Satellite events are independent of the Forum organisation and take place outside the Forum venue and dates. They explore various aspects of neuroscience and are closely linked to the Forum topics. See the individual events’ tabs for more information on the organiser, registration process, date and location.
Organisers can find Satellite events guidelines here
Please note that the information below is based on the FENS Forum 2024 preliminary program. Dates, timing, and locations of the events might change in the future.
Organised by Austrian Neuroscience Association, Österreichische Gesellschaft für ME/CFS, WE&ME Foundation, Zentrum für Public Health, Abteilung für Primary Care, Medizinische Universität Wien, Zentrum für Pathophysiologie, Infektiologie und Immunologie, Institut für Pathophysiologie und Allergieforschung, Medizinische Universität
ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is a severe neuroimmunological disease that affects multiple body systems. The pathophysiology of the complex disease is still being investigated and requires multiple scientific disciplines. As the most severe form of Post-Covid, the practical and scientific relevance of ME/CFS increases with the number of people affected.
The event “ME/CFS SYMPOSIUM – Scientific foundations and consequences for the health care system” is dedicated to the current state-of-the-art research on ME/CFS. Presentations from areas such as public health and immunology show the complexity as well as the potential for interdisciplinary understanding. In addition, the consequences for the Austrian health care system will be discussed in a panel discussion between researchers, policymakers and patient representatives to translate the current state of research into practice.
The event is aimed at scientific and medical professionals as well as policymakers, media representatives and the general public. It is intended to contribute to awareness raising and education on ME/CFS.
The symposium will be held in English and German.
Date: 21 June 2024
Check out the event programme in english and in german, and find out how to attend here.
Organised by the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), FENS-KAVLI Network of Excellence (FKNE) and FENS Committee for Higher Education and Training (CHET)
ISTA-FKNE-CHET Young PI “Transition to Independence” symposium will provide an interactive scientific, lab leadership, and networking platform for early career group leaders (0-10 years) in the field of neuroscience. Starting and (effectively) running a group has various challenges. Scientifically, early group leaders must get experiments running, troubleshoot methods, write convincing proposals, and more. They also must develop from being “just-a-scientist” to a leader, mentor, and manager. Peer support is beneficial to drive this transition process, but finding peers can be difficult. This symposium’s goal is to initiate a peer-platform, which can develop into a peer-mentorship program. The first part of the day will focus on science: successful applicants across different neuroscience disciplines will share their scientific interests, discover common themes, and set a basis for future collaborations. The second part centers on the development of leadership, mentorship and lab management, to run a successful group. We will provide ample networking opportunities, including coffee breaks, lunch, and dinner reception (covered by the registration fee).
Date: 23 June 2024
Find out more here.
Organised by the Center for Computational Neuroscience, Flatiron Institute
Neural datasets are increasingly complex, incorporating high-dimensional time series data from various acquisition modalities. Effectively navigating through the intricacies of these datasets requires the use of robust tools.
This workshop will teach foundational data analysis principles in systems neuroscience using open-source Python packages from the Center for Computational Neuroscience, Flatiron Institute.
From time series manipulation and visualization to neural modeling, this workshop will guide participants through three state-of-the-art packages:
1. Pynapple, a lightweight package designed for the analysis of diverse data modalities.
2. Fastplotlib, an expressive plotting library for large-scale explorative scientific visualization.
3. Nemos, a statistical modeling framework tailored for neuroscience applications.
We’ll focus on hands-on applications, building analyses from the ground up with real dataset examples. Starting with time series manipulations, we’ll progress to modeling with the Generalized Linear Model (GLM).
Participants will learn insights and skills needed to fully leverage these advanced tools for effective data analysis in neuroscience.
Date: 23-24 June 2024
Discover more about the event here.
Organised by the Neurotoxicity Society
Neurodegenerative disorders are relentless progressive diseases and produce care-dependency as well as important health- related public consumption. So far, we don’t know their cause and then, there are no successful treatments available. Thus, the need to develop more effective treatments for neurodegenerative disorders is widely recognized, however, as we don’t still know the ultimate cause it is difficult to define. Moreover, as the degeneration progresses, patients become more and more dependent on the family as well as on social security, and the truth is that for these diseases there is currently no cure. Then, this satellite event looks to discuss the multiple mechanisms of neurodegeneration in different diseases as well as to analyze the possible causes of the cell death progression. This may provide novel opportunities to better understand the disease pathogenesis and subsequently to identify new disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets for earlier diagnosis, early symptomatic and slowing down treatments for patients suffering from different neurodegenerative disorders.
