Our History

Established in 2002, the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation is the patient advocacy group for those living with Phelan-McDermid syndrome.

Timeline

1985 – Watt et al described a child with a recombinant chromosome 22 whose parent had an inversion of 22. The recombinant chromosome had a deletion of 22q13.

1988  – first report of a deletion of 22q13 with associated hypotonia described by Phelan and Rogers (and GGC group) Drs. Katy Phelan, Curtis Rogers and Robert Saul of the Greenwood Genetic Center in Greenwood, South Carolina, present information at the American Society of Human Genetics meeting about a case they identified where a patient was missing a portion of the long arm of chromosome 22

1992

1st Case Report Published 

This case study followed a child through three years of age including biochemical studies and molecular studies carried out by Drs. Katy Phelan and Heather McDermid. This publication gained the attention of parents of children with similar deletions who were curious about the affects on other children.

1998

1st Family Support Group Meeting Held

The 22Q13 Deletion Family Support Group met for the first time in Greenville, South Carolina where 20 of the 23 families known to be affected by 22q13 Deletion Syndrome attend. The Greenwood Genetic Center and The Mikel Foundation underwrite the meeting, which ultimately becomes the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF) International Family Conference.  The first edition of the 22Q13 Deletion UPDATE quarterly newsletter is published.

2000

Biennial Family Conference Established

  • The 22Q13 Deletion Family Support Group meets for the second time in Columbia, South Carolina where more than 30 families attend. 
  • The conference is established as a biennial event, and membership approximately doubles throughout the year.

2002

Board Of Trustees Elected

  • Planning begins to establish the 22q13 Deletion Syndrome Foundation with the election of a Board of Trustees and the appointment of an Advisory Board.  Parents suggest naming the condition Phelan-McDermid Syndrome after Dr. Katy Phelan and researcher Heather McDermid.
  • The third family conference is held in Greenville where more than 40 families attend and membership surpasses the 100 mark. 
  • Families in the United Kingdom form a regional support group that meets for the first time.

2003

Achieve Non-Profit Status

  • The 22q13 Deletion Syndrome Foundation is federally recognized as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization and the first Board meeting is held.
  • “Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS)” is adopted as the moniker for “22q13 Deletion Syndrome”.

2004

Regional Representative Program Established

  • The Regional Representative Program is established to provide local support to families with PMS.
  • The fourth family conference is held in Greenville where 60 of the approximately 200 families affected by PMS attend.

2006

5th Family Conference Held

  • The fifth biennial family conference is held in Greenville where approximately 100 of the nearly 300 families affected by PMS attend of which 50 are first time attendees. 
  • The Board and volunteers take a lead role in planning and running the conference.

2008

Family Conference Goes International

  • The sixth biennial family conference is held in Greenville, marking its 10th anniversary while establishing it as an international conference. 
  • More than 110 families worldwide, totaling more than 450 people, attend the conference where a new logo is unveiled. 
  • The conference coincides with PMS Awareness Week in South Carolina along with 8 other states and Canada.

2010

First Research Strategic Plan Developed

  • The first strategic plan for science to advance PMS research is developed.
  • A new name and website are launched for the Foundation:  Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation (PMSF).
  • The PMSF opens its first international headquarters in Venice, Florida.
  • The seventh biennial PMSF International Family Conference is held in Greenville where 110 of the approximately 600 families known to be affected by PMS attend.

2011

PMS International Registry Launched

  • The PMS International Registry (PMSIR) is launched.
  • The first PMS Symposium is held in New York City.

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2013

Global Partners Program Established

  • The Global Partners program is established, formalizing the affiliation of PMS groups in other countries with the PMSF. 
  • The PMSF organizes the Banbury meeting, bringing together scientists from around the world to address bottlenecks in PMS translational research.

2014

PMS International Registry Joins PCORNet

  • The PMS International Registry joins PCORNet, the National
    Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, established by the
    Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
  • The third PMS Symposium is held in Washington, D.C. and the first Washington, D.C. PMS Awareness effort is organized in conjunction with Rare Disease Day.
  • The first Phelan Lucky shirt sale campaign is held to raise awareness of PMS.
  • A new PMSF logo is launched to reflect the worldwide network of stakeholders raising awareness, supporting families & accelerating research. 
  • The ninth biennial PMS International Family Conference is held in Orlando where more than 900 people from 13 countries attend.

2016

Fundraising Exceeds Expectations

  • The Phelan Lucky Campaign and Giving Challenge exceed Fundraising expectations.
  • The first PMSF informational video is released.
  • The tenth biennial PMSF International Family Conference is held in Orlando where 150 families from 10 countries attend and the first Phelan-McPosium is held in conjunction with the conference.

2018

First Executive Director Is Hired

  • First Executive Director and Registry Coordinator are hired
  • DSC Adult Natural History Study
  • The eleventh biennial PMSF International Family Conference is held

2019

Established Scientific and Medical Advisory Committees

  • Established Scientific Advisory Committee
  • Established Medical Advisory Committee
  • DSC Natural History Study
  • Regional REP Training
  • Boston Regional Conference

2020

First Board Of Directors Transition

  • First Board of Directors Transition
  • Biennial PMSF International Family Conference goes virtual
  • DSC Phase II Natural History Study
  • PMSF international membership exceeds 2500 individuals

2021

First Board Of Directors Transition

  • Covid Resoures
  • PMS Data Hub
  • New Website
  • Expand Science Partnerships
  • Added SAC members
  • Created webinar resources
  • Worked on Clinical Consensus Guides
  • Support Natural History Study
  • Create Reason for Being

 

2022

Hired Family Support Specialist

Virtual Conference

  • Strategic Plan for Science, Development, Family Support
  • Pharma Partnerships
  • ICD-10 application
  • CANDID Webinar,
  • PFDD meeting
  • In-person gatherings
  • Peer support training
  • Over 3100 members

20th Anniversary

PMSF founders, Curtis Rogers, MD, Katy Phelan, PhD, Susan Lomas, and Nick Assendelft, come together to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation.

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