.png)
.svg)
Brussels, Belgium
15th European Conference on Tourette Syndrome & Tic Disorders
Save the date!
💡 Bookmark: the 15th European Conference will take place in Brussels on 7-9 June 2023.
On this page you will find information on the venue, the programme, submission guidelines (for abstracts, clinical rounds, Mary Robertson Award candiacies), registration rates & instructions.
This page is being continuously updated, keep on checking! 🚀
Format; quick overview
-Main conference
7-9 June
access to all sessions & workshops (EN/FR/NL) and TTAG meeting
-Behavioural Therapy workshop in French
7 June
also available as an independent event
-Behavioural Therapy workshop in Dutch
7 June
also available as an independent event
-TTAG-Patient associations session
7 June
also available as an independent event
NEW!
-TS-school; half-day training course on Tourette Syndrome
6 June
independent event
VENUE
Royal Museum for Central Africa
Congress centre
Leuvensesteenweg 13, 3080 Tervuren
visit websiteThe Royal Museum for Central Africa, commonly known as AfricaMuseum, reopened on 8 December 2018, after a five-year renovation. The permanent exhibition was outdated and its infrastructure was obsolete, but the biggest challenge was to present a contemporary and decolonised vision of Africa in a building which had been designed as a colonial museum.
In addition to the recently renovated museum, a new modern pavilion has been built by Stéphane Beel architects. It hosts a spacious, fully equipped congress centre where seminars and conferences can take place in the auditorium and several meeting rooms. The historic cellars of the AfricaMuseum and Bistro Tembo provide a special experience for an evening reception or a nocturne event.
Programme
click to view PDF version
I. Conference
Wednesday, 7 June 2023
Workshop;
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
13.00-15.00 (parallel session)
Workshop in English for participants with basic training
Trainers:
view programme
also available as an independent event
Workshop;
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
13.00-17.00 (parallel session)
Workshop in French for participants with basic training
Trainers:
view programme
Workshop;
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
13.00-17.00 (parallel session)
Workshop in Dutch for participants with basic training
Trainers:
view programme
also available as an independent event
Workshops; Behavioural therapy for tic disorders
15.00-17.00 (parallel session)
Workshop in English for advanced participants.
Focus on ASD & functional tics
Focus on ASD & functional tics
Trainers:
view programme
13.00-17.00 (parallel session)
Patient associations meeting organised by Tics and Tourette Across the Globe (TTAG)
view programme
also available as an independent event
18.00-19.00 (onwards!)
Opening ceremony
I. Keynote lecture:
Picking, pulling, and pinching: the role of habit and harm in TS
Picking, pulling, and pinching: the role of habit and harm in TS
Speaker:
Carol Mathews
II. Mary Robertson Award; winner & oral presentation
Awarded by surprise guest...🤫
III. Open-air apéritif at the AfricaMuseum terrace stage; getting together again!
Thursday, 8 June 2023
Pack your running shoes!
07.00
Morning run tradition continues, route TBA*
More info by our Chief Track & Field Officer: Nanette Mol Debes
*Weather & participation permitting, we shall repeat the run on Friday 9 June.
09.00-09.15
Welcome message by our host & local organisers
Genetics & imaging session
moderated by Kirsten Müller-Vahl
10.00-10.30
Enhancing neuroimaging genetics through meta-analysis for Tourette syndrome (ENIGMA-TS)
Speaker:
10.30-11.00
Discussion
11.00-11.30
Coffee break
12.30-13.30
Lunch break
13.30-14.00
General assembly meeting
+ Board elections 2023: e-voting begins!
ASD session
moderated by Tara Murphy
14.00-14.45
Autism - past, present and future
The evolving understanding of autism;
focusing on the neurodiversity perspective and thinking through the implications for the sorts of treatments & support that should be offered.
focusing on the neurodiversity perspective and thinking through the implications for the sorts of treatments & support that should be offered.
Speaker:
15.15-15.45
Coffee break
optional event
From 20.00
Social event-dinner at the Africa Palace
(adjacent to the congress centre & the AfricaMuseum)
From 18.00-20.00
AfricaMuseum private access
We have reserved the museum for an additional 2 hours after its closing time.
Attendees who register for the social event above, will receive a complimentary ticket to visit the museum during the late opening slot.
Attendees who register for the social event above, will receive a complimentary ticket to visit the museum during the late opening slot.
