Center for Neural Systems Restoration - 2026 Fall Symposium

Houston, TX US
September 15, 2026 to September 16, 2026

The second annual NeuroSystems symposium will bring together world-renowned scientists to spotlight recent advances in our understanding of neural circuits, brain states and pioneering neurotechnologies, including brain-computer interfaces, while showcasing the current field and charting future research directions. The event’s key focus is the translation of these advances into treatments for neurological disorders, with the goal of advancing the restoration of human neural function and impacting the future of clinical neuroscience. 

Target Audience

All students, fellows, residents, researchers and clinicians interested in neuroprosthetics and neural restoration.

 

Course summary

Course opens: 
03/31/2026
Course expires: 
09/16/2026
Event starts: 
09/15/2026 - 8:00am CDT
Event ends: 
09/16/2026 - 6:00pm CDT
Add to calendar: 
15-Sep
     
TimeAgenda Item / SessionSpeakerAffiliationPresentation Title
8:00 AM–3:00 PMRegistration   
8:00 AMBreakfast   
9:00 AMOpening RemarksValentin Dragoi, Ph.D.HMRI/ Rice Univ./Weill Cornell 
9:05 AMOpening RemarksGavin Britz, M.D.Houston Methodist/Weill Cornell 
9:10 AMOpening RemarksBehnaam Aazhang, Ph.D.Rice Univ. 
9:15 AMSession 1: Translational Neuroscience 1Nicole Provenza, Ph.D.Baylor College of MedicineNeural dynamics of psychiatric symptoms across timescales
9:45 AMSession 1: Translational Neuroscience 1Jeffrey Ojemann, M.D.Univ. of Washington, SeattleEngineering neuroplasticity: a 50-year bench-to-bedside journey
10:15 AMSession 1: Translational Neuroscience 1Nitin Tandon, M.D.UTHealth, HoustonTBD
10:45 AMCoffee Break   
11:05 AMSession 2: Neural Circuits 1Valentin Dragoi, Ph.D.HMRI/ Rice Univ./Weill Cornell MedicineNeural circuit mechanisms for natural behavior
11:35 AMSession 2: Neural Circuits 1Attila Losonczy, M.D., Ph.D.UT SouthwesternDendrites Decoded: Subcellular Representations of the Past and the Future in Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons
12:05 PMSession 2: Neural Circuits 1Jonathan Victor, M.D., Ph.D.Weill Cornell How does human vision analyze elements of form?
12:35 PMLunch Break/Tour of CNSR (sign-up sheet at registration desk)   
2:00 PMSession 3: Innovative Neurotechnologies 1David W. Blodgett, JHU APLJohns Hopkins Univ.Towards an Operational Non-Invasive Brain-Computer Interface using Coherent Optical Sensing Techniques
2:30 PMSession 3: Innovative Neurotechnologies 1Christof Karmonik, Ph.D.Houston MethodistPushing the Boundaries of Neuroimaging: Selected Applications of 7 Tesla MRI
3:00 PMSession 3: Innovative Neurotechnologies 1Damiano Barone, M.D., Ph.D.Houston Methodist/Rice Univ.The Spinal Cord as a Bidirectional Neural Interface: Toward High-Resolution Neurorestoration with Circumferential Intradural Arrays
3:30 PMCoffee Break   
3:50 PMSession 4: Neural Circuits 2David Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.Max Planck Florida Inst. for NeuroscienceVisualizing experience-driven functional reorganization of developing cortical circuits
4:20 PMSession 4: Neural Circuits 2Sabine Kastner, M.D., Ph.D.Princeton Univ.Neural dynamics of the primate attention network
4:50 PMSession 4: Neural Circuits 2Stefano Panzeri, Ph.D.Univ. Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfHow functional, anatomical and effective interactions between neurons in posterior parietal cortex shape decision making
5:20 PMHors d’oeuvres   
16-Sep
     
TimeAgenda Item / SessionSpeakerAffiliationPresentation Title
8:00 AM–12:00 PMRegistration   
8:00 AMBreakfast   
9:15 AMSession 5: Translational Neuroscience 2Huda Y. Zoghbi, M.D.Baylor College of MedicineMolecular and Neurobiological Studies in Rett syndrome 
9:45 AMSession 5: Translational Neuroscience 2Emery Brown, M.D., Ph.D.MITDeciphering the Dynamics of the Unconscious Brain under General Anesthesia
10:15 AMSession 5: Translational Neuroscience 2Maryam Shanechi, Ph.D.Univ. of Southern CaliforniaAI-Driven Neurotechnology: From Neural–Behavioral Dynamics to Brain Foundation Models
10:45 AMCoffee Break   
11:05 AMSession 6: Neural Circuits 3Karel Svoboda, Ph.D.Allen Inst.Illuminating synaptic learning
11:35 AMSession 6: Neural Circuits 3Ralf Haefner, Ph.D.Univ. of RochesterEvidence for generative inference in the brain
12:05 PMSession 6: Neural Circuits 3Anirvan Nandy, Ph.D.Yale Univ.Behavioral and neural dynamics of cooperation in marmoset dyads
12:35 PMLunch Break   
2:00 PMSession 7: Innovative Neurotechnologies 2Christina Tringides, Ph.D.Rice Univ.Hydrogel-based neurotechnologies for seamless biological interfaces
2:30 PMSession 7: Innovative Neurotechnologies 2Jacob Robinson, Ph.D.Rice Univ. / Motif NeurotechBrain Computer Interfaces for Mental Health
3:00 PMSession 7: Innovative Neurotechnologies 2Rob Franklin, Ph.D.Blackrock NeurotechEmpowered by Thought
3:30 PMCoffee Break   
3:50 PMSession 8: Neural Circuits 4Ariana Andrei, Ph.D.HMRI/ Rice Univ.Causal activation of cortical networks to improve visual detection
4:20 PMSession 8: Neural Circuits 4Alex McDonald, Ph.D.           Francois St-Pierre, Ph.D.Baylor College of Medicine / Rice Univ.From voltage imaging to optical control: building an integrated toolkit for neural circuit studies
4:50 PMConcluding RemarksValentin Dragoi, Ph.D.HMRI/ Rice Univ./Weill Cornell 
Houston Methodist Research Institute
6670 Bertner Avenue
John F. Bookout Auditorium R2-306
Houston, TX 77047
United States

John F. Bookout Auditorium R2-306 is located on the second floor of the Houston Methodist Reasearch Institute Building. 

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