UTHealth Houston TSC experts lead on the international stage

September 4, 2026

McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston takes a collaborative approach to treating patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) with a team that spans multiple disciplines. This team regularly steps up to share their expertise on a large scale, most recently at two international meetings held this summer.

Collage of photos from TSC conferences

International TSC Consensus Conference

The 3rd International TSC Consensus Conference, hosted by patient-advocacy organization TSC Alliance (external link), met face to face July 29-30 in Aurora, CO. The output from this meeting sets the international standard of care for patients affected by TSC. The meeting includes experts in all areas affected in individuals who have TSC including brain (tumors, seizures, and TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders), lungs, kidneys, genetics, dermatology, dental, endocrinology, cardiology, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, imaging, and maternal-fetal health. Hope Northrup, MD, was privileged to co-chair the meeting. Multiple McGovern Medical School faculty co-chaired individual panels including: Laura Farach, MD (genetics); Lara Friel, MD, PhD (maternal and fetal health), Essam Imseis, MD (gastroenterology), and David Rodriguez-Buritica, MD (endocrinology). Additional McGovern Medical School faculty served on panels including Joshua Samuels, MD, MPH (nephrology) and Kate Richardson, MS, CGC (maternal-fetal health). The panels had been meeting for more than a year to review all the medical literature about their areas to decide on recommendations for diagnosis, surveillance, and management. A Delphi process is being employed to determine final recommendations. The goal is to publish the information by the end of 2026.

TSC World Conference

The UTHealth Houston TSC team then participated in the TSC World Conference held July 30-August 1, also in Aurora, CO. TSC World is a family-centered meeting organized by U.S.-based TSC Alliance (external link). The meeting had more than 2,000 attendees from all over the world. McGovern Medical school faculty and staff were active at the conference giving multiple presentations, moderating sessions, and serving on informational panels. Our participants included:

  • Dr. Samuels presented three sessions: Men’s Health Issues for Adults with TSC; Kidneys, Tumors, Cysts and Treatment Options; and Managing Progressive Kidney Disease
  • Dr. Friel presented two sessions: Health Issues for Women with TSC and Reproductive Decision Making and Childbearing Considerations
  • Dr. Farach presented one session: Future Role of Genetics in Personalized Medicine
  • Dr. Northrup was a panelist for TSC Clinic Healthcare Providers Meeting and moderated Future Role of Genetics in Personalized Medicine
  • Nurse Coordinator Claire Sartwell, BSN, presented two sessions: Accessing Early Childhood Services and Non-Medical Therapies and Navigating Insurance and Specialty Pharmacy
  • Dr. Rodriguez-Buritica presented one session: Other Organ Involvement Through the Lifespan
  • Kate Richardson presented one session, Health Issues for Women with TSC, and moderated Other Organ Involvement Through the Lifespan

Genetic Counseling Masters student Melana Vaughn attended the conference and had a table in the Research Room where she recruited participants for her thesis project exploring issues TSC patients have with sleep. She was aided by Luis Gonzalez, a clinical research coordinator for the UTHealth Houston TSC Center of Excellence.

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