EHA CONFERENCE IN ROMANIA 2025

We are excited to announce that the European Huntington Association will be organising its 5th Biennal Conference in Bucharest, Romania, from September 25th-28th, 2025.

“Shaping our Future Together, We are the Change!” encapsulates the spirit of this year’s conference, uniting the HD community to exchange experiences, explore care and treatment advancements, and find strength in togetherness.

Whether you are a family member, healthcare professional, friend, or volunteer, the conference is open to all who are impacted by or interested in HD. Join us to connect, learn, and take part in shaping a brighter future for the HD community.

Travel to Bucharest

The Conference location will be at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bucharest Convention Center, 3 5 A Poligrafiei Ave, Bucharest, Romania 013704

Bucharest Henri Coandã International Airport (OTP) offers direct flights to over 30 European countries, including key cities in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and many others.

The Ramada Plaza Bucharest Hotel, where the conference will be held, is located just 20 km from Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP). The most convenient way to reach the EHA Conference from the airport is by taking a taxi via the Bolt app, with an approximate cost of 10€ each way.

Kindly note that conference registration fees do not cover accommodation expenses. You are responsible for booking your own accomodation for the conference days.

If you plan to stay at the conference hotel, Ramada Plaza, take advantage of the special rates (subject to availability): €125 per night for a double room and €105 per night for single use. Rates include a buffet breakfast and access to the Vitality Wellness Club for a comfortable and relaxing stay.

Participants who wish to book must send a request to reservations@ramadaplazabucharest.ro and specify that they are coming to the EHA event in order to benefit from the preferential rates. The hotel will confirm the reservations at the agreed rates upon availability. We recommend booking in advance in order to benefit from preferential rates.

But don’t worry, there are many other options for accommodation nearby:

  • Currency: The official currency in Romania is the Romanian lei (RON).  The approximate exchange rate is 1 EUR ≈ 5 RON. Credit cards are accepted in many places. ATMs are also widely available.

 

  • Weather: In late September, the weather in Bucharest is generally pleasant and mild, with the end of summer and the arrival of autumn. Temperatures usually range between 15°C and 25°C, although on some days there may still be higher temperatures during the day, especially if the weather is sunny.

 

  • Local time: Bucharest follows Eastern European Time (EET), which is GMT+3 during daylight saving time (March to October)
 

If you’d like to support the EHA Conference and explore sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at astri@eurohuntington.org ​

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We are proud to share all the details about the EHA Conference Agenda and the speakers in every session and activity. Here you can see all the speakers and the session description.

Friday October 20th

Session 8:00 – 9:00

Rudy Vera

Activity Host
Rudy is caring for his wife with late stage HD. He is a physical activity enthusiast and has done several HD on the move activities with us in previous conferences.
Learn more about the session

Official Welcome and Greetings

Session 9:00 – 9:20

André Willems

Host
President of the Huntington Liga
Learn more about the session

Astri Arnesen

Host
Astri grew up in an HD family as her mother developed the disease throughout her adolescence. She has several family members affected by HD. In 2010 she tested negative for the HD gene. She has been involved in the HD community since the early 1980s. She got engaged in the EHA in 2010 and was elected President in 2016, a position she still holds.
Learn more about the session

Albert Counet

Host
President of the Ligue Huntington Francophone Belge
Learn more about the session

Hilde Crevits

Minister of Health in Flanders
Hilde is the Minister of Health in Flanders
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30 Years from the gene discovery. How far have we come?

