Human Nervous System Models to Accelerate Clinical Translation

March 3rd-5th, 2026

Adelaide, South Australia

Program

Day 1 - Symposium

Tuesday 3rd March 2026

SAHMRI Auditorium

Stay tuned for our full program release mid 2026.

The symposium will include:

  • >10 Keynotes from international leaders in human models for neurobiological research

  • Thematic sessions covering:

    • Current strategies and protocols for cell-based 2D and 3D models of complex human neural tissues

    • iPSC models of brain disorders and neural aging in vitro (neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disease…)

    • Cutting-edge analytical (bioinformatics, drug screens, electrophysiology, imaging and genomics)

    • Neural aging models

  • Panel discussions on clinical translation, the latest innovative biotechnologies, and future directions

  • Lightning talks and poster sessions from emerging researchers

Featured Speakers (to be updated with more soon):

Prof Fred Gage (Salk Institute, La Jolla, USA)

Prof Ed Lein (Allen Brain Institute, Seattle, USA)

Prof Tomasz Nowakowski (UCSF, San Francisco, USA)

A/Prof Jennifer Erwin (Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, USA)

A/Prof Jerome Mertens (UCSD, San Diego, USA)

Prof Clare Parish (Florey Institute, Melbourne, Australia)

A/Prof Sylvia Velasco (MCRI, Melbourne, Australia)

Prof Cedric Bardy (SAHMRI, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia)

BRAIN ORGANOID THERAPEUTICS WORKSHOP

The third day will feature a workshop in the Bardy lab located at SAHMRI led by international experts showcasing biotechnologies and analytical methods to grow brain organoids, 3D bioprint neural tissues, drug screens and advanced electrophysiological assays. More details to come soon. Limited spots available, register your interest to stay in the loop.

Featured Speakers (Stay tuned for more)

Modelling the human brain

  • Abstract TBA

Wednesday 4th March 2026

SAHMRI Auditorium

+ Social Event

Day 2- Symposium

Thursday 5th March 2026

SAHMRI - Bardy Lab

Day 3 - Workshop

Functional Mapping the Human Cortex at Single Cell Resolution

  • Abstract TBA

Human Neural Aging Models in vitro

  • Abstract TBA

Multimodal Evaluation of Network Activity and Optogenetics Intervention in Human Hipocampal Slices

  • Abstract TBA

This international meeting features some of the world's most accomplished neuroscientists discussing how we can study and model the human brain in the most intrinsic details, with the goal of accelerating clinical translation in neurology and psychiatry.

The event will include two day of curated talks and one day of workshop to learn hands on tricks to generate and analyse human brain tissue invitro, including advanced electrophysiology and drug screens of neural organoid and 2D/3D bioprinted tissue.

Sponsors

Maxwell Biosystems logo with blue and black text.

Founded in September 2016 as an ETH Zürich spin-off, MaxWell Biosystems is a technology leader providing instrumentation and solutions to boost scientific research and development in neurosciences, stem cell and tissue engineering, ophthalmology, and other fields involving electrogenic cells. MaxOne (single-well) and MaxTwo (multi-well) are easy-to-use systems that equip scientists with the ability to record electrical signals of neurons in in-vitro 2D and 3D models at network, cellular, and subcellular levels. MaxWell Biosystems’ main goal is to be a trusted partner to all users and collaborators, for a greater cause, of advancing scientific breakthroughs and for achieving faster and more effective drug discovery, through our products, solutions, and expertise.

Speakers

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Prof Fred Gage

Salk Institute

La Jolla, California, USA

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Prof Cedric Bardy

SAHMRI, Flinders

Adelaide, SA, Australia

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A man with short gray hair and blue eyes wearing a black shirt, smiling softly in front of a greenish background.

Prof Paola Arlotta

Harvard

Boston, USA

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Prof Ed Lein

Allen Brain Institute

Seatle, USA

Prof Tomasz Nowakowski

UCSF

San Francisco, California, USA

A/Prof Sylvia Velasco

MCRI

Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Prof Alice Pebay

Melbourne University

Melbourne, VIC, Australia

A/Prof Chris Bye

SAHMRI

Adelaide, SA, Australia

Prof Clare Parish

Florey Institute

Melbourne, VIC, Australia

A/Prof Jerome Mertens

UCSD

San Diego, California, USA

A/Prof Mirella Dottori

Wollongong University

Wollongong, NSW, Australia

Prof Ernst Wovetang

Queensland University

Brisbanne, QLD, Australia

Contact Us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!