Date: 23-24 June 2024
Find out more about this event here.
Organised by the European Neuroscience Conference by Doctoral Students (ENCODS)
The ENCODS 2024 Meeting will take place in Vienna, Austria on June 23rd and 24th, 2024, before the FENS Forum 2024. For this meeting, our conference theme is “Emerging Technologies in Neuroscience: Unveiling the Next Frontiers”. The goal is, across distinguished expert and student presentations, poster sessions, and workshops, to bring together the different fields within Neuroscience and provide new techniques and questions for early career scientists.
ENCODS is an initiative started by graduate students in 2013. The main aim of ENCODS is to provide a safe space for early-career neuroscientists where they can share their research in the form of talks and poster presentations, create new collaborations, learn from experts, and network with researchers and students from all around the world. The ENCODS meeting has been organized in partnership with the FENS.
By attending ENCODS you will:
- Gain experience presenting and discussing your work;
- Expand your network of contacts;
- Attend workshops designed to increase your skills;
- Expand your knowledge in different fields of neuroscience;
- Interact with keynote speakers who are experienced researchers, and experts in their field.
Date: 23-24 June 2024
Discover the programme and how to register here.
Organised by the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)
Commissioned by the Wellcome Trust, IBRO is delivering the Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator for Mental Health (NCAMH) aimed at enhancing neuroscience research related to mental health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries with a focus on promoting research capacity and accelerating the potential for impactful research programs.
The NCAMH Capacity Building Seminar is organized as part of a series of tailor-made professional development activities that aim to support awardees by enhancing their expertise, fostering connections and propelling projects forward.
During the seminar, awardees will benefit from intensive training in international capacity building, network with fellow researchers and funding organizations, and participate in deep learning sessions tailored to their individual research needs.
The NCAMH Capacity Building Seminar will take place from 23-24 June, in the heart of Vienna, at the Lindner Hotel Vienna Am Belvedere.
Participants will not only benefit from the opportunity to meet in person but will also expand their networks and engage with the global neuroscience community attending the FENS Forum 2024.
Date: 23-24 June 2024
Discover the programme and how to register here.
Organised by the German Research Foundation Priority Program “Evolutionary Optimization of Neuronal Processing”
Brains are among the most complex systems constructed by biological evolution. Understanding the principles of their design as versatile and efficient computational devices and reconstructing the paths through which the enormous diversity of animal nervous systems has emerged are ultimate goals of biological intelligence research. Recent years have witnessed spectacular advances in our ability to uncover their fundamental evolutionary processes and principles.
The FENS satellite symposium “Convergence, divergence, and computational optimization in neural circuit evolution” will present exciting lines of research into neural circuit evolution from paleobiology to computational neuroscience. Organized by the German Research Foundation Priority Program “Evolutionary optimization of neuronal processing”, the symposium is designed to make the full spectrum of progress in neural circuit evolution accessible to a wide neuroscience audience, to build bridges between experimental, computational and paleobiological research approaches, and to foster the emergence of a comprehensive conceptual framework for studies of neural circuit evolution.
Date: 23-24 June 2024
Check out the event and find out how to attend here.
Organised by the UCSD/IMBA
Brain regeneration and neurogenesis require the coordination of complex responses in a time- and region-specific manner. The mammalian brain has a very limited regeneration capacity, with direct lineage reprogramming in vivo emerging as a novel approach for stimulating its repair. Recent years have seen a tremendous amount of progress, providing proof-of-principle evidence for the feasibility of converting cell fate in the brain. However, further advances in this field have been hampered by an incomplete mechanistic understanding of the regeneration process at both the cellular and molecular levels. Examining how new neurons are generated and integrate naturally in the so-called neurogenic regions could provide keys to overcome the current barriers to regeneration in the rest of the brain. In this one-day satellite workshop, we aim at bringing together leaders in the fields of neuronal reprogramming and adult neurogenesis to discuss i) naïve adult brain regeneration and neurogenesis in healthy and disease conditions and ii) the current state-of-the-art as well as barriers impeding progress in inducing glia into neuron conversion in the brain.
