Neural-Immune Interactions: Immune Modulation of CNS Biology
Apr 11–14, 2027 | Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler, BC, Canada
Scientific Organizers:
Dimitry Ofengeim, Martin Kerschensteiner, and Soyon Hong
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Apr 11–14, 2027 | Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler, BC, Canada
Scientific Organizers: Dimitry Ofengeim, Martin Kerschensteiner, and Soyon Hong
Dimitry Ofengeim, PhD
Novartis
Dimitry Ofengeim, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and drug discovery leader focused on neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. He has worked in several drug discovery organizations including Biogen and Sanofi, and was a founder of Resilio Therapeutics. He currently leads the Neuroimmunology group at Novartis. His work has advanced understanding of immune responses in the CNS, with significant contributions to microglial and disease-associated mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. He has organized scientific sessions and brings translational expertise bridging academia and industry.
Martin Kerschensteiner, MD
Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
Martin Kerschensteiner, M.D., is the Chair for Neurosciences and Clinical Neuroimmunology and Director of the Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology at LMU Munich. His lab studies how interactions between immune and CNS-resident cells shape the course of neuroinflammatory conditions. He has extensive experience in organizing collaborative research and promoting early-career scientists as the Speaker of the Biomedical Center of the LMU Munich and executive board member of several collaborative research centers.
Soyon Hong, PhD
University College London
Soyon Hong, Ph.D., is a Group Leader and Professor at University College London whose research centers on neuroimmune mechanisms, including microglia-synapse interactions in brain homeostasis and pathology, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. She has made key contributions to understanding microglial roles in neurodegeneration and synaptic dysfunction, and how microglia are influenced by border immune cells and peripheral contributions including B cells and T cells. Her work integrates cellular and molecular approaches to define disease mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets in neuro-immune interactions.
Available Formats:
Supported by:
Livestream
In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = Livestream = In Person = On DemandMerchandise Options
Registration Options
Sunday, April 11, 2027
Fundraising
Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Monday, April 12, 2027
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Sea to Sky A
Welcome Remarks (Joint)
8:00–8:10 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Keynote Session (Joint)
8:10–9:00 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Alfred Njamnshi, University of Yaoundé
Infectious Disease Life-Time Impact on Cognition
Infectious Disease Life-Time Impact on Cognition
Molecular Insights into the Interplay between Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation (Joint)
9:00–11:30 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Li Gan, Weill Cornell Medicine
Converging Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration
Converging Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration
Mariko Bennett, University of Pennsylvania
The Potential of Microglia-Based Therapies in Neurodegeneration
The Potential of Microglia-Based Therapies in Neurodegeneration
David M Holtzman, Washington University
Innate and Adaptive Immune System in tau-Mediated Neurodegeneration
Innate and Adaptive Immune System in tau-Mediated Neurodegeneration
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Grand Foyer
Panel Discussion 1: New Modalities in Neuro-Diagnosis and Therapeutics (Joint)
11:40–12:40 PM
Sea to Sky B/C
Poster Setup
12:40–1:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
On Own for Lunch
12:40–2:30 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Symposia Spotlight 1
2:30–4:30 PM
Sea to Sky C
Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Glial and Innate Drivers of CNS Inflammation
5:00–7:00 PM
Sea to Sky C
Brad Zuchero, Stanford University
Cellular Mechanisms Driving Myelin Dysfunction in Disease
Cellular Mechanisms Driving Myelin Dysfunction in Disease
Soyon Hong, University College London
Microglia-Synapse Biology in Brain Homeostasis and Pathology
Microglia-Synapse Biology in Brain Homeostasis and Pathology
Martin Kerschensteiner, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
Myeloid Cell Actions and Interactions in the Inflamed CNS
Myeloid Cell Actions and Interactions in the Inflamed CNS
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Poster Session 1
