Neural-Immune Interactions: Immune Modulation of CNS Biology (M2)
April 11-14, 2027
| Whistler Conference Centre, Whistler, BC, Canada
Dimitry Ofengeim, Martin Kerschensteiner and Soyon Hong
Scholarship Deadline: Dec. 16, 2026 | Abstract Deadline: Mar. 20, 2027 | Early Registration Deadline: Feb. 10, 2027
| 4:00–8:00 PM |
Registration |
Grand Foyer |
| 6:00–8:00 PM |
Welcome Mixer |
Grand Foyer |
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Sea to Sky A |
| 8:00–8:10 AM |
Welcome Remarks (Joint) |
Sea to Sky B/C |
| 8:10–9:00 AM |
Keynote Session (Joint) |
Sea to Sky B/C |
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Alfred Njamnshi, University of Yaoundé
Infectious Disease Life-Time Impact on Cognition |
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| 9:00–11:30 AM |
Molecular Insights into the Interplay between Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation (Joint) |
Sea to Sky B/C |
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Li Gan, Weill Cornell Medicine
Converging Molecular Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration |
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Mariko Bennett, University of Pennsylvania
The Potential of Microglia-Based Therapies in Neurodegeneration |
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David M Holtzman, Washington University
Innate and Adaptive Immune System in tau-Mediated Neurodegeneration |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 9:30–9:50 AM |
Coffee Break |
Grand Foyer |
| 11:40–12:40 PM |
Panel Discussion 1: New Modalities in Neuro-Diagnosis and Therapeutics (Joint) |
Sea to Sky B/C |
| 12:40–1:00 PM |
Poster Setup |
Sea to Sky A |
| 12:40–2:30 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
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| 1:00–10:00 PM |
Poster Viewing |
Sea to Sky A |
| 2:30–4:30 PM |
Symposia Spotlight 1 |
Sea to Sky C |
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Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
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| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
Grand Foyer |
| 5:00–7:00 PM |
Glial and Innate Drivers of CNS Inflammation |
Sea to Sky C |
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Brad Zuchero, Stanford University
Cellular Mechanisms Driving Myelin Dysfunction in Disease |
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Soyon Hong, University College London
Microglia-Synapse Biology in Brain Homeostasis and Pathology |
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Martin Kerschensteiner, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
Myeloid Cell Actions and Interactions in the Inflamed CNS |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 7:00–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Sea to Sky A |
| 7:30–10:00 PM |
Poster Session 1 |
Sea to Sky A |
| 12:10–1:00 PM |
Poster Setup |
Sea to Sky A |
| 12:10–5:00 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
|
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Sea to Sky A |
| 8:00–11:00 AM |
The Role of the Adaptive Immune System Beyond Autoimmunity |
Sea to Sky C |
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Menna R Clatworthy, University of Cambridge
Immune Cells in Border Tissues Protect the CNS from Infection and Contribute to CNS Diseases |
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Arthur Liesz, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Deleterious and Beneficial Roles of the Adaptive Immune System following Brain Ischemia |
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Doron Merkler, University of Geneva
Role of Tissue Resident T cells in CNS Infection and Immunity |
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Dimitry Ofengeim, Novartis
Interplay of the Innate and Adaptive Immune System in Neurodegeneration |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 9:00–9:20 AM |
Coffee Break |
Grand Foyer |
| 11:10–12:10 PM |
Panel Discussion 2: Different Perspectives on the Emerging Challenges/Opportunities for Research and Therapy in Neuroimmunology |
Sea to Sky C |
| 1:00–10:00 PM |
Poster Viewing |
Sea to Sky A |
| 3:00–4:30 PM |
Career Roundtable |
Sea to Sky C |
| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
Grand Foyer |
| 5:00–7:00 PM |
Emerging Concepts of Neuro-Immune Communication |
Sea to Sky C |
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Michael T Heneka, University of Luxembourg
Structural and Molecular Bridges between Neurons and Microglia |
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Isaac Chiu, Harvard Medical School
Neuronal Pathogen Sensing Mechanism in Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration |
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Rejane Rua, CIML
Exploring the Functions of the Immune Sentinels at the Brain Borders to Control Neuroinflammation |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 7:00–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Sea to Sky A |
| 7:30–10:00 PM |
Poster Session 2 |
Sea to Sky A |
Wednesday, April 14, 2027
| 7:00–8:00 AM |
Breakfast |
Sea to Sky A |
| 8:00–11:00 AM |
Translating Innovation: Clinical Advances in Neurodegeneration and Neuroimmunology (Joint) |
Sea to Sky B/C |
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Henrik Zetterberg, University of Gothenburg
Biomarkers in Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation |
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Manuela Polydoro, MUNA THERAPEUTICS
Translational Biomarkers in Drug Discovery |
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James Keaney, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Targeting Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration in CNS Drug Discovery |
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Joy Yu Zuchero, Denali Therapeutics Inc
Challenges for CNS Drug-Discovery |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 9:00–9:20 AM |
Coffee Break |
Grand Foyer |
| 11:10–12:10 PM |
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 |
Sea to Sky B/C |
| 12:10–2:30 PM |
On Own for Lunch |
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| 2:30–4:30 PM |
Symposia Spotlight 2 |
Sea to Sky C |
| |
Short Talks Chosen from Abstracts
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| 4:30–5:00 PM |
Coffee Available |
Grand Foyer |
| 5:00–6:15 PM |
Regulation of Immune Responses across Compartments |
Sea to Sky C |
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Andrew Yang, University of California, San Francisco
Decoding Immune and Protein Crosstalk between the Brain and Body |
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Maria Lehtinen, Harvard Medical School
The Choroid Plexus: A Command Center for Brain-Body Communication during Inflammation |
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Short Talk(s) Chosen from Abstracts
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| 6:15–7:00 PM |
Closing Keynote Address |
Sea to Sky C |
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Daniel S. Reich, NINDS, National Institutes of Health
Combining Advanced Imaging and Biological Insights for Understanding and Treating Progressive Multiple Sclerosis |
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| 7:00–7:15 PM |
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers) |
Sea to Sky C |
| 7:15–8:00 PM |
Social Hour with Dinner |
Sea to Sky A |
| 8:00–11:00 PM |
Entertainment |
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