Date: 24 June 2024
Find out more about this event here.
Organised by the French and Swedish Basal Ganglia societies
With this first French-Swedish basal ganglia meeting, we are launching an initiative to gather all European communities interested in basal ganglia research. The basal ganglia brain network is involved in important motor and motivational brain processes and its alteration is responsible for brain neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, addiction, obsessive compulsive disorders or Huntington’s disease. Basal ganglia research is profoundly integrative, including molecular and cellular biology, physiology as well as behavioural and computational approaches. The satellite will be organized with a keynote lecture (1h), 6 talks from scientists (20 min presentation + 10 min discussion), and selected talks with young and early-career researchers (10 min presentation + 5 min discussion). A lunch break with a poster session will be planned as well, in order to stimulate the interaction between the scientists across different European countries. The program will cover a wide variety of research conducted in the field of basal ganglia.
Date: 24 June 2024
More information available on the full program and on this page.
Organised by the NeuroChip FET Consortium
The human brain is able to process information and conduct computation at a fraction of the power requirements of silicon based machines. With computers projected to utilise 8-21% of global electricity supply by 2030, there is a need to develop alternative computing paradigms. With the development of human induced pluripotent stem cell technology over the past 15 years has emerged the potential to use living human biological neurons for computation. Such a goal requires the multidisciplinary input across a range of specialities. This FENS satellite meeting brings together stem cell biologists, neuroscientists, and bioengineers, with the aim of bringing together scientists working at different levels and using different approaches towards biological computing with human cortical neurons. Groups include those from the EU-funded NeuChiP FET consortium, the USA, Japan and Australia.
The meeting will encourage poster exhibition, especially from ESRs and 2 submissions will be selected to give a 15-minute talk during the day.
Date: 24 June 2024
Find out more here.
Organised by the Acoustics Research Institute and the Austrian Academy of Sciences
The Dynamates Symposium brings together experts in the field of cognitive neuroscience, cognitive biology and computational modelling to address key questions in predictive auditory processing with a focus on spatial and temporal auditory perception in volatile environments. It will cover purely behavioural approaches as well as combinations with eye-tracking, EEG and other neuroimaging modalities. There will be invited talks from renowned researchers (Barbara Shinn-Cunningham, Florent Meyniel, John van Opstal, Simone Pika), a poster session, and ample space for vivid scientific exchange.
Date: 24 June 2024
Discover more here.
Organised by the University of Regensburg and University of Saarland/Barbara Di Benedetto and Julia Schulze-Hentrich
In the Central Nervous System, glia cells regulate the shape and functions of neuronal and vascular compartments. Their peculiar positions around selected sub-cellular niches allow them to form functional units that “sense” the brain state to activate the best-fit responses to external stimuli (e.g. sensorial or hormonal). An imbalanced activity of glia cells can negatively impact the formation and function(s) of neuronal networks, leading to the onset of severe brain pathologies. Sex differences affect brain disorders in terms of predisposition, rates of incidence, symptomatology and outcomes. Sex-dependent brain maturational trajectories are influenced by the perinatal surge in testosterone aimed at masculinizing the brain. Glia cells respond to circulating gonadal hormones, which influence their sex-dependent maturation rates and consequent modulation of neuronal circuit development. However, research on sex-dependent pathologies and their neurobiological causes is still scarce.
In this Satellite symposium, we aim to discuss how sex differences influence glia cells in health and disease and the need for sex-specific diagnostic tools and tailored treatments for individual patients.
Date: 24 June 2024
Discover more about this event here.
