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
13.00-14.20 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 Valtteri Julkunen and Jyrki Lötjönen, tbc
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 Ass. 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, Ass 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 Stroke in Young Adults and Children, Dr. Silva Loo, 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 Session 7: From Synapse to Society/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 FINGER-based lifestyle intervention for adolescents and experience from DS-Finger in people with Down Syndrome, Prof. Andre Strydom, London, UK
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 Session 8: Vision of the future (hot topics)
Detailed program tbc
15:00–15:30 Closing Ceremony & Farewell Address with afternoon snack