The 2018 Congenital Hyperinsulinism Family Conference in Fort Worth, Texas organized by Cook Children’s and Congenital Hyperinsulinism International (CHI) took place over last weekend, July 27-29.
150 people gathered including kids with HI, their siblings, parents, physicians, researchers, and members of the Biotech industry.
“Everything I heard this weekend was of benefit and provided me with new knowledge,” said one participant.
Participants learned all about congenital hyperinsulinism through presentations from specialists, panel discussions, small group interactive sessions, speed dating with the specialists, the sharing of family stories, and informal time for getting to know each other. From reports on new innovative treatment projects to living with HI from the perspective of the young people who live with it, there was something for everyone.
The conference was made possible thanks to sponsorships from members of the biotech community including Sweetest Sponsor: Rezolute, Gold Sponsor: Zealand, Silver Sponsor: Crinetics, and Bronze Sponsors: AmideBio and Xeris.
One participant said the most meaningful part of the conference was “hearing from other families about the struggles they go through on a day-to-day basis and knowing we are not the only parents going through the stresses of living with HI.”
Jennifer Schmitt, CHI Program Manager, said “The best thing about the conference for me was seeing all the kids having a great time.”
Adjacent to the conference room was the kids’ activity room. A volunteer staff organized by Cook Children’s put together a day and a half of fun for the HI community children attending the conference.
CHI is indebted to Cook Children’s for partnering with us on an incredible two days, lending so much expertise to the conference faculty and all the volunteers for the kids’ program. Experts from around the world also traveled to Fort Worth to share their expertise with conference participants.
Participants left with a sense of hope that there will be an even better understanding of HI in the future, with better treatments and a small army of HI advocates to raise awareness of the condition to save lives and prevent brain damage.
