Feb 6, 2026
Everything You Need to Know - U2FP’s Symposium
Matthew Rodreick
In less than two weeks, a diverse range of SCI stakeholders will gather in Washington, D.C. for our 20th Annual Science & Advocacy Symposium, happening Sunday, February 15 through Tuesday, February 17, 2026. If you haven’t registered, now is the time - we need your voice!
Conference
Everyone present will participate and share their perspective on Where We’ve Been, What We’ve Learned, Where We Are, What Needs to Change, and Where We Are Going. We have structured our agenda around these themes. Those areas of inquiry will be addressed by our great line-up of speakers, who represent every stakeholder group working towards functional recovery after SCI. The panel discussions and Question & Answer sessions are the heart of our meeting, which means you need to be there so that your point of view can help deepen the conversation.
Capital Roll
We’ve organized a third day of our symposium and have scheduled 50 meetings with legislators to make our case for expanding SCI research funding at the federal level. Here’s a recap of what we’re planning in case you missed it. Teams are being organized as we speak, with over 90 individuals preparing to Roll on the Capital to have scheduled meetings with key legislators and their staff.
Yaz Shah, Jason Stoffer and Karen Brunn in Washington D.C. advocating for the restoration of SCIRP a few months ago (left image). We currently have over 90 advocates signed up for 50 scheduled meetings during our February 17 Capitol Roll. But there's still room for you to join us!
The recent success of having SCIRP restored to near 2024 levels means we have some great momentum heading into these meetings. But $33M is nowhere near the amount of funding that this condition deserves. We’ll have t-shirts, fact sheets, team leads and a solid strategy ready to go - all we need is you!
Lodging
Our meeting will take place at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View hotel. While our room block is now completely full, there are still many competitively priced hotels within a few blocks of the symposium. Check out the Area Hotels portion of our Conference Hotel page for nearby lodging options.
Whova Event App
After you register, you can download our Whova event app (iOS | Android). It’s a great way to connect with other attendees. Beyond networking you can also use the app to coordinate social meet-ups, as well as ride or room sharing. Feel free to download the app once you’ve registered and link up with other attendees to maximize your experience ahead of the conference.
Discounts
Though our Early Bird discounts of nearly 30% have expired, you can still save 50% or more if you are a person with an SCI, their parent/family member, or a student. Personal Care Assistants receive a free registration (limit 1/attendee). Details for claiming discounts are on our registration page.
Livestream Option
As in past years, we will have a livestream option for those who are unable to attend in person. Registration for the livestream will open on Friday, February 13, 2026. We’ll also announce it in this space. Please note: while Livestream attendees will be able to participate in Q&A sessions during the conference, they will NOT be able to participate in the breakout sessions on Monday afternoon, nor will they be able to join remotely in the Roll on the Capital.
Sponsors
This conference wouldn’t be possible without all of our incredible sponsors. Their support helps underwrite the discounts and grants we are able to give. They also offer an incredible array of products and services to the SCI community. You’ll have a chance to meet representatives from these organizations, biotech companies, foundations and health systems in person at our conference. Stop by their exhibiting booth or pull a rep aside during a break to learn more about what they do.
Title Sponsor
There are going to be so many opportunities to learn, connect and take action at this year’s Symposium. We are celebrating 20 years of bringing the SCI community together in a unique way and are anticipating a wonderful opportunity to challenge, encourage and collaborate with one another. We can’t do that without you.
Join us!
