Organiser: Maria Moro
Planned speakers: 
• Josef Anrather (BMRI, Weill Cornell, US): Peripheral contribution to cerebrovascular disease.
• Corinne Benakis (ISD, LMU, Germany): Microbiome-gut-brain interactions in cerebrovascular dysfunction
• Monica Santisteban (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, TN, US): Meningeal immunity in cerebrovascular dysfunction.
• Roberta Battistella (Lund, Sweden): The effects of heart failure on the glymphatic system
Topics: Cerebral Ischemia: Other, Choroid Plexus/Meningeal Barriers/CSF, Neuroinflammation and immune responses, Vascular Dementia

Rationale:
The symposium “Peripheral contribution to acute and chronic cerebrovascular disease” intends to provide a holistic view of the multilevel systemic biology contribution to acute and chronic cerebrovascular diseases, with the aim to identify novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets..

Abstract:
Cerebrovascular disease is the most common life-threatening neurological event. In the acute setting, stroke remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality with limited therapeutic options. On the other hand, vascular cognitive impairment and dementia is the most common manifestation of chronic cerebrovascular disease. The peripheral immune response is acknowledged as a major contributor to brain damage and neurological impairment in cerebrovascular disease. More recently, the roles of neuroimmune interfaces such as the meninges and of the glymphatic system have attracted a great deal of attention in acute and chronic cerebrovascular dysfunction. Additional influences from systemic biology can also affect remarkably patients’ progression and outcomes, such as the brain-gut-microbiome interactions or the impact of cardiovascular disease and risk factors. This symposium intends to reflect this multilevel peripheral contribution of systemic biology to acute and chronic cerebrovascular disease. Prof. Anrather will present an introductory overview, with an emphasis on the contribution of the immune response. Prof. Benakis will report novel findings on how gut microbiota metabolites modulate intestinal immune cell function and contribute to acute cerebral ischemia. As regards cardiovascular disease and risk factors, Prof. Santisteban will present new data on the role of meningeal immunity in hypertension-induced cognitive impairment and Prof. Battistella will focus on the impact of periphery and cardiovascular dysfunction on brain fluid and the glymphatic system. Our final aim is to provide a global view that helps identify novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets for cerebrovascular dysfunction.

Organiser: Xiaoming Hu
Planned speakers: Xiaoming Hu (US), Sunghee Cho (US), Hazel Quek (Australia), Wei Cai (China)
Topics: Neuroinflammation and immune responses

Rationale:
Monocytes are among the first to infiltrate the brain parenchyma after brain injuries or diseases. Peripheral monocytes enter the brain, give rise to brain macrophages, and remain in the brain for weeks. These monocyte-derived macrophages are important in the development of brain lesions and in brain repair processes. Because circulating monocytes are accessible for treatment, elucidating the function of monocyte-derived macrophages and the underlying mechanism may identify new therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.

Organiser: Kirsten Coupland, co-Chair: Steven Proulx (Switzerland)
Planned speakers: Steven Proulx (Switzerland), Lynne Bilston (Australia), Rongcai Jian (China), Nanna MacAulay (Danmark)
Topics: Choroid Plexus, Meningeal Barriers, CSF

Rationale:
Cerebrospinal and interstitial fluids are critical to central nervous system health and a recent flurry of research has illuminated their importance in a multitude of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. Our symposium aims to update attendees on current global breakthroughs in research into the cerebrospinal/interstitial fluid systems and how they might be harnessed to improve therapeutic outcomes of central nervous system disease.

Organiser: Beth Eyre
Planned speakers: Osman Shabir (UK), Susanne van Veluw (US), Costantino Iadecola (US), Audrey Low (UK)
Topics: Neurodegeneration, Neurovascular Coupling

Rationale:
The symposium aims to bring together early career researchers and renowned experts in the neurovascular coupling/neurodegeneration and dementia field to give an overview of the most up-to-date research, specifically focusing on amyloid and tau. We hope that the session will spark numerous discussions about the role of NVC in disease, the importance of the vasculature and if research into NVC could provide therapeutic avenues. The session also aims to highlight the importance of comorbidities and the impact they have on disease.

Organiser: Allan Stuart
Planned speakers: Marion Buckwalter (US), Daniel Berchtold (Germany), Danielle Becktel (US), Olivia Jones (UK)
Topics: Cerebral Ischemia: Other, Neuroinflammation and immune responses, Vascular Dementia

Rationale:
With increasing numbers of stroke survivors the impact of long-term complications such as cognitive decline is becoming ever greater. Though mechanisms underlying post-stroke cognitive decline are unknown there is good evidence to implicate immune/inflammatory changes, which will be the focus of this symposium.

Organiser: Brad Sutherland
Planned speakers: Chair: Daniel Beard (Australia), Co-Chair: Mohamad El-Amki (Switzerland), Felix Ng (Australia), Jeanne Droux (Switzerland), Brad Sutherland (Australia), Muge Yemisci Ozkan (Turkey)
Topics: Cerebral Ischemia: Brain repair, Cerebral Ischemia: Neuroprotection

Rationale:
Our symposium entitled “Mechanisms of no-reflow in ischemic stroke, consequences for brain recovery” will highlight the importance of the impairment in blood flow following ischemic stroke despite arterial recanalization. The symposium will present the latest evidence of no-reflow in human stroke, the cellular mechanisms contributing to no-reflow and highlight novel methods to restrict no-reflow and improve stroke outcomes.

Organiser: Jocelyn Hoye
Planned speakers:
Evan D. Morris, Yale University, Title: “From gamma to Peff. The evolution of kinetic models to accommodate time-varying effects.”
Gaelle Emvalomenos, University of Sydney, Title: “Bayesian analysis of non-steady state dynamic PET data”
Connor Bevington, University of British Columbia, Title: “Detection of task-related neurotransmitter release through residual analysis”

Topics: Brain Imaging: Brain Imaging: Advanced methods, Brain PET Neuroreceptor

Rationale:
Standard models for PET employ static kinetic parameters, but kinetic models with time-varying parameters have been developed to overcome violations in assumptions and improve sensitivity and reliability of data fitting. We will present the history and latest innovations so that researchers can apply these methods to their unique datasets.

Organiser: Sharna Jamadar
Planned speakers: Steven Miekle (Australia), Christopher Cover (Germany), Arianna Sala (Belgium), Constantino Ladeocola (Australia), Wai-Ying (USA)
Topics: Brain Imaging: Advanced methods

Rationale:
In this symposium, we aim to present a very forward-thinking and aspirational discussion of where brain PET imaging could or should be in the next 5 to 10 years. Presentations will reference current technical and scientific advances, and then zoom out and think big about what could be achieved in the near future using the technology.