Program

The Organising Committee is currently developing an exciting and comprehensive program to deliver to the attendees of the Brain & Brain PET 2023.

Official list of Program Topics
Primary Secondary topics
Brain Development/Aging Age/comorbidities/sex
Cerebral Ischemia: Ischemic stroke Biomarkers/omics
Cerebral Ischemia: Global/cardiac arrest Brain-gut axis/microbiome
Cerebral Hemorrhage Blood flow and metabolic regulation
CNS Trauma (TBI/SCI) Cell death signaling/neurodegeneration
Neurodegenerative diseases (AD/PD/HD/MS) Cell Therapy
Vascular dementia/small vessel disease Choroid Plexus/Meningeal Barriers/CSF
BrainPET Circadian cycle
Other CNS and peripheral immunity/infection
  Epigenetics/non-coding RNA/DNA methylation/ Histon modification
  Ischemic conditioning/tolerance
  Neurovascular unit/coupling/BBB
  Neuroprotection
  Regeneration/plasticity/repair/functional recovery
  Tissue engineering/organoids
  Psychiatry
  BrainPET: Neuroreceptors
  BrainPET: Advanced methods and kinetic modeling
  BrainPET: New tracers and targets
  Others

Full Program

Poster Program

Symposia

Click on the ‘+’ symbol to read more about each Symposia topic

Peripheral contribution to acute and chronic cerebrovascular disease

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.

Monocyte-derived macrophage in brain diseases.

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.

Current global breakthroughs in research into the cerebrospinal/interstitial fluid systems

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.

Neurodegeneration and dementia - should the vasculature be our main priority?

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.

Immune/inflammatory mechanisms in chronic stroke and cognitive decline

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.

Mechanisms of no-reflow in ischemic stroke, consequences for brain recovery

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.

When new technologies meet cerebrovascular research

Organiser: Mohamad El Amki
Planned speakers: Chair: Johannes Boltze (UK), Co-Chair: Mohamad El Amki (Switzerland), Alan Urban (KU Leuven), Chaim Glueck (University of Zurich), Martin Thunemann (Boston University), Mohamad El Amki (University Hospital of Zurich)
Topics: Brain Imaging: Advanced methods, Neurovascular Coupling, Neurovascular Unit

Rationale:
When new technologies meet cerebrovascular research: Neurotechnology is developing at an incredible rate and what formerly appeared like “science fiction” in the past, has become a promising reality. The symposium will look into the future and consider the main developments in new technologies which may revolutionize cerebrovascular research and the biomedical field.

Circadian rhythms in cerebrovascular function and disease

Organiser: Ignacio Lizasoain
Planned speakers: Baoqiang Li (China), Ignacio Lizasoain (Spain), Lauren Hablitz (US), Vanessa Granja (Germany)
Topics: Cerebral Ischemia: Other, Neurovascular Unit

Rationale:
Our symposium will examine at different levels how circadian rhythmicity impacts cerebrovascular function in health and disease. Our aim is to understand the complex and multifactorial effects of circadian rhythms to improve translation in stroke research.

Microglia aging and reprogramming in CNS disease

Organiser: Jun Chen
Planned speakers:
Presenter #1: Jun Chen, Professor, USA
Title of the talk: The Role of Microglial Aging in Stroke Recovery Impairment

Presenter #2: Peiying Li, Professor, China 
Title of the talk: The CH25H+ Microglial Cell Subtypes in Stroke-induced Neuroinflammation

Presenter #3: Jana Vukovic, Associate Professor, Australia
Title of the talk: Repopulating Microglia Promote Brain Repair in an IL-6-Dependent Manner

Presenter #4: Kim Green, Professor, USA 
Title of the talk: Replacement of Microglia in the Aged Brain Reverses Cognitive, Synaptic, and Neural Deficits in Mice

Topics: Aging, Neuroinflammation and immune responses

Rationale:
Microglia play pivotal roles in brain immune surveillance and could be a significant player in age-related brain changes and CNS disorders. Understanding the changes of microglia in aging or diseased brains may be useful in exploring potential therapeutic interventions to reprogram microglia and improve brain functions.

