Events for Researchers

FOP Drug Development Forum

2024 Drug Development Forum

The International FOP Association (IFOPA) will host the 6^th FOP Drug Development Forum (DDF) in Stockholm, Sweden on Thursday, June 27 and Friday, June 28, 2024, with a Welcome Reception on Wednesday, June 26. The DDF is a unique opportunity to share innovative research, foster collaboration, network, and advance therapies for people living with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP).

Registration
Due to the content being shared, the DDF is a meeting designed only for researchers, clinician scientists, pharmaceutical/biotech employees, and employees of regulatory agencies.

As we offered in 2022, there will be a virtual attendance option for the DDF as well. Attending virtually provides the ability to watch the sessions remotely. DDF sessions are NOT posted on the IFOPA website or YouTube channel. You must be registered to watch virtually or attend the DDF in person. Registration will open on January 8, 2024.

	Early Registration Through March 1	Regular Registration Beginning March 2
Academic Researchers & Clinician Scientists	$350 USD	$450 USD
Employees of Regulatory Agencies	$350 USD	$450 USD
Biotech, Pharma & All Other Corporate Entities	$550 USD	$650 USD

Call for Oral Presentations and Posters
The Call for Oral Presentations and Posters will follow the schedule listed below. Learn more and apply

January 8, 2024

Call for Presentations Announcement
(Unpublished data or data not published before January 1, 2023)

February 19, 2024

Abstract Submission Deadline

March 15, 2024

Presenters Notified

May 10, 2024

Submission Deadline for Late-Breaking Data (Data published February - May 2024)

May 20, 2024

Late-Breaking Presenters Notified

Hotel Venue and Sleeping Room Rate
The DDF venue is the Elite Hotel Marina Tower in Stockholm. The special DDF sleeping room rate is 1900sek per night including vat and breakfast (single) and 2000sek per night including vat and breakfast (double). This rate is available until May 27, 2024. There is a limited number of rooms, so you are advised to book early. To confirm the room, you need to pay in advance with a credit card at the time of booking. The reservation can be canceled free of charge 30 days before arrival. Book now

Travel and Lodging Stipends
There are a limited number of stipends available. The travel and lodging stipends provided by the IFOPA are intended to serve as a resource for academic researchers and clinician scientists who don't otherwise have the budget to attend the FOP Drug Development Forum (DDF). The following stipends are available:

Travel stipend for a refundable economy class ticket with reserved seating
Lodging stipend to cover up to 3 nights of lodging (June 26, 27, 28)

The stipend application deadline is February 9, 2024. Learn more and apply

Invitation Letter for Visas
If you require an invitation letter to obtain a travel visa, please email us at [email protected].

Sponsorship
Each year we offer varying levels of sponsorship which include, among other entitlements, complimentary registrations for the DDF. To receive a sponsorship prospectus, email us at [email protected].

Questions?
You can direct any questions to [email protected]. Respondents are in the United States in the Central time zone and respond on business days typically within 24 to 48 hours.

2022 Drug Development Forum

The 2022 DDF was held as a hybrid event November 10-12, 2022, with in-person attendees joining us in Dallas, Texas. More than 200 researchers, clinician scientists, and biotech and pharmaceutical company representatives from 16 countries came together to hear and discuss 35 unique talks. Each year the opening and closing talk of the DDF are delivered by a person living with FOP and a parent of a child with FOP. Another key highlight of the event is a panel on patient perspectives in drug development.

Before the start of the DDF, Dr. Benjamin Levi, UT Southwestern Medical Center, chaired the second Traumatic HO & FOP Symposium which was also offered as a hybrid event. At the close of the DDF, Dr. Levi summarized the talks from both events and highlighted opportunities for researchers in both traumatic HO and FOP to work more closely together.

2019 Drug Development Forum

The International FOP Association (IFOPA) held its fourth DDF on November 13-14, 2019, in Orlando, Florida. The 2019 DDF attracted participants from 19 different countries around the world. Attendees included approximately 160 researchers, clinicians, biotech and pharmaceutical company representatives, and regulators. People living with FOP and parents gave the opening and closing talks and served as panelists to bring the “patient voice” to the discussions about FOP research.

Learn more about the DDF including the keynote address given by Dr. Emil Kakkis, President and CEO, Ultragenyx and President, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases.

2017 Drug Development Forum

FOP Italia and the International FOP Association hosted the third Drug Development Forum in Alghero, Sardinia, Italy, October 13 and 14, 2017. More than 170 researchers, clinicians, biotech and pharmaceutical company representatives, advocates and patients came together to share key learnings and connect. The 2017 event brought many new researchers and clinicians, including scientists and physicians from China, India, Russia and South Korea. Over 30 FOP “talks” were given during the two-day meeting and focused on wide-ranging topics from basic FOP biology to new therapeutic approaches to updates. Learn more about the FOP Talks given by experts from around the world.