Program (preliminary, will be updated)

Music Center, 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, Kuopio, Finland

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. Olli Gröhn

Detailed program tbc

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: Neill R Graff-Radford, Jacksonville, USA.

09:0O-09:30 Outcome of normal pressure hydrocephalus: Ville Leinonen, Kuopio, Finland

09:30 -10:00 Early cortical changes in Alzheimer’s disease involve a temporary phase characterized by distinct cellular states: 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: 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 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 Lopezand Tarja MalmKuopio, Finland

15:30–16:00 Coffee Break

16:00–17:30 Panel Discussion: How Do We Get From Bench to Public Policy?

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 tbc

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 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