International Brain Health Conference 2026

Advancing Brain Health

The International Brain Health Conference 2026 brought together international leaders to explore the latest advances in understanding, diagnosing, and treating neurodegenerative disease before dementia develops.

Through the lenses of public health, personalised medicine, and early detection, the conference examined emerging tools, biomarkers, and service models that enable earlier, more effective intervention and support brain health across the life course.

Facilitated by us at Scottish Brain Sciences, the conference provided a forum for rigorous scientific exchange and cross-sector collaboration among:

  • Life sciences and pharmaceutical partners​
  • Researchers​
  • Clinicians
  • Policymakers and health system leaders
  • Innovators in diagnostics and prevention

Content programme and agenda

Monday 18 May

Registration and lunch from 11.30 – 12:30

Opening session – The New Landscape for Brain Health

Time: 12:30 to 14:00

Chair: Professor Craig Ritchie

  • Welcome to IBHC2026, Anna Borthwick – Scottish Brain Sciences
  • Insights from lived experience of Alzheimer’s, speaker to be announced
  • The Journal of Brain Health and IBHC Partnership: A shared vision, Kate Hayden – Journal of Brain Health
  • Optimism in Diagnostics and Therapeutics, Dr Jeff Cummings – University of Nevada (UNLV)
Prof Jeff Cummings

Prof Jeff Cummings

University of Nevada
Anna Borthwick

Anna Borthwick

Scottish Brain Sciences
Kate Hayden

Kate Hayden

Journal of Brain Health

Monday 18 May

Session two – Service developments in brain health

Time: 14:45 to 16:30

Chair: Anna Borthwick

  • Changing our perspective: From curing Alzheimer’s to preserving brain health, Prof Wiesje van der Flier – Alzheimer Netherland
  • ePSOM: Capturing personally meaningful treatment benefits, Seamus Small – LINUS
  • Brain health services in the UK, Prof Vanessa Raymont – University of Oxford
  • Economics of brain health, Prof Dominic Trepel – Trinity College Dublin
Prof Vanessa Raymont

Prof Vanessa Raymont

University of Oxford
Prof Wiesje van der Flier

Prof Wiesje van der Flier

Alzheimer Nederland
Seamus Small

Seamus Small

Managing Director, Linus Health
Dominic Trepel

Dominic Trepel

Trinity College Dublin

Monday 18 May

Session three – Physical and mental health comorbidities

Time: 17:00 to 18:00

Chair: Dr Jeff Cummings

  • Depression and neurodegenerative disease, Prof Allan Young – Imperial College London
  • Scientific Communication: Infection disease and brain health, Prof Charlotte Warren-Gash – London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Networking canapes and drinks from 18:00 to 19:30

Prof Allan Young

Prof Allan Young

Imperial College London
Prof Charlotte Warren-Gash

Prof Charlotte Warren-Gash

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Tuesday 19 May

Session four – Nutrition and Global Health

Time: 08:45 – 10.00

Chair: Prof Emma Stevenson

  • Targeting the brain to improve obesity, Prof Lora Heisler – University of Aberdeen
  • Dietary patterns and brain health, Dr Oliver Shannon – Newcastle University
  • PREVENT Ghana, Dr Sammy Danso – University of Sunderland
  • Worldwide FINGERS in Africa, Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh – Wake Forest University
Dr Alasdair Leeson-Payne

Dr Alasdair Leeson-Payne

University of Aberdeen
Dr Oliver Shannon

Dr Oliver Shannon

Newcastle University
Dr Sam Danso

Dr Sam Danso

The University of Sunderland
Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh

Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh

Wake Forest University
Prof Emma Stevenson

Prof Emma Stevenson

Newcastle University

Tuesday 19 May

Session five – Brain imaging

Time: 10:50-12:10

Chair: Prof Terry Quinn

  • Recent findings and future directions, Prof Frederik Barkhof – UCL
  • Brain vascular health, Dr Marialena Dounavi – Cambridge University
  • Ophthalmic insights to the brain, Prof Baljean Dhillon – University of Edinburgh

Lunch break

Lilly symposium from 12:30 – 13:30 for healthcare professionals only. Bringing together clinical