Organised by the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
Home cage behavior monitoring allows for undisrupted observation of experimental animals in their familiar surroundings. The non-performance based, unbiased method of continuous monitoring of the animals´ spontaneous behavior allows unprecedented insights into behavioral displays as direct output of brain function. This satellite event on “Home Cage Behavior Monitoring at the Interface of Animal Welfare and Neuroscience” is conceived as platform for interdisciplinary discourse, focused on the convergence of animal welfare and neuroscience. Our initiative is motivated by a paradigm shift in animal research, highlighting the importance of ethical considerations and the refinement of experimental methodologies for in-vivo studies and increasing knowledge of their importance for experimental variability and data reproducibility. The event addresses these critical concerns by showcasing state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies for non-invasive, continuous monitoring of animals in their home cages that promote both scientific rigor and ethical animal treatment. We will host scientific talks, posters and a round-table discussion including leading industry representatives.
Date: 24 June 2024
Please find more information on the event here.
Organised by the Institute of Science and Technology Austria
We are very excited to announce the second FENS Satellite Symposium on Neuronal Motor Circuits, hosted by the Institute of Science and Technology Austria. This FENS satellite event will bring together scientists interested in motor circuits across scales, species, regions of the nervous system, and granularity, and aims to include invertebrate, vertebrate, and in silico models. Presentations will highlight this diversity in the areas of sensory-motor integration; development and evolution of cell types and connectivity; pathological and physiological plasticity; and motor planning and execution. Researchers at all career levels are encouraged to apply but preference for talks will be given to early career researchers (young group leaders, postdocs, students).
Transportation to/from the conference centre, lunch and dinner provided. We ask you to formally register for this in-person event.
Date: 24 June 2024
Discover more information here.
Organised by the Medical University of Vienna
The event unites different brain imaging techniques (PET, MRI, connectivity) and interventions (cognitive, pharmacological, optogenetic, gene editing) in various species (rodent, primate, human) (chair: R. Lanzenberger, Austria). The session starts with nomenclature, acquisition protocols and analysis pipelines of resting-state fMRI networks in rodents standardized across 46 centers (J. Grandjean, Netherlands). The second presentation combines optogenetics with PET/MRI imaging in rodents, enabling the investigation of specific neuronal pathways and their molecular basis (K. Herfert, Germany). The next talk highlights cognitive tasks and functional PET imaging in awake macaques as well as validation of imaging markers with non-human primate models (C. Bradberry, USA). This will be followed by high temporal resolution functional PET in humans and its combination with connectivity for the identification of hierarchical network adaptations (A. Hahn, Austria). The last talk will present a novel interpretation of the relationship between hemodynamic, metabolic and neuroelectrical responses during stimulation (J Theriault, USA).
Date: 24 June 2024
Discover more here.
Organised by the European Society for Neurochemistry
Check out the event program and find out how to attend here.
Neurodevelopmental disorders have different aetiologies, yet, all exhibit malfunctioning synaptic connections, thus presenting unmet and critical medical needs. The use of molecular, biochemical, and neurophysiological approaches to study genetic models of such disorders has both revealed unsuspected pathogenic mechanisms and identified potential therapeutic targets. In this FENS Forum 2024 Satellite MiniConference, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows will present recent advances in the study of the development of the brain and neurodevelopmental disorders, with special emphasis on ADNP syndrome and related syndromes, Fragile-X syndrome, and neurodevelopmental disorders associated with GnRH deficiency and neurofibromatosis type 1. This event will be an excellent opportunity for discussing the most recent findings in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as for networking, all in an informal environment. The mentors of the young investigators-speakers will also participate in the event, further contributing to the discussion. All FENS participants are invited to this celebration of the European Future of Neurochemistry.
Date: 24 June 2024
Discover more here.
Organised by the Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Within the last decades, hippocampal mossy fiber (MF) synapses have emerged as a model synapse to study fundamental questions in neuroscience.
Our satellite meeting aims to explore this model synapse comprehensively by delving into its biophysical and structural aspects. With our event, we synergize international speakers and fellow researchers of all career levels who share a common interest in studying synaptic transmission at hippocampal MF synapses. In two main symposia, guests from leading international laboratories will introduce recent (technological) advancements with a focus on state-of-the-art electrophysiology and super-resolution imaging. Recent translational work on human brain function and disease will be highlighted. We aim to integrate early career researchers (ECRs) in our satellite event on different levels. ECRs will present their work in poster sessions and the main symposia. The informal format of a campfire session will encourage ECRs to exchange with senior researchers. Main symposia are jointly chaired by a senior expert and an ECR. We hope to provide a fruitful environment for networking and future collaborations within the hippocampal MF community
Date: 24 June 2024
Discover more here.
