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 tbc
17.00–17.30 Multiscale imaging of the brain, Prof. Alejandra Sierra Lopez, Kuopio, Finland
Day 2 - Tuesday, June 16, 2026
8.30–10.30 From Genes to Therapy in Neurodegenerative diseases
Chair Prof. Mikko Hiltunen
8.30–9.00 Etiology of normal pressure hydrocephalus, Prof. Neill R. Graff-Radford, Jacksonville, USA
9.00–9.30 Outcome of normal pressure hydrocephalus, Prof. Ville Leinonen, Kuopio, Finland
9.30–10.00 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
Day 3 - Wednesday, June 17, 2026
8.30–10.00 The Changing Landscape of Stroke in Young Adults and Children
Chair Prof. Pekka Jäkälä
8.30–9.00 Emerging Insights into Risk Factors and Etiology of Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults, Prof. Jukka Putaala, Helsinki, Finland
9.00–9.30 Stroke in Young Adults and Children, Dr. Silva Loo, Helsinki, Finland
9.30–10.00 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