Thursday and Friday will be filled with presentations from several experts delivering the most up to date information on mosaic Down syndrome and Down syndrome! 

The 2023 IMDSA Research and Retreat Conference includes educational sessions, support sessions, research participation sessions, and plenty of fun activities for community relationship building.

New this year, Dr. Colleen Jackson-Cook, Dr. Hiruy Meharena, and Dr. Ruth Brown have organized “Research to Application” (RAP) sessions on Conference Days 1 and 2 where internationally recognized thought leaders will share their discoveries for improvements in the health and quality of life for people with mosaic or non-mosaic Down syndrome.

 

        

Researchers will be available to meet with self-advocates and parents throughout the conference, with an option to schedule personalized appointments on Conference Day 2 and 3 to answer your specific questions, listen to your suggestions and experiences related to mosaic or non-mosaic Down syndrome. 

To get more information about the researchers that will be attending the Research and Retreat weekend, visit here. If you are interested in participating in research during the conference, you can indicate your interest by checking the box on the registration form indicating your interest in research participation. 

Approximately two weeks prior to our Research and Retreat Weekend, you will receive an email from IMDSA with details. This email is used to determine when your family will arrive at the conference, which research in which you want to participate, the form of Down syndrome your child has, as well as their age and gender. Once that information is received, another email will be sent to you by the Wednesday evening prior to the event with your research schedule for Saturday and any necessary documents or information needed for the research.

*Please note participation in research is optional and free of charge. *

NOTE: We have two hotels for our group.  

Residence Inn San Diego La Jolla
8901 Gilman Drive La Jolla, California 92037

Embassy Suites by Hilton San Diego - La Jolla
4550 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92122

Click below and choose the best hotel that fits your family's needs. 

San Diego International Airport is the most recommend airport to get to this year's R&R.

San Diego Airport Distance to hotels:

Residence Inn - 12 miles 

Embassy Suites - 13 miles

Los Angeles Airport (LAX) Distance to hotels:

Residence Inn - 112 miles 

Embassy Suites - 113 miles 

If LAX is your preferred airport and you do not want to rent a car and time allows, take the train!

Once you have landed take  The LAX FlyAway bus, or Uber to the LA Union Station. The buses offer convenient regularly scheduled roundtrips, seven days a week, between each terminal at LAX and the locations of Van Nuys and LA Union Station. Once at Union Station look for Amtrak. You will want to purchase your ticket for the Pacific Surfliner, from LAX union station to San Diego, CA - Old Town Transportation Center. It travels to San Diego with portions of the route hugging the Southern California coastline. It's a beautiful scenic ride! Cost is about $36 one way per person. Kids 12 and under ride half off with the purchase of an adult ticket. Please note that the Old town Center station is a platform only with no shelter. Once off the train you can take the ramp up to the parking lot and grab a uber to the hotel.