⚠️ 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 31 May, at the latest.
Friday, 9 June 2023
09.00-09.15
Welcome address by TTAG (Tics and Tourette Across the Globe)
10.30-11.00
Coffee break
12.30-13.30
Lunch break
13.30-14.15
Investigating the effects of median nerve stimulation on Tourette syndrome: clinical trial results
Speaker:
moderated by Andrea Cavanna
15.00-15.30
Coffee break
16.30-17.00
Closing ceremony
Best poster & best oral presentation awards
New ESSTS Board; election results
ESSTS Conference 2024 announcement
NEW!
II. TS-SCHOOL
Tuesday, 6 June 2023
13.00-18.00
Congress centre of the Royal Museum for Central Africa.
This is 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).
All presentations will be held in English.
The invited lecturers are world-renowned TS experts including board members of ESSTS.
Joining us from the University of Calgary:
Current board members:
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
13:00-13:25
Welcome
Andrea Cavanna
13:25-14:00
How to answer FAQ from patients and families on etiology and pathophysiology of tic disorders
Davide Martino
14:15-15:00
Comorbidity
Tamara Pringsheim
15:00-15:30
Coffee break
(foyer area)
15:30-16:15
Assessment, including differential diagnoses
Natalia Szejko
16:15-17:15
Treatment: pharmacological treatment, psychological intervention, deep brain stimulation
Kirsten Müller-Vahl & Andreas Hartmann
17:15-18:00
Cases: assessment and treatment
Nanette Mol Debes
SUBMISSIONS
Basic and clinical scientists, clinicians, 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).
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 9 April 2023 (midnight 🦉 EST)
Authors get notified on assigned format by Friday 14 April, 2023
⚠️ 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 (2 April 2023).
Please, follow the guidelines and detailed instructions below for each type of submission by clicking on the respective tab button:
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 14 April 2023.
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 ESSTS website in a digital form.
Authors may opt in the submission form below to have their abstract published on F1000 Research.
The final assignment, (poster or oral presentation), will be made by the scientific review committee and all authors will be notified by email by 14 April 2023.
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 ESSTS website in a digital form.
Authors may opt in the submission form below to have their abstract published on F1000 Research.
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
- Genetics and aetiology of Tourette syndrome and related disorders
- Neurophysiology and neuroimaging
- Clinical aspects including comorbidities
- Treatment
- Functional tic-like movements
- Other
For poster presentations:
All posters must be in English language
The preferred poster format is A0 portrait layout (841 x 1189 mm). 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.
🎤 This year, to ensure a visually optimised experience, we are inviting authors on stage to present their posters.
The A0 format posters will remain on display throughout the conference as we have traditionally done, the poster rounds however, will be held inside the auditorium where each author will present their (digital) poster on a large screen within the usual allocated time, ~3 minutes.
The A0 format posters will remain on display throughout the conference as we have traditionally done, the poster rounds however, will be held inside the auditorium where each author will present their (digital) poster on a large screen within the usual allocated time, ~3 minutes.
Thank you for submitting your work via the online form. If you encounter any difficulties you may submit it via email: submissions@essts.org
...Ready to submit?
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
There will be the usual interactive video & clinical round session on the second day of the conference (8 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.
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.
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.
Thank you for submitting your work via the online form below.
If you encounter any difficulties you may submit it via email: submissions@essts.org
If you encounter any difficulties you may submit it via email: submissions@essts.org
...Ready to submit?
Eligibility
All junior researchers, excluding research heads, senior clinicians and previous winners of the award.
The Professor Mary Robertson Award for Research Contribution will be presented on behalf of Tourettes Action (...by a surprise guest!) at the opening ceremony of the ESSTS Meeting in Brussels on 7 June 2023. The award will be made in honour of Professor Mary Robertson and includes a prize of UK £250.
She is the Life President of ESSTS and a Patron of Tourettes Action UK.
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, 3,000–5,000 words excluding references.
-Published or unpublished.
-Work should also be submitted as an abstract for presentation (see procedure by clicking on the "Abstracts" tab above).
Entries can include work presented at previous ESSTS meetings, but should also cover new ground in an abstract submitted for the 2023 meeting.
The winner will be invited to make a stage presentation, if not already selected to do so, through the abstract acceptance process. Please include the relevant abstract(s) with your entry.
