Joint with: Neuroinflammation in Health and Disease
Neurodegeneration: From Neurocentric to System-Wide Perspectives
Jun 22–25, 2026 | Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Whistler, BC, Canada
Scientific Organizers:
Julia TCW, Christian Haass, and Emma Mead
Livestream
In Person
On Demand
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Jun 22–25, 2026 | Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Whistler, BC, Canada
Scientific Organizers: Julia TCW, Christian Haass, and Emma Mead
Julia TCW, PhD
Boston University
Julia TCW, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at Boston University and a Director of the Laboratory of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapeutics. Her research focuses on studying Alzheimer’s disease genetics and functional genomics, especially Apolipoprotein E (APOE), using computational approaches and leveraging human iPSC models for the development of therapeutic modalities. She has received numerous awards including being selected as a Toffler Scholar, a Druckenmiller Fellowship awardee and recipient of the Carol and Gene Ludwig Award for Neurodegeneration Research. She has organized and chaired several conferences, international scientific conferences.
Christian Haass, PhD
Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich
Christian Haass, Ph.D. is a biochemist with more than 35 years of leadership in the field. He is a Professor of Metabolic Biochemistry at the Ludwig-Maximiians-University, Munich and a member of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE-Munich), which he has led for over 12 years. Dr. Haass was a pioneer in revealing the molecular mechanisms leading to amyloid production, but also discovered protective microglial functions, which can be modulated using agonistic antibodies. He has organized the annual Eibsee Meeting on Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration for more than 20 years. Haass is a shared recipient of the Brain Prize with Bart De Strooper, Michel Goedert and John Hardy.
Emma Mead, PhD
Oxford Drug Discovery Institute
Emma Mead, Ph.D. is Chief Scientific Officer at Alzheimer's Research UK Oxford Drug Discovery Institute (ODDI). Prior to joining ODDI, Dr. Mead was a senior scientists and team coordinator at Eli Lilly, where she worked in target validation and early drug discovery for neurodegeneration and established an in vitro neuroinflammation assay platform. She currently leads Alzheimer's research at the ODDI utilizing human iPSC cultures for target validation and develops cell-based screening assays to support the advancement of neuroinflammatory projects.
Available Formats:
Supported by:
Livestream
In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = Livestream = In Person = On DemandMonday, June 22, 2026
Fundraising
Booking Function
Merchandise Options
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Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
Macdonald Foyer
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
Macdonald Foyer
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Frontenac Ballroom
Welcome Remarks (Joint)
8:00–8:10 AM
Macdonald ABCD
* Julia TCW, Boston University
Session Chair
Session Chair
Keynote Address (Joint)
8:10–9:30 AM
Macdonald ABCD
* Julia TCW, Boston University
Session Chair
Session Chair
Christian Haass, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich
Modulation of Microglial Function
Modulation of Microglial Function
Astrid Iversen, University of Oxford
Genomic Risk for Neuroinflammation
Genomic Risk for Neuroinflammation
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Macdonald Foyer
Integrating Degeneration and Inflammation (Joint)
9:50–11:30 AM
Macdonald ABCD
* Michael V. Sofroniew, University of California, Los Angeles
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Christian Haass, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich
Session Chair
Session Chair
Maria de Lourdes Gamez G Tansey, Indiana University
Role of Central-Peripheral Neuroimmune Cross-Talk in Neurodegeneration
Role of Central-Peripheral Neuroimmune Cross-Talk in Neurodegeneration
Bart De Strooper, University College London
Key Inflection Points in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis
Key Inflection Points in Alzheimer’s Disease Pathogenesis
Naresha Saligrama, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis
Short Talk: Specificity of CD4 T Cell Response in Parkinson Disease and in a Mouse Model of Synucleinopathy
Short Talk: Specificity of CD4 T Cell Response in Parkinson Disease and in a Mouse Model of Synucleinopathy
Pengjiao Wang, Boston University
Short Talk: Unique Progenitor Cells in the APOE3 Christchurch Brain and Their Potential Resilient Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease
Short Talk: Unique Progenitor Cells in the APOE3 Christchurch Brain and Their Potential Resilient Roles in Alzheimer’s Disease
Poster Setup
11:30–1:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
On Own for Lunch
11:30–5:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Panel Discussion: From Research to Clinical Practice
2:30–4:30 PM
Macdonald AB
* Julia TCW, Boston University
Emma Mead, Oxford Drug Discovery Institute
Christian Haass, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich
Kathryn Monroe, Denali Therapeutics
Justin Ichida, USC Keck School of Medicine
Haiyan Peng, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Dennis J. Selkoe, Harvard Medical School
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Macdonald Foyer
Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostic to Therapeutics
5:00–7:00 PM
Macdonald AB
* Kathryn Monroe, Denali Therapeutics
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Dennis J. Selkoe, Harvard Medical School
Session Chair
Session Chair
Yimin Zou, University of California, San Diego
Planar Cell Polarity Proteins in Synapse Degeneration
Planar Cell Polarity Proteins in Synapse Degeneration
Henne Holstege, Amsterdam UMC
Decoding Natural Resilience against Cognitive Decline: The 100-plus Study
Decoding Natural Resilience against Cognitive Decline: The 100-plus Study
Matthias Brendel, LMU Munich
Molecular Imaging with PET for Translation towards Therapeutics
Molecular Imaging with PET for Translation towards Therapeutics
Sam Gandy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Short Talk: Positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging with novel [64Cu]-NOTA-cyclic D,L-α-peptide ligands: Ab oligomer signals appear in the 5XFAD mouse thalamus before the cortex
Short Talk: Positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging with novel [64Cu]-NOTA-cyclic D,L-α-peptide ligands: Ab oligomer signals appear in the 5XFAD mouse thalamus before the cortex
Peisheng Xu, University of South Carolina
Short Talk: Brain-Targeted Nano-ERASER Downregulates PD-L1 for Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy
Short Talk: Brain-Targeted Nano-ERASER Downregulates PD-L1 for Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Women in Science Networking Event
7:05–8:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
* Julia TCW, Boston University
* Christian Haass, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich
* Emma Mead, Oxford Drug Discovery Institute
* Robyn S Klein, Western University, London, Ontario
* Maria de Lourdes Gamez G Tansey, Indiana University
* Henne Holstege, Amsterdam UMC
Poster Session 1
7:30–10:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Frontenac Ballroom
Disease Overarching Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases
8:00–11:00 AM
Macdonald AB
* Sam Gandy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Yimin Zou, University of California, San Diego
Session Chair
Session Chair
Julia TCW, Boston University
Astrocytic autophagic-lysosomal dysfunction induces lipid accumulation, tau pathology, and ferroptosis in APOE4 Alzheimer’s brain
Astrocytic autophagic-lysosomal dysfunction induces lipid accumulation, tau pathology, and ferroptosis in APOE4 Alzheimer’s brain
Justin Ichida, USC Keck School of Medicine
Using Patient Stem Cells to Identify Therapeutic Targets for Familial and Sporadic ALS
Using Patient Stem Cells to Identify Therapeutic Targets for Familial and Sporadic ALS
Tae Wan Kim, DGIST
Human Stem Cell-based Cell Replacement Therapy and Dopamine Neuron Senescence in Parkinson's Disease
Human Stem Cell-based Cell Replacement Therapy and Dopamine Neuron Senescence in Parkinson's Disease
Mike Gallagher, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Short Talk: Perturb-Seq in Human Microglia-Like Cells Links Neurodegenerative GWAS Variants to Causal Risk Genes and Shared Downstream Pathways
Short Talk: Perturb-Seq in Human Microglia-Like Cells Links Neurodegenerative GWAS Variants to Causal Risk Genes and Shared Downstream Pathways
