Program
Music Centre, Kuopio, Finland | June 15–17, 2026
Day 1 – Monday, June 15, 2026
13:00–14.00 Opening Ceremony & Welcome and History Remarks
13.00-13.20 University & Hospital Leadership
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
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, 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 Panel Discussion: How Do We Get From Bench to Public Policy?
19.00– 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, 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 (hot topics)
Detailed program tbc
15.00–15.30 Closing Ceremony & Farewell Address with afternoon snack