ASPIRE Blog

Dritain Agalliu, PhD, is co-organizing the virtual Brain Barriers research conference in Cold Spring Harbor, NY on April 7 – 9, 2021.  Abstract deadline is January 29, 2021.  The conference is open to scientists, doctors, and undergraduate, graduate, and medical students working in the field.

Presenting a Panel on General Curriculum Access for Students with PANS PANDAS at CEC National Convention Session Date: Friday, March 12, 2021, at 4:00 PM Session Abstract: This presentation provides an overview of how PANS/PANDAS impacts classroom functioning across physical, socio-emotional, academic, and behavioral domains. Presenters will describe strategies and initiatives to support students with […]

Enroll in the PANS Epidemiology Study Today I am excited to share a recent conversation with Jessica Gavin, PRAI Board Chair & IPR Principal Investigator, to talk about the International PANS Registry (IPR) and the PANS Epidemiology Study with you! Let’s dive right in. – Gabriella True, ASPIRE President. Please note PANDAS is a subset […]

New clinical trial on the use of Aleve for symptoms of OCD in PANDAS patients. Kyle Williams, MD from MGH is the lead investigator on this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Details on eligibility are on the Clinical Trials website.

Maternal Autoimmunity and Inflammation are Associated with Childhood Tics and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Transcriptomic Data show Common Enriched Innate Immune Pathways Hannah F. Jones, Velda X. Han, Shrujna Patel, Brian S. Gloss, Nicolette Soler, Alvin Ho, Suvasini Sharma, Kavitha Kothur, Margherita Nosadini, Louise Wienholt, Chris Hardwick, Elizabeth H. Barnes, Jacqueline R. Lim, Sarah Alshammery, Timothy C. […]

On behalf of ASPIRE, thank you for your ongoing support, and we hope you have a happy and healthy New Year!

Editor’s Note: Genes, Cells, and Neural Circuits Relevant to OCD and Autism Spectrum Disorder Ned H. Kalin, M.D. Published Online:1 Jan 2021 DOI 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20111605 Read Editor’s Note “These cross-species translational data are potentially exciting and serve to focus the search for the pathophysiology of PANDAS toward a specific class of inter-neurons within the striatum that […]

Predictors and Prospective Course of PANS: A Pilot Study Using Electronic Platforms for Data Collection Conclusion: Our study highlights the utility of electronic methods for tracking longitudinal symptoms in children with PANS and suggests that particular baseline characteristics (e.g., delay in identification and treatment of PANS, greater caregiver burden) may be indicative of a differential […]

Michael McCartney serves as ASPIRE’s Vice President and focuses on organizational strategy, community engagement, communications, and fundraising.

Despite the challenges of 2020, we are proud to report that the ASPIRE community continues to grow in size, support, and strength. We are grateful to all of you for your contributions: the clinicians, researchers, educators, parents, families, volunteers, and friends for your tireless commitment to those impacted by PANS/PANDAS. 

“The goal of this project is to challenge the narrative about who in this country is on the front lines of the fight against COVID 19 by honoring women of color physicians with portraits reflecting their determination, talent and tireless work.

“A small number of Covid patients who had never experienced mental health problems are developing severe psychotic symptoms weeks after contracting the coronavirus”