7:30–10:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Tuesday, April 13, 2027
Poster Setup
12:10–1:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
On Own for Lunch
12:10–5:00 PM
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Sea to Sky A
The Role of the Adaptive Immune System Beyond Autoimmunity
8:00–11:00 AM
Sea to Sky C
Menna R Clatworthy, University of Cambridge
Immune Cells in Border Tissues Protect the CNS from Infection and Contribute to CNS Diseases
Immune Cells in Border Tissues Protect the CNS from Infection and Contribute to CNS Diseases
Arthur Liesz, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Deleterious and Beneficial Roles of the Adaptive Immune System following Brain Ischemia
Deleterious and Beneficial Roles of the Adaptive Immune System following Brain Ischemia
Doron Merkler, University of Geneva
Role of Tissue Resident T cells in CNS Infection and Immunity
Role of Tissue Resident T cells in CNS Infection and Immunity
Dimitry Ofengeim, Novartis
Interplay of the Innate and Adaptive Immune System in Neurodegeneration
Interplay of the Innate and Adaptive Immune System in Neurodegeneration
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
Grand Foyer
Panel Discussion 2: Different Perspectives on the Emerging Challenges/Opportunities for Research and Therapy in Neuroimmunology
11:10–12:10 PM
Sea to Sky C
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Career Roundtable
3:00–4:30 PM
Sea to Sky C
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Emerging Concepts of Neuro-Immune Communication
5:00–7:00 PM
Sea to Sky C
Michael T Heneka, University of Luxembourg
Structural and Molecular Bridges between Neurons and Microglia
Structural and Molecular Bridges between Neurons and Microglia
Isaac Chiu, Harvard Medical School
Neuronal Pathogen Sensing Mechanism in Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration
Neuronal Pathogen Sensing Mechanism in Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration
Rejane Rua, CIML
Exploring the Functions of the Immune Sentinels at the Brain Borders to Control Neuroinflammation
Exploring the Functions of the Immune Sentinels at the Brain Borders to Control Neuroinflammation
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Poster Session 2
7:30–10:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Wednesday, April 14, 2027
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Sea to Sky A
Translating Innovation: Clinical Advances in Neurodegeneration and Neuroimmunology (Joint)
8:00–11:00 AM
Sea to Sky B/C
Henrik Zetterberg, University of Gothenburg
Biomarkers in Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation
Biomarkers in Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation
Manuela Polydoro, MUNA THERAPEUTICS
Translational Biomarkers in Drug Discovery
Translational Biomarkers in Drug Discovery
James Keaney, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Targeting Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration in CNS Drug Discovery
Targeting Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration in CNS Drug Discovery
Joy Yu Zuchero, Denali Therapeutics Inc
Challenges for CNS Drug-Discovery
Challenges for CNS Drug-Discovery
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
Grand Foyer
Workshop: How we can Work Together to Strengthen our Scientific Integrity and Communication with Public and also the Current Naysayers about Translational Avenues in Neurodegeneration
11:10–12:10 PM
Sea to Sky B/C
On Own for Lunch
12:10–2:30 PM
Symposia Spotlight 2
2:30–4:30 PM
Sea to Sky C
Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Grand Foyer
Regulation of Immune Responses across Compartments
5:00–6:15 PM
Sea to Sky C
Andrew Yang, University of California, San Francisco
Decoding Immune and Protein Crosstalk between the Brain and Body
Decoding Immune and Protein Crosstalk between the Brain and Body
Maria Lehtinen, Harvard Medical School
The Choroid Plexus: A Command Center for Brain-Body Communication during Inflammation
The Choroid Plexus: A Command Center for Brain-Body Communication during Inflammation
Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
Closing Keynote Address
6:15–7:00 PM
Sea to Sky C
Daniel S. Reich, NINDS, National Institutes of Health
Combining Advanced Imaging and Biological Insights for Understanding and Treating Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Combining Advanced Imaging and Biological Insights for Understanding and Treating Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers)
7:00–7:15 PM
Sea to Sky C
Social Hour with Dinner
7:15–8:00 PM
Sea to Sky A
Cash Bar
8:00–11:00 PM
Entertainment
8:00–11:00 PM
Thursday, April 15, 2027
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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