Laura Bott, Northwestern University
Short Talk: Interindividual Variation in Proteostasis Shapes Resilience and Disease Trajectories in Protein Misfolding Disorders
Short Talk: Interindividual Variation in Proteostasis Shapes Resilience and Disease Trajectories in Protein Misfolding Disorders
Garrett Fogo, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Short Talk: Multi-omic Profiling of Human iPSC-derived Glial Cells Identifies Genetic and Molecular Drivers of Mitochondrial and Lysosomal Systems
Short Talk: Multi-omic Profiling of Human iPSC-derived Glial Cells Identifies Genetic and Molecular Drivers of Mitochondrial and Lysosomal Systems
Zhen Yan, State University of New York at Buffalo
Short Talk: Histone Demethylase PHF2 Regulates Inflammatory Genes in Alzheimer's Disease
Short Talk: Histone Demethylase PHF2 Regulates Inflammatory Genes in Alzheimer's Disease
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
Macdonald Foyer
Poster Setup
11:00–1:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Health Equity Panel (Joint) sponsored by The Burroughs Wellcome Fund
1:15–2:45 PM
Macdonald AB
* Maria de Lourdes Gamez G Tansey, Indiana University
Jennifer Manly, Columbia University
Kathryn Monroe, Denali Therapeutics
Dennis J. Selkoe, Harvard Medical School
Jamaine Davis, Belmont University
Career Roundtable (Joint)
3:00–4:30 PM
Macdonald AB
Erin E Gray, National Institute on Aging, NIH
Program Director
Program Director
Gabriella E Martyn, Arc Institute
Senior Scientist
Senior Scientist
Erin Knock, STEMCELL Technologies Canada Ltd
Associate Director
Associate Director
Sam Rose, Cell Press
Editor
Editor
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Macdonald Foyer
Myeloid-Based Disease Mechanisms for Neurodegenerative Diseases
5:00–7:15 PM
Macdonald AB
* Emma Mead, Oxford Drug Discovery Institute
Session Chair
Session Chair
* David Chambers, University College London
Session Chair
Session Chair
Marco Colonna, Washington University School of Medicine
Remote Presentation: Microglial Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Remote Presentation: Microglial Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Zhiqiang An, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Antibodies Targeting the LILRB2/TREM2 Axis in AD
Antibodies Targeting the LILRB2/TREM2 Axis in AD
Nalini R Rao, Gladstone Institutes
Physiological Brain Clearance Architecture Revealed by Neuronal Protein Tracing
Physiological Brain Clearance Architecture Revealed by Neuronal Protein Tracing
Jessie Premereur, VIB-CMN
Short Talk: ABCA7 Controls Microglial Activation in Alzheimer’s Disease by Regulating Phosphatidyl Inositol Metabolism
Short Talk: ABCA7 Controls Microglial Activation in Alzheimer’s Disease by Regulating Phosphatidyl Inositol Metabolism
Jean Paul Chadarevian, UC Irvine
Short Talk: Therapeutic Potential of iPSC-derived Microglia Replacement for the Treatment of GRN-related Frontotemporal Dementia
Short Talk: Therapeutic Potential of iPSC-derived Microglia Replacement for the Treatment of GRN-related Frontotemporal Dementia
Kimitoshi Kimura, Kyoto University
Short Talk: Immune Checkpoint Molecule Tim-3 Regulates Microglial Function and the Development of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
Short Talk: Immune Checkpoint Molecule Tim-3 Regulates Microglial Function and the Development of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Poster Session 2
7:30–10:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Frontenac Ballroom
Drug Delivery (Joint)
8:00–11:00 AM
Macdonald ABCD
* Lynette C Foo, F.Hoffman-La Roche
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Haiyan Peng, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Session Chair
Session Chair
Fiona C. Elwood, Janssen R&D
Developing Drugs for CNS Disorders: Considerations for Therapies That Cross the BBB
Developing Drugs for CNS Disorders: Considerations for Therapies That Cross the BBB
Kathryn Monroe, Denali Therapeutics
Targeting Co-Pathologies with TransportVehicle Engineered Antibodies for Alzheimer's Disease
Targeting Co-Pathologies with TransportVehicle Engineered Antibodies for Alzheimer's Disease
Sebastian Boland, Prevail Therapeutics, Eli Lilly
Gene Therapy for Type 2 Gaucher Disease — Interim Results From the PROVIDE Clinical Trial
Gene Therapy for Type 2 Gaucher Disease — Interim Results From the PROVIDE Clinical Trial
Christopher J. Barnum, INmune Bio Inc.
