Program
Music Centre, Kuopio, Finland | June 15–17, 2026
Day 1 – Monday, June 15, 2026
11:30- Registration, salad lunch available
13:00–14.00 Opening Ceremony & Welcome and History Remarks
13.00-13.20 Opening of the Symposium
Markus Forsberg, Dean of the Faculty of Health Science, University of Eastern Finland
Antti Hedman, Chief Executive Medical Officer, Kuopio University Hospital, Welfare County of North Savo
13.20–14.00 50 Years of Translational Neuroscience in Kuopio, Prof. Reetta Kälviäinen, Kuopio, Finland
14.00–15.30 Microglia-neuron interaction in brain diseases
Chair Prof. Tarja Malm
14.00-14.30 A microglia’s cell fate in Alzheimer’s disease, Prof. Michael Heneka, Luxembourg
14.30-15.00 Microglia-neurovascular interactions: roles beyond inflammation in health and CNS disorders, Prof. Adam Denes, Budapest, Hungary
15.00-15.30 Neuro-glia-immune mechanisms of synapse loss, Prof. Soyon Hong, London, UK
15.30–16.00 Coffee & Poster Session I
16.00–17.30 Multimodal Imaging the Brain Diseases and AI-enhanced imaging biomarkers
Chair Prof. Alejandra Sierra Lopez
16.00-16.30 Current and future role of PET imaging in Alzheimer’s disease research and diagnostics, Prof. Michael Schöll, Gothenburg, Sweden
16.30-17.00 From Visual Reading to AI-driven Analytics in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Adjunct Prof. Valtteri Julkunen, Kuopio, Finland and Adjunct Prof. Jyrki Lötjönen, Tampere, Finland
17.00-17.30 Multiscale imaging of the brain, Prof. Alejandra Sierra Lopez, Kuopio, Finland
18.00-19.00 Symposium Reception at Kuopio City Hall (Tulliportinkatu 31, 70110 Kuopio)
Day 2 – Tuesday, June 16, 2026
08.30–10.30 From Genes to Therapy in Neurodegenerative diseases
Chair Prof. Mikko Hiltunen
08.30-09.00 Etiology of normal pressure hydrocephalus, Prof. Neill R Graff-Radford, Jacksonville, USA
09.00-09.30 Outcome of normal pressure hydrocephalus, Prof. Ville Leinonen, Kuopio, Finland
09.30-10.00 Early cortical changes in Alzheimer’s disease involve a temporary phase characterized by distinct cellular states, Prof. Evan Z Macosko, Boston, USA
10.00-10.30 Characterization of Alzheimer’s disease-associated genetic variants and mechanisms in normal pressure hydrocephalus patient samples, Prof. Mikko Hiltunen, Kuopio, Finland
10.30–11.00 Coffee Break & Poster Session II
11.00–13.00 Biomarkers and Disease Modification: A New Era of Precision Therapy
Chair Prof. Eino Solje
11.00-11.05 Opening remarks
11.05-11.25 From Past to Precision: Lessons from the History of Neurology, Prof. Katharina Bürger, Munchen, Germany
11.25-11.45 Fluid Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases: From Discovery to Clinical Application, Prof. Eino Solje, Kuopio, Finland
11.45-12.05 Alzheimer’s Disease Modification: The Current Landscape and Future Horizons, Prof. Kristian Steen Frederiksen, Copenhagen, Denmark
12.05-12.25 Targeting the mTOR Pathway: Disease Modification in Epilepsy, Tuberous Sclerosis and Beyond, Prof. Laura Mantoan-Ritter, London, UK
12.25-12.45 Precision Medicine in Frontotemporal Dementia: From Genes to Targeted Therapies, Prof. Yolande Pijnenburg, Amsterdam, Netherlands
12.45-13.00 general discussion with all speakers
13.00–14.00 Lunch
14.00–15.30 Towards more precise care of epilepsies
Chair Prof. Heikki Tanila
14.00-14.30 Gene Therapy in Epilepsy From Bench to Bedside, Prof. Matthew Walker, London, UK
14.30-15.00 Modern Epilepsy Surgery, Dr. Leena Jutila and Adjunct. Professor Arto Immonen Kuopio Epilepsy Surgery Team, Kuopio, Finland
15.00-15.30 Multimodal approach to characterize surgically removed epileptogenic zone: from operating room to wet lab, Prof. Alejandra Sierra Lopez and Prof. Tarja Malm, Kuopio, Finland
15.30–16.00 Coffee Break
16.00–17.30 How Do We Get From Bench to Public Policy?
16:00-16:20 Sirpa Pietikäinen
Why Brain Health Matters for Europe
16:20-16:40 Kristian Steen Frederiksen
Investing in Brain Health – Industry, Innovation and International Cooperation
16:40-17:30 Panel discussion
Moderator: Eino Solje, Professor of Clinical Research, University of Eastern Finland
Panelists:
Sirpa Pietikäinen, Member of the European Parliament, Finland
Kristian Steen Frederiksen, Director of the Clinical Trial Unit, Danish Dementia Research Centre, Copenhagen
Reetta Kälviäinen, Professor of Neurology, University of Eastern Finland
Katariina Suomu, CEO, Finnish Alzheimer Association
Miia Kivipelto, Professor in Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet
19.00– Symposium Dinner at Hotel Scandic Kuopio (Satamakatu 1, 70100 Kuopio)
Day 3 – Wednesday, June 17, 2026
08.30–10.00 The Changing Landscape of Stroke in Young Adults and Children
Chair Prof. Pekka Jäkälä
08.30-09.00 Emerging Insights into Risk Factors and Etiology of Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults, Prof. Jukka Putaala, Helsinki, Finland
09.00-09.30 Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Cerebrovascular Disease in Children, Dr. Silva Lõo, Helsinki, Finland
09.30-10.00 Neuropathology and genetics of small vessel disease, Ass Prof. Liisa Myllykangas, Helsinki, Finland
10.00–10.30 Coffee Break & Poster Session III
10.30–12.30 Translating Brain Science Into Action: Mechanisms, Interventions, and Global Impact
Chair Prof. Alina Solomon
10.30-11.00 Dementia prevention from observation to action: innovative multimodal interventions in Finland and worldwide, Prof. Miia Kivipelto, Stockholm, Sweden
11.00-11.30 Mechanisms of multimodal lifestyle interventions, Ass Prof. Anna Matton, Stockholm, Sweden
11.30–12.00 Multinutrient intervention in Alzheimer’s disease: From synapse modulation to clinical trials, Prof. Tobias Hartmann, Saarbrücken, Germany
12.00-12.30 How does the air we breathe affect our brain health? Prof. Katja Kanninen, Kuopio, Finland
12.30–13.30 Lunch
13.30-15.00 Vision of the Future: From Research to Health Care Innovation
Chair and moderator: Director of the Neurocenter Finland, Eero Rissanen
13.30-13.35 Opening Remarks, Eero Rissanen
13.35-14.00 National Brain and Mind Flagship Concept, Prof. Mikko Hiltunen
14.00 -14.25 Building the Foundation for the cross-boundary collaboration, Eero Rissanen
14.30-15.00 Stakeholder Roundtable Discussion: Co-Creating Precision Neuroscience
15.00–15.30 Closing Ceremony & Farewell Address with afternoon snack