-Must be written by the entrant with a statement indicating the role of other members of the research team, if applicable.
-Published or unpublished.
-Work should also be submitted as an abstract for presentation (see procedure by clicking on the "Abstracts" tab above).
Entries can include work presented at previous ESSTS meetings, but should also cover new ground in an abstract submitted for the 2023 meeting.
The winner will be invited to make a stage presentation, if not already selected to do so, through the abstract acceptance process. Please include the relevant abstract(s) with your entry.
-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.
Thank you for submitting your work via the online form. If you encounter any difficulties you may submit it via email: submissions@essts.org
...Ready to submit?
When in Brussels...
Accommodation & orientation
For the second consecutive year, our upcoming meeting will be held at a non–hotel-affiliated congress centre. To facilitate attendees with planning and arrangements we have prepared the following map featuring the closest accommodation options to the venue.
Kindly note that these hotels and B&Bs are merely suggestions, based on proximity and positive/acceptable reviews.
ESSTS is not in a position to vouch for these venues and despite our efforts, we have not been offered preferential rates for individual bookings.
The closest hotel to the venue is Hotel Rastelli, a lovely 15' walk from the AfricaMuseum. If you are certain that you will be attending our conference we urge you to make your reservation as soon as possible!
Open the legend of the map below to view the list of hotels and B&Bs and the main underground/tram stations serving the venue.
TIP: Click on this icon to open the legend of the map.
↘
Transport
Tram line 44, "One of the world’s great tram rides"
It starts in a gloomy Brussels underground station. But Tram 44 is one of the world’s great tram rides. Maybe not quite as thrilling as Lisbon’s famous Tram 28, but still a beautiful ride. And no tourists. The old yellow trams that run out to Tervuren are relics of the 1950s. No way you can board with a buggy or a bike. But they give the ride a nostalgic mood.
Hop on at Montgomery station; you will arrive at Tervuren (terminus) station facing the entrance of AfricaMuseum in 22'.
More information will be posted soon!
REGISTRATION
Registration rates
I. Conference registration
Offers access to all lectures, BT workshops (EN/FR/NL) & TTAG session
The rates below apply to all those who have become ESSTS members for the calendar year 2023.
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)
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
until 2 April 2023
(midnight EST)
(midnight EST)
€370
Junior* ESSTS members
EARLY BIRD
until 2 April 2023
(midnight EST)
(midnight EST)
€210
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior ESSTS members
REGULAR RATES
€475
Junior* ESSTS members
REGULAR RATES
€275
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior participants
EARLY BIRD
until 2 April 2023
(midnight EST)
(midnight EST)
€425
Junior* participants
EARLY BIRD
until 2 April 2023
(midnight EST)
(midnight EST)
€255
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
Senior participants
REGULAR RATES
€530
Junior* participants
REGULAR RATES
€310
*(MD/PhD students, postdocs, interns, residents, nurses, patient advocacy groups)
II. Behavioural Therapy workshop registration
Offers access only to the selected workshop.
Workshop in French for participants with basic training (4 hours)
€70
Workshop in Dutch for participants with basic training (4 hours)
€70
III. Patient associations meeting
Offers access only to the specific event.
IV. Social event
Social event-dinner
Africa Palace | Thursday, 8 June 2023, from 20.00
Senior participants:
€90
Junior* participants:
€45
*(MD/PhD 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 31 May, at the latest.
V. TS-school; half-day training course on Tourette Syndrome
Congress centre of the Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tuesday 6 June, 2023
Senior participants:
€100
Junior* participants:
€50
*(MD/PhD 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.
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.
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, 9 April 2023. In the rare event of an unsuccessful submission, authors may request a full registration refund until 2 weeks after the early bird deadline, –2 April 2023–.
COVID-19 measures: The health and safety of our attendees is paramount; all necessary measures and rules will be applied as announced by the Belgian authorities. You may monitor government mandates and policy changes on the Federal Public Service website.
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.
For more details, please visit our cancellation policy page.
For more details, please visit our cancellation policy page.
Ready?
(Different types of conference tickets available within the form below.)
Register for the conference
Register for the French BT workshop
Register for the Dutch BT workshop
Register for the patient association-TTAG meeting
Register for the TS-school
Submit your abstract
Submit your e-Poster / Oral presentation
Submit a clinical case
Professor Mary Robertson Award submissions
Hotel reservation request
NAVIGATE! →