Selective Targeting of Soluble TNF to Mitigate Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Selective Targeting of Soluble TNF to Mitigate Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Emily Han, University of Pennsylvania
Short Talk: Understanding the Chemical and Biological Phenomena That Drive mRNA Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery to the Brain
Short Talk: Understanding the Chemical and Biological Phenomena That Drive mRNA Lipid Nanoparticle Delivery to the Brain
Urs Langen, Roche Innovation Center Basel
Short Talk: Beyond the Shuttle: Advances in Brain Delivery of Biologics for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Short Talk: Beyond the Shuttle: Advances in Brain Delivery of Biologics for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
Macdonald Foyer
Award Recipient Acknowledgement
9:20–9:25 AM
Macdonald ABCD
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Symposia Spotlight
2:30–4:30 PM
Macdonald AB
* Henne Holstege, Amsterdam UMC
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Hankum Park, Seoul National University
Session Chair
Session Chair
Theodore J Zwang, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Short Talk: Tau Drives Cell Specific Functional Isolation of the Hippocampal Formation
Short Talk: Tau Drives Cell Specific Functional Isolation of the Hippocampal Formation
Shuo-Chien Ling, National University of Singapore
Short Talk: Horizontal Transfer of Excess Cholesterol from Motor Neurons Enhances Myelination and Preserves Motor Circuit Function
Short Talk: Horizontal Transfer of Excess Cholesterol from Motor Neurons Enhances Myelination and Preserves Motor Circuit Function
Joshua Samuels, University of Virginia
Short Talk: SHP-1 Loss Enhances Microglial Immune Functions and Reduces Aβ Plaque Burden Via MMP-12-Mediated Degradation in Aβ Amyloidosis
Short Talk: SHP-1 Loss Enhances Microglial Immune Functions and Reduces Aβ Plaque Burden Via MMP-12-Mediated Degradation in Aβ Amyloidosis
Dominic Acri, National Institute on Aging
Short Talk: Transcriptional Reprogramming Links PIKfyve Inhibition to Microglial Activation
Short Talk: Transcriptional Reprogramming Links PIKfyve Inhibition to Microglial Activation
Thomas Marsh, Washington University in St. Louis
Short Talk: Integration of Human ADAD Models Implicates Neuronal β-Oxidation as a Core, Targetable Disease Mechanism
Short Talk: Integration of Human ADAD Models Implicates Neuronal β-Oxidation as a Core, Targetable Disease Mechanism
Rebecca L Pinals, Stanford University
Short Talk: Engineering a 3D Human Blood-Brain Barrier-on-Chip to Model Inflammation-Driven Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease
Short Talk: Engineering a 3D Human Blood-Brain Barrier-on-Chip to Model Inflammation-Driven Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease
Manisha Kunala, UMass Chan Medical School
Short Talk: Metabolic Rewiring Precedes and Predicts Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Progression
Short Talk: Metabolic Rewiring Precedes and Predicts Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Progression
Celia McKee, Merck
Short Talk: Automating High-Content Synaptic Imaging to Explore Recovery Potential in Amyloid Beta Immunotherapy
Short Talk: Automating High-Content Synaptic Imaging to Explore Recovery Potential in Amyloid Beta Immunotherapy
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Macdonald Foyer
Target-Based Therapeutics
5:00–6:30 PM
Macdonald AB
* Justin Ichida, USC Keck School of Medicine
Session Chair
Session Chair
* Jian Feng, University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Session Chair
Session Chair
Emma Mead, Oxford Drug Discovery Institute
USP11 Inhibitors and tau Proteostasis
USP11 Inhibitors and tau Proteostasis
Haiyan Peng, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Mivelsiran (ALN-APP), the First Investigational RNAi Therapeutic in Development for Alzheimer’s Disease and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
Mivelsiran (ALN-APP), the First Investigational RNAi Therapeutic in Development for Alzheimer’s Disease and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
Christiane D Wrann, Massachusetts General Hospital
How Physical Activity Protects the Brain—Cell by Cell—in Alzheimer's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
How Physical Activity Protects the Brain—Cell by Cell—in Alzheimer's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
Closing Keynote Address
6:30–7:15 PM
Macdonald AB
* Christian Haass, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich
Session Chair
Session Chair
Dennis J. Selkoe, Harvard Medical School
A Century of Alzheimer’s Research – Did We Finally Reach Our Goal?
A Century of Alzheimer’s Research – Did We Finally Reach Our Goal?
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions
7:15–7:30 PM
Macdonald AB
* Julia TCW, Boston University
Session Chair
Session Chair
Social Hour with Dinner
7:30–8:15 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Entertainment
8:00–9:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Cash Bar
8:00–9:00 PM
Frontenac Ballroom
Friday, June 26, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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