October 2026 Newsletter
EVENTS
THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL LOOK. WALK!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Look. Walk 2026 at Boston Common and virtually from across the country and around the world! We extend a special thank you to Jennifer Vitelli, Executive Director of Look. Foundation; Senator Patrick O’Connor; Representative Kate Lipper Garabedian; Dr. Nancy O’Hara, our keynote speaker; and Kate Landis, PANS/PANDAS survivor, for sharing their voices, experiences, and support for our community. We are also incredibly grateful to our Trailblazer Sponsor, E.G. Sawyer, along with all of our sponsors, volunteers, walkers, donors, and supporters who helped make this event possible. Together, we continue to raise awareness for PANS/PANDAS and support children, young adults, and families navigating these conditions. Thank you for being part of the Look. community and helping move our mission forward!
WORLD PANS/PANDAS AWARENESS DAY
On World PANS/PANDAS Awareness Day, Look. Foundation teamed up with Inflamed Brain Alliance, alongside 20 other partner organizations, to shine a light on PANS/PANDAS and the urgent need for greater awareness, understanding, and research. Together, we helped bring this message to communities around the world, with 328 confirmed landmarks across 10 countries lighting up green in support of individuals and families affected by these conditions. Every landmark illuminated represents an opportunity to spark conversation, educate communities, and remind families that they are not alone.
We are grateful to everyone who helped make this global show of support possible. By coming together across communities and countries, we can continue to elevate the voices of affected families, advocate for progress, and work toward a future where every family has access to the understanding, resources, and care they deserve.
THE FIRST LOOK. CLASSIC IS ALMOST HERE!
On Monday, October 19, we’re heading to Marshfield Country Club for the inaugural Look. Classic: Changing the Course for PANS/PANDAS Families.
Join us for an unforgettable day of golf, on-course challenges, dinner, inspiring stories, and community, all while raising critical funds to support children, young adults, and families affected by PANS and PANDAS.
LITERATURE
“100 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT PANS/PANDAS” COMING SOON"
The much-anticipated “100 Questions and Answers About PANS/PANDAS” has been nearly two years in the making, beginning with Michigan State University School of Journalism students and supported by leading nonprofits. The project also received guidance from Dr. Jennifer Frankovich and Dr. Susan Swedo, whose team at NIMH helped identify the link between Group A Strep and PANDAS. Houston-based writer, editor, and PANS advocate Ann Worley of Front Edge Publishing leads the project, featured in her blog post, “What You Don’t Know Could Save Someone’s Life.”
GRANTS
THE LOOK. GRANT ROUND IS OPEN!
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATIONS BY DECEMBER 3, 2026.
The Look. Grant is now open!
For families navigating PANS/PANDAS, getting the right support can make all the difference. The Look. Grant provides financial assistance to help families access care and resources for their children.
If your child is affected by PANS/PANDAS, we encourage you to learn more, donate, or apply.
CONFERENCES
ONE BODY: THE ALEX MANFULL FUND’S IN-PERSON SYMPOSIUM
Clinicians & researchers: Register for The Alex Manfull Fund Symposium on November 14th in Portsmouth, NH. This event brings together leading experts to explore the research & clinical advances in PANS/PANDAS & other immune-mediated neuropsychiatric disorders.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
INFLAMMATORY BRAIN DISORDERS CONFERENCE 2027
May 20 – 21, 2027
A virtual CME event — 12.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
8:00 am – 4:30 pm PT each day
Hosted by Neuroimmune Institute in partnership with Neuroimmune Foundation and accredited in collaboration with The Wisconsin Medical Society.
The Inflammatory Brain Disorders Conference features nationally and internationally renowned experts skilled in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches who will present a diverse range of emerging clinical and research challenges, insights, and advances in the field of inflammatory brain disorders. Presentations are carefully selected to familiarize attendees with rapidly developing research and to educate clinicians on the latest understanding of treatment options.
MDs/DOs/NPs/PAs: Claim your free waiver while supplies last.
BLOG
NEW LOOK. FORWARD BLOG POST
From the football field to the front lines of medicine. For Trent Odom, the journey with PANDAS/PANS brought years of uncertainty, challenges, and a long road to recovery. Today, he’s a biochemistry pre-med student at LSU with a mission to help other children and families find answers sooner. In our latest blog, Trent shares his story, the family who never stopped advocating for him, his return to school and football, and his dream of becoming a pediatric neurologist specializing in PANDAS/PANS.
His message is one of hope, perseverance, and the importance of looking beyond behavior to understand what a child may be going through.
FUNDRAISERS
LOOK. IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!
Ready to make your birthday mean even more?
Celebrate with purpose by turning your special day into an opportunity to give back. With Look. It’s My Birthday, you can invite friends and family to donate to Look. Foundation, helping children and young adults affected by PANS/PANDAS access the care and support they need. Make your birthday count toward something bigger and help make a difference for families navigating PANS/PANDAS.
The Look. Foundation is dedicated to changing the course of mental health by ensuring that no child or young adult with PANS/PANDAS is missed.