Cell-cell and cell-boundary communication during cerebral tissue responses to injury in the neurovascular unit

Organiser: Gregory del Zoppo
Planned speakers: Matilde Balbi (Australia), Gregory del Zoppo (US), Jarek Aronowski (US), Andy Shih (US), Prof. Jennifer Gamble (Australia)
Topics: Neurovascular Unit, Other

Rationale:
The proposed session (entitled “Cell-cell and cell-boundary communication during cerebral tissue responses to injury in the neurovascular unit”) will demonstrate both recent work and state-of-the-art observations of signaling and other novel forms of communication among the components of the neurovascular unit (including endothelial cells, the vascular matrix, pericytes, astrocytes (microglia), and neurons) as revealed by specific injury. The time frames are acute (focal ischemia), short-term (intracerebral hemorrhage), and chronic (Alzheimer’s disease) in model systems. The presentations will demonstrate the variety of communication types from cell-matrix-dependent signaling to organelle sharing to cellular activation to neuron signaling that affect cerebral blood flow and reveal mechanisms of homeostasis and form a basis for specific intervention.

Using Human Multi-Omic Approaches to Study Ischemic Brain Injury Mechanisms

Organiser: Jin-Moo Lee
Planned speakers: Israel Fernandez-Cadenas (Spain), Jin-Moo Lee (US), Boryana Stamova (US), Aniket Mishra (France)
Topics: Cerebral Ischemia: Neuroprotection, Other

Rationale:
Israel Fernandez (Barcelona, Spain) will discuss novel genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, gut microbiomic, and multi-omic approaches that have been applied to the study of complex human traits and diseases. These multi-omic studies promise to discover novel genetic variants, genes, and pathways involved in disease pathogenesis.
Jin-Moo Lee (St. Louis, USA) will discuss a genome-wide association study of 6,000 acute ischemic stroke patients, examining early neurological deterioration/improvement as a quantitative phenotype. The study has identified several genes involved in ischemic brain injury.
Boryana Stamova (Sacramento, USA) will discuss the time-dependent evolution of peripheral blood transcriptomes derived from human samples following acute ischemic stroke and their association with long-term outcomes. These studies reveal genes and pathways involved in inflammation and repair mechanisms, some overlapping with prior GWAS genes.
Aniket Mishra (Bordeaux, France) will discuss the application of next generation sequencing platforms (genetic and epigenetic) in population cohorts to identify biotargets at cerebral small vessel disease genetic risk loci for in-vivo characterization.

Imaging brain plasticity after stroke: from molecules to patients.

Organiser: Renée Turner
Planned speakers: Byung Gon Kim (Korea), Montana Samantzis (Australia). Tracy Farr (UK), Lara Boyd (Canada)
Topics: Brain Imaging: Advanced methods, Cerebral Ischemia: Brain repair

Rationale:
The symposium aims to present state of art neuroimaging approaches that are dedicated to understanding post-stroke recovery. We have chosen a bench to bedside story line with talks that begin with pre-clinical mechanistic imaging, extend to large animal imaging, and conclude with a patient centered approach.

Brain PET Symposia

History and Latest developments in detecting and modeling transient dynamic PET

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.

Opportunities and challenges in next generation brain PET imaging

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.

Multimodal assessment of brain energy metabolism

Organiser: Andreas Hahn
Planned speakers: Murray Reed (Australia), Manu Goyal (US), Tommaso Volpi (US), Sharna Jamadar (Australia)
Topics: Brain Imaging: Brain metabolism

Rationale:
Adequate supply of energy demands is a fundamental aspect of human brain function and failure leads to a variety of brain disorders. The combination of multiple imaging parameters strengthens our understanding of this complex process and the corresponding brain disorders.

Neurotransmitter systems, injury and recovery after stroke

Organiser: Michael O’Sullivan
Planned speakers: Michael O’Sullivan (Australia), Nam-Jong Paik (Korea), Lena Oestreich (Australia), John Forsayeth (US)
Topics: Brain Imaging: Advanced methods,

Rationale:
Reinvigoration of neuroprotection and enhancement of plasticity and recovery are emerging frontiers in seeking improved clinical outcomes after stroke. Neurotransmitter systems play important roles, both positive and negative, over the period of time from initiation of injury through to functional recovery. New methods are emerging rapidly to explore both the structure and function of neurotransmitter systems in vivo. These include advanced structural methods that interrogate both grey and white matter, functional imaging and targeting of specific receptors with novel PET ligands. This symposium will summarise recent rapid progress and look to the future of this field.