joining us from North America and Australia, we are inviting on stage next June the most...transatlantic panel of speakers in the history of our Society.
Although ESSTS was initially founded in Europe, 15+ years ago, we remain the only clinical and scientific society in the world, dedicated in the study of Tourette Syndrome.
The scope of our mission extends far beyond European borders and as a new friend of the Society pointed out in Brussels; the "E" in ESSTS stands for...EVERYONE is invited!
Exerpt from mission statement:
"...bringing together the world's leading experts and working alongside for the global promotion of awareness, research and treatment of Tourette Syndrome."
On this page you will find information on the venue, the programme, submission guidelines (for abstracts, clinical rounds and Mary Robertson Award entries), registration rates & instructions.
Accommodation suggestions, transport information and city tips will be posted in the coming weeks.
This page is being continuously updated, keep on checking! 🚀
Quick overview; registration format
conference package
conference event with separate registration available
independent event
12-14 June 2024
Main conference
Gives access to all sessions & BT workshops (English & Italian) and TTAG meeting
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12 June
Behavioural Therapy workshop in Italian
also available as an independent event
12 June
also available as an independent event
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12 June
"Tic e Tourette a scuola"
Evento dedicato agli insegnanti
Iscrizione obbligatoria e gratuita
11 June
TS-school; half-day training course on Tourette Syndrome
Le relazioni si terranno in lingua inglese con traduzione simultanea in italiano
independent event

VENUE

Palace Grand Hotel Varese

Conference centre
visit website
The Palace Grand Hotel Varese was designed by architect Giuseppe Sommaruga and inaugurated in 1913. It is located on Campigli Hill, nestled in a centuries-old park, and offers an extraordinary panorama that sweeps from the city centre to Sacro Monte, from Lake Varese to the Monte Rosa Range.
The city of Varese can be reached from Milano Malpensa Airport via a 41-minute train (fast route) ride. View schedules.
To benefit from preferential rates reserved to conference attendees, scroll to the Accommodation section.
Drone footage by Jens Ufer-UFERMEDIA