Organised by the Austrian Neuroscience Society
The “Science Talk” is organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science & Research. The event ( panel discussion) will take place in-person and will also be live-streamed. The event language is GERMAN!
The discussion will revolve around the empirical findings that brain plasticity underlying learning and memory is particularly profound in the first years of a child´s life. In addition, most learning processes require social interactions and inter-personal relationships. Lack of attachment and relationship building between children and nursery pedagogues—often due to a high child to carer ratio—can cause significant physiological and psychological stress responses in infants and children and may prevent them from achieving their full learning potential. Education research therefore advocates for creating enabling kindergarten environments that go far beyond simple care centers towards first educational institutions. By engaging well-trained pedagogues, ensuring small group sizes, fostering high-quality interpersonal connections, and providing nurture and cognitive stimulation, we lay the foundations for successful learning biographies later in life.
Date: 24 June 2024
Discover more about the event here.
Organised by the Austrian Neuroscience Society
This Satellite Symposium ventures into the intersection between neuroscience and philosophy—addressing the complexity of the brain—by discussing conceptual approaches, methods and their assumptions, and the interpretable horizon . We contrast current knowledge on whole-brain activity and its foundation in experimental and computational neuroscience with philosophical concepts of causality and inquiries on the explanatory power of different forms of prediction, allowing a better understanding of the strength and limitations of today´s concepts of the brain. And we will explore neuroscientific approaches on how to integrate internal states and external stimuli based on different concepts of “environment” encouraging multidisciplinary and multi-level research agendas.
Exposing neuroscientists to novel theoretical frameworks will help to address research questions from different perspectives. The event targets senior & junior scientists alike.
Date: 24 June 2024
Find out more here.
Organised by Veranstaltung der Stadt Wien – Wienbibliothek im Rathaus
The Wiener Vorlesungen is a popular lecture series on topical issues of general interest. The talk is delivered in German language and moderated by a journalist, who at the end takes questions from the audience.
The lecture will be given by Claus Lamm, a Full Professor of Biological Psychology at the University of Vienna, with a specialization in Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
Abstract: Empathie ist eine wichtige Voraussetzung für gegenseitiges Verständnis in einer funktionierenden Gesellschaft. Die neurobiologischen Mechanismen von Empathie sind allerdings bisher nur unvollständig entschlüsselt.
Fortschritte in der Gehirnforschung erlauben es uns nunmehr, diese für uns Menschen essentielle Fähigkeit und ihre neuro-psychologischen Grundlagen besser zu verstehen. Im Vortrag werden neben einer Einordnung dieser Fortschritte auch Aspekte wie Empathie bei Tieren, die dunklen Seiten von Empathie, sowie die Rolle der Empathie im Bereich der Artifical Intelligence und Mensch-Maschine-Interaktion beleuchtet werden.
Date: 24 June 2024
Find out more here.
Organised by the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, QUEST Center for Responsible Research – on behalf of the TIER 2 (enhancing Trust, Integrity and Efficiency in Research through next-level Reproducibility) EU Horizon Europe project
TIER2– enhancing Trust, Integrity and Efficiency in Research through next-level Reproducibility, is an EU Horizon Europe project that aims to broaden our knowledge and understanding of reproducibility, co-create tools, and grow communities. In neuroscience, ensuring reproducibility is crucial to promote scientific progress and increase trust in research. During the TIER2 Reproducibility Hackathon, participants collectively work together, attempting to reproduce published research findings. Participants can either propose a publication or select one from a list provided by the organisers. Please note: this event format is not intended to criticize or discredit research efforts, instead it aims to facilitate an important learning experience. The main aim is to connect neuroscientists to gain insights into reproducibility, exchange knowledge, and share experiences. Two lightning talks, given by Prof Dr Claus Lamm (Head of Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, University of Vienna) and Dr Tony RossHellauer (Lead of Open and Reproducible Research Group, KNOW-Center Graz), will provide insights into Open Science practices and reproducibility hackathons. Catering included.
Date: 30 June 2024
Find out more about this event here.