MDS-PAS Genetics of Movement Disorders online course reaches 600+ participants

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The MDS-PAS Genetics of Movement Disorders online course was December 1-2, 2025 and covered a broad range of genetic aspects of movement disorders. The program addressed topics including epidemiology, clinical phenomenology of genetically determined movement disorders, diagnostic approaches to genetic testing, and new treatment options for genetic movement disorders.

The course was directed by José Luiz Pedroso and Orlando Barsottini (Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil), together with Malco Rossi (Fleni, Buenos Aires, Argentina).

The faculty comprised 10 experts from the MDS-PAS regional section, including Francisco Cardoso (Brazil), Alberto Espay (USA), Emilia Gatto (Argentina), Marcelo Kauffman (Argentina), Mario Cornejo Olivas (Peru), Niccolò Mencacci (USA), Liana Rosenthal (USA), along with the three course directors.

Faculty lectures covered key topics such as:

Epidemiology of genetic movement disorders in the Americas and opportunities for collaborative research networks. Indications for genetic testing, barriers to access to genetic technologies, and genetic counseling practices. The importance of clinical phenomenology for interpreting genetic test results. Diagnostic strategies following negative exome sequencing. Current and emerging treatments for genetic movement disorders. Major movement disorder phenotypes, including Parkinson’s disease and other parkinsonisms, dystonia, chorea, and ataxia.

 

The two-day program also included a live faculty panel discussion session featuring six interactive and instructive case presentations, moderated by invited experts and fellows: Christopher Stephen (USA), Sheng-Han Kuo (USA), Mevish Siddiq (USA), Raphael da Hora (Brazil), Yu Zheming (USA), Anna Maria Gomes (Brazil), and Florencia Wainberg (Argentina).

A total of 648 participants from across the Americas and other regions attended the course. The high level of engagement throughout the lectures and case discussions underscored the strong and growing interest in the field of genetic movement disorders.

Participants actively engaged through real-time Q&A, with discussion sessions highlighted as particularly valuable. Live case discussions of challenging diagnoses facilitated diagnostic reasoning, with trainees contributing alongside expert faculty.

We thank the MDS-PAS leadership and Eric Johnson, MDS-PAS Secretariat Liaison, for their support and for ensuring the smooth and successful execution of the course. We are also deeply grateful to the faculty for dedicating their time and expertise to training clinicians and scientists, with the shared goal of improving the care and management of patients with genetically determined movement disorders.

Building on the success of this inaugural course, we aim to continue its development in the coming years and envision it as a model for regional and global initiatives advancing research, education, and care in genetic movement disorders.

View other upcoming courses in the MDS Pan American region »