Session 9:20 – 9:50

Astri Arnesen

Host
Astri grew up in an HD family as her mother developed the disease throughout her adolescence. She has several family members affected by HD. In 2010 she tested negative for the HD gene. She has been involved in the HD community since the early 1980s. She got engaged in the EHA in 2010 and was elected President in 2016, a position she still holds.
Learn more about the session

Session 10:00 – 11:15

Svein Olaf Olsen

Host
Svein Olaf is an HD family member. He is a board member of EHA and President for the Internation Huntington Association. When he met his wife she was at-risk for HD. They got 2 children.
Learn more about the session

Being at-risk

Session: The many faces of HD

Bruce Wilson

Speaker
Bruce is young IT guy from Scotland. He is at-risk for HD. He is active in the HD community in Scotland and internationally through his engagement in HDYO and HD-CAB.
Learn more about the session

Being HD gene positive

Session: The many faces of HD

Rob Haselberg

Speaker
Rob is a scientist and currently works for a small biotech company in the Netherlands. He tested positive for HD several years ago. Rob is very active in the HD community in the Netherlands as well as in EHA where he is a board member.
Learn more about the session

Being HD gene negative

Session: The many faces of HD

Saija Ristolainen- Kotimäki

Speaker
Saija is working for a patient organisation in Finland. Some years ago she tested negative for HD. Saija is very active in the HD community as President of the Finnish HD association and board member of EHA.
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Having HD symptoms

Session: The many faces of HD

Tess Persson

Speaker
Tess lives in Sweden and has early stage HD. She is active in the HD community both in Sweden and internationally through her engagement in HDYO and HD-CAB.
Learn more about the session

Care for someone with HD

Session: The many faces of HD

Javier Lafuente

Speaker
Carmen Fernandez has HD and is dependent on a lot of support and help. Her husband Javier is active in the HD community in Spain and share their journey together on social media.
Learn more about the session

Parallel sessions

Alzbeta Muehlbaeck

Host
Alzbetha is a medical doctor specialized in genetics and psychiatry. She has been working with HD patients and families for many years at the clinics in Taufkirchen and Ulm.
Learn more about the session

Rob Haselberg

Co-host
Rob is a scientist and currently works for a small biotech company in the Netherlands. He tested positive for HD several years ago. Rob is very active in the HD community in the Netherlands as well as in EHA where he is a board member.
Learn more about the session

Self-care and social activities

Conference dinner

20:00

Saturday October 21th

Session 8:00 – 9:00

Rudy Vera

Activity Host
Rudy is caring for his wife with late stage HD. He is a physical activity enthusiast and has done several HD on the move activities with us in previous conferences.
Learn more about the session

Physiotheraphy EHDN Working Group

Session 9:00 – 13:00

Multidisciplinary treatment and care EHDN working group

Session 9:00 – 13:00

Norwegian HD Network

Session 9:00 – 13:00

Huntington Liga HD day for families

Session 9:00 – 16:10

HD on the Move

Meet up at the front door of the conference venue and Rudy will lead the way through the beautiful landscape in Blankenberge. Bring comfortable shoes and clothes. No pressure to keep a high pace or go for a long distance. You can adapt to whatever level you want and are comfortable with. The important thing is to be active together and enjoy the fresh air and nice nature.

Activity host: Rudy Vera

Official Welcome and Greetings

Astri Arnesen, President European Huntington Association, Andrè Willems, President Huntington Liga and Albert Counet, President Ligue Huntington Francophone Belge will welcome us all to Belgium and tell a bit about HD in Belgium and the role of the associations.

30 Years from the Gene Discovery: How far have we come?

In 1993 the gene mutation causing Huntington’s Disease was identified.  This was a major breakthrough in HD research and we all thought it would lead to the development of treatments relatively fast.  Still we don’t have medicines approved but there has been made major steps forward.  Where has the gene discovery lead us in terms of research, clinical care and how has it impacted HD family members?

Host: Astri Arnesen

The many faces of HD

Each HD family member has a unique experience and journey. How does it influence your life?

Host: Svein Olaf Olsen

Speakers: Bruce Wilson, Rob Haselberg, Saija Ristolainen- Kotimäki, Tess Persson and Javier Lafuente

Being an HD family member and having babies

In this session we will have people tell about the choices they made in relation to have children. As HD is a hereditary disease it brings a lot of uncertainty on how and whether next generation will be affected. The gene discovery and medical
progress has provided us with several options to have children free of the HD gene. But is it a simple solution? Which attitudes and perceptions guide us when
making decisions?

Host: Alzbetha Muehlbaeck