Programme

Do not hesitate to get in touch if you need more information!
I. Conference
Workshops; Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
10:00-13:00
Workshop in English for participants with basic training
View programme
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10.00: Diagnostics/assessment, psychoeducation
10.30: Habit reversal training (HRT)
11.30: Break ☕
11.50: Exposure and response prevention (ERP)
12.30: Resource activation
12.50: Questions and closing
Workshops; Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
14:00-17:00
Workshop in English for advanced participants
View programme
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14.00: Frequently asked supervision questions
15.00: Divide into 5 groups to discuss cases and questions (circling):
  • Assessment in treatment
  • Behaviour therapy and comorbidity
  • Working with the system
  • Stigma and self-esteem
  • Functional tics
15.50: Break ☕
16.10: Reflection/discussion
16.30: Developing supervision and consultancy skills
16.50: Questions and closing
Workshops; Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
14:00-17:00
Workshop in Italian for participants with basic training
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Programme TBA
independent event option
13:00-17:00 (parallel session)
Patient associations meeting organised by Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG)
independent event option
09:00-09:15
Welcome message by our hosts & local organisers
09:15-10:00
Symposium talk
"How can parents live well with tics?" Parental burden in TS families
- Parental burden in TS families, and how it can be treated.
- Introduce a new promising virtual open-ended training group "Parents living well with Tics".
Moderated by:
10:00-10:30
Poster rounds, session I
Moderated by:
Programme TBA
10:30-11:00
Coffee break
+ "Speed networking"
NEW!
Bringing Senior & Junior colleagues together!
Details TBA
11:00-12:30
Clinical rounds
(Case presentations)
12:30-13:30
Lunch break
13:30-14:00
General assembly meeting
14:00-14:15
Presentation of the MDS Tic Disorders and Tourette Syndrome study group
Presenter(s)
14:15-15:00
MDS Task Force on Tic Disorders; Developing a New Classification Scheme for Tic Disorders
Speaker:
Moderated by:
15:00-15:30
Coffee break
15:30-16:00
Poster rounds, session II
Moderated by:
Programme TBA
16:00-16:30
Controversy followed by poll
Should we still use the YGTSS, or GTS/tic-QOL scales to measure tic severity and the impact of tics on day-to-day life ?
Arguing pro traditional assessment:
Arguing pro AI-based:
Moderated by:
16:30-18:00
Oral presentations of submitted abstracts, session I
Moderated by:
Programme TBA
From 20:00
optional event
Social event-dinner at Villa Panza
💡 As this is an optional event, you can get your tickets at any time, even after you have registered for the conference.
Following last year's museum tradition in Brussels, a guided tour can be offered to social event attendees. Thank you for reserving your guided tour spot when registering for the event below.
⚠️ Kindly note that we shall not be able to accommodate last-minute dinner registrations; if you wish to attend our social event, thank you for registering by Sunday, 2 June, at the latest.
09:00-09:15
Welcome address by TTAG (Tics and Tourette Across the Globe)
09:15-10:15
TS-underrepresented zones around the world;
Latin America, South America, Russia
Remote (pre-recorded) and live interventions from Honduras, Chile and Russia
Moderated by:
10:15-10:45
Coffee break
+ "Speed networking"
NEW!
Bringing Senior & Junior colleagues together!
Details TBA
10:45-12:15
Oral presentations of submitted abstracts, session II
Moderated by:
Programme TBA
12:15-13:15
Lunch break
13:15-14.00
Developing and testing an online therapist training program for CBIT: Development process and initial results
With the participation of:
Moderated by:
14:00-14:30
Poster rounds, session III
Moderated by:
Programme TBA
14:30-15:00
Coffee break
15:00-16:00
Best papers of 2023 on tics and TS
Moderated by:
16:00-16:30
Closing ceremony
Best poster & best oral presentation awards
ESSTS Conference 2025 announcement
II. TS-school
💡 As this is an optional event, you can get your tickets at any time, even after you have registered for the conference.
Tuesday, 11 June, 13.00-18.00
This is our 3rd edition of the TS-school, a training course for TS beginners. The course is open to clinicians (physicians, psychologists, psychotherapists, nurses, medical students) and other professionals who are interested in the clinical aspects of TS.
The presentations and the Q&A session will be held in English.
All clinically relevant topics will be covered, including:
Diagnosis and definition of tic disorders
Nature of tics
Course of TS
Comorbidities
Differential diagnoses
Assessments
Pathophysiology including genetics
Treatment
view training course programme & lecturers
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click to view PDF version
13:00-13:05
Welcome
Board/Lecturers
13:05-14:00
Assessment, including differential diagnoses
Natalia Szejko (Canada)
14:00-14:45
Comorbidity
Christelle Nilles (France)
14:45-15:15
Coffee break
(foyer area)
15:15-16:15
Treatment: pharmacological treatment, psychological intervention, deep  brain stimulation
Kirsten Müller-Vahl (Germany)
16:15-17:15
How to answer FAQ from patients and families on etiology and pathophysiology of tic disorders
Tammy Hedderly (UK)
17:15-18:00
Cases: assessment and treatment
Nanette Mol Debes (Denmark)
Mercoledì 11 giugno, 13:00-18:00
La TS-school è un evento satellite rispetto alla 16ª Conferenza Internazionale su Disturbi da tic e Sindrome di Tourette.

SUBMISSIONS

Basic and clinical scientists, clinicians, PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, residents, fellows and other professionals from around the world working in all areas associated with Tourette Syndrome, tic and related disorders, are invited to submit abstracts to be presented as posters* or oral presentations, as well as abstracts with a clinical case video (reserved for the clinical rounds session).

*Poster-presenting authors may opt to present their work on stage, –as last June in Brussels (additional time will be offered per poster in Varese!), or the traditional, "poster (paper) on display" format.

This year, both posters and oral presentations will be made available to the audience in digital format only.
The authors may submit their abstracts by 1 September 2021. They will be notified by 5 September 2021 regarding the format of their presentation, e-poster (+ optional audio file) or oral presentation-, and will have to send their material  by 15 September 2021.

💡 2 important dates to bookmark:

Submission deadline: Sunday, 14 April 2024 (midnight 🦉 PDT)
Authors get notified on assigned format by Friday, 19 April, 2024

⚠️ Registration before submission:

If you plan to submit an abstract you, –or at least one person from your group–, will need to register for the conference before the submission deadline.
In the rare event of unsuccessful submissions, authors may request a full registration refund until 2 weeks after the early bird deadline (7 April 2024).

Apply for a Mary Robertson Travel Grant

-Please only apply for a travel grant if you are prepared to travel to Varese on 12-14 June 2024 to present your research.
-You will need to complete the relevant application fields below as a part of your abstract submission process. (You will not be able to apply after your abstract submission has been confirmed.)
-Successful Mary Robertson Travel Grant applicants will be notified by 19 April, 2024 —also the deadline for announcing the assigned presentation format—.
-You are the first author on at least one submitted abstract.
-At the time of your application, you, or a member of your team, are an active ESSTS member for the calendar year 2024.
-There is no age limit for applicants, but your current professional status falls within the... "in training" scope.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
Please, select a topic from the list below. The abstract text should not exceed 2,500-3,000 characters.
The final assignment, (poster or oral presentation), will be made by the scientific review committee and all authors will be notified by email by 19 April 2024.
All abstracts will be published in the ESSTS Conference proceedings as an Abstract Book, –distributed to all attendees– and upon completion of the meeting, on the ESSTS website in a digital form.
Authors may opt in the submission form below to have their abstract published on F1000 Research.
Junior investigators who submit innovative work also have the opportunity to be considered for the Professor Mary Robertson Award for Research Contribution in conjunction with Tourettes Action UK.
Abstracts may be submitted in the following fields of study:
- Genetics and aetiology of Tourette syndrome and related disorders
- Neurophysiology and neuroimaging
- Clinical aspects including comorbidities
- Treatment
- Functional tic-like movements
- Other
To prepare your abstract, follow the instructions on the template below.
For poster presentations:
-All posters must be in English language.
-All poster-presenting authors must bring their (paper) poster to the conference venue. The preferred poster format is A0 portrait layout (841 x 1189 mm).
-As last year in Brussels and in order to ensure a visually optimised experience, we offer authors the option to present their ePoster (PDF or PowerPoint) on stage, within an allocated time of 3 minutes (vs 2 minutes previously).
-There will be separate poster rounds assigned; for authors who opt for on-stage presentations and for authors who opt for the traditional format, "poster on display"-presentations.
I am ready to submit!
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
There will be the usual interactive video & clinical round session on the second day of the conference (13 June).
It will offer us the opportunity to discuss collegially several challenging, uncommon and overall didactic clinical cases coming from all over our respective centres in Europe and beyond. You are invited to contribute to this session by submitting an abstract with a clinical case of tic (or hyperkinetic) movement disorder that you wish to present and discuss with colleagues.
We are seeking well-described cases, –ideally presented with a video–, which pose diagnostic or management questions or present challenges with a key learning point. We will allocate 7–8 minutes for the presentation of each chosen case, which will be followed by 3–5 minutes of discussion with the co-chairs/audience.
Please submit your anonymised case(s) by clicking the button below (they will be reviewed by session chair, Dr Tammy Hedderly) in the format of a short abstract in a Word document (max. 400 words), or ideally as a PowerPoint presentation with a maximum of 5 slides.
This should summarise the clinical history, physical examination, investigation and management to date and conclude with questions or learning points. To allow for the preparation of a successful session, we may ask you to discuss the video of the patient in advance (where available).
If you are not asked to present, please bring your case to the conference, as there will be other opportunities to show cases and to discuss them with colleagues.
I am ready to submit!
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Eligibility
All junior researchers, excluding research heads, senior/career level clinicians and previous winners of the award.
The Professor Mary Robertson Award for Research Contribution will be presented on behalf of Tourettes Action UK at the opening ceremony of the conference in Varese, on 12 June 2024. The award will be made in honour of Professor Mary Robertson and includes a prize of £250.
She is the Life President of ESSTS and a Patron of Tourettes Action UK.
-Original research of any kind on the Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome, 8,000 words excluding references. Shorter submissions are acceptable, longer entries will be excluded.
-Published or unpublished.
-Work should also be submitted as an abstract for presentation (see procedure by clicking on the "Abstracts" tab above). Please include the relevant abstract(s) with your entry.
-Entries can include work presented at previous ESSTS meetings, but should also cover new ground in an abstract submitted for the 2024 meeting.
-The winner will be invited to make a platform presentation, if not already selected through the abstract acceptance process.
-Must be written by the entrant with a statement indicating the role of other members of the research team, if applicable.
Senior members – please distribute to your juniors.
If you have queries please contact Dr Jeremy Stern, at jstern@tourettes-action.org.uk
I am ready to submit!
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REGISTRATION

Registration rates

(unchanged since Brussels 2023)

I. Conference registration
Offers access to all lectures, BT workshops (EN & IT) & TTAG meeting.
The rates below apply to all those who will have become ESSTS members for the calendar year 2024.
Along with the ...more attractive registration fees, you greatly contribute to keeping this Society alive and allowing it to grow. 🙏
If you wish to become an ESSTS member, please click here, or alternatively you may add this year's membership directly when you register for the meeting below.
(To view "non-member" rates, simply click on the respective button)
Senior ESSTS members
Early bird rates | ESSTS Meeting
EARLY BIRD
until 7 April 2024
(midnight PDT)
€370
Junior* ESSTS members
Early bird rates | ESSTS Meeting
EARLY BIRD
until 7 April 2024
(midnight PDT)
€210
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior ESSTS members
Regular rates | ESSTS Meeting
REGULAR RATES
€475
Junior* ESSTS members
Regular rates | ESSTS Meeting
REGULAR RATES
€275
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior participants
Early bird rates | ESSTS Meeting
EARLY BIRD
until 7 April 2024
(midnight pdT)
€425
Junior* participants
Early bird rates | ESSTS Meeting
EARLY BIRD
until 7 April 2024
(midnight PDT)
€255
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior participants
Regular rates | ESSTS Meeting
REGULAR RATES
€530
Junior*  participants
Regular rates | ESSTS Meeting
REGULAR RATES
€310
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
II. Behavioural Therapy workshop in Italian; single-event registration
Offers access only to the selected workshop; available option for those participants who do not wish to attend the entire conference.
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Workshop in Italian for participants with basic training (3 hours)
€70
III. Patient associations & advocacy groups meeting; single-event registration
Offers access only to the specific event; available option for those participants who do not wish to attend the entire conference.
Organised by Tics and Tourette Across the Globe-TTAG
(4 hours)
€40
IV. Social event (optional)
Social event-dinner
Venue: Villa Panza | Thursday, 13 June 2024, from 20.00 CEST
*(MD/PhD/MSc students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
⚠️ Kindly note that we shall not be able to accommodate last-minute dinner registrations; if you wish to attend our social event, thank you for registering by Sunday, 2 June, at the latest.
V. TS-school; half-day training course on Tourette Syndrome
Venue: Palace Grand Hotel Varese | Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 13:00-18:00 CEST
Senior participants:
€100
Junior* participants:
€50
*(MD/PhD/MSc students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses)

Registration guidelines

Step 1: Register and purchase your ticket(s).
Use our online registration forms below to select your event(s), enter your personal details and proceed with payment.
Step 2: Conference confirmation & invoice
You will receive a confirmation email and a detailed invoice once your registration form(s) and payment have reached us.
Kindly note that if you have opted for payment via bank transfer this may take several days and that payment cannot be confirmed before receipt.
You may contact us separately if you require a custom invoice to submit to your institution for reimbursement purposes.
Abstract authors: Authors (or at least one person from their group) who submit abstracts will need to register for the conference before the submission deadline, 14 April 2024. In the rare event of an unsuccessful submission, authors may request a full registration refund until 2 weeks after the early bird deadline, –7 April 2024–.
COVID-19 measures: The health and safety of our attendees is paramount; all necessary measures and rules will be applied as announced by the Italian authorities. You may monitor government mandates and policy changes on the Ministero della Salute website.
Refund policy: If for reasons unrelated to public health measures you are unable to attend and need to apply for a refund, please consult our refund policy page.
Conference cancellation: In the unfortunate event of another conference cancellation due to restrictions imposed by the host country, ESSTS will fully reimburse all registered attendees.

Ready?

-Different types of conference tickets available within the form below, including social event.
-If you have already renewed your membership for 2024 you can benefit from ESSTS Members rates. If you haven't yet, you may add membership for 2024 directly into your basket ↓ and then select the Members rates that apply.
Register for the conference & social event
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IF you are NOT attending the main conference:
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Register for the  BT workshop
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IF you are NOT attending the main conference:
Register for the TTAG meeting (advocacy groups & patient associations)
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Switch ON & OFF the registration form!

All main conference sessions*
By registering below, you will receive your unique "Join" link allowing you to access all sessions throughout the meeting, as listed on the programme above.

⚠️*If you wish to attend one of the BT workshops as well, please register separately via the following form.

Behavioural therapy workshops

Please note that the BT sessions below run concurrently; register for the workshop that is most compatible with your current BT training.

I. Advanced participants
II. Beginner participants
Patient Associations session; Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG)
If you wish to strictly attend the patient associations session, (or in addition to the main conference), thank you for registering below.

When in Varese...

Accommodation & orientation

For those who have attended one of our meetings in the recent years; do expect this section to become enriched with suggestions, custom city maps and detailed transport instructions.
Listed as usual, the jetlag-proof way! 😉
If you wish to stay at the PGHV and benefit from a -5% preferential rate offered to conference attendees, please enter the discount code ESSTS when making your reservation directly via the hotel's website.
book your room
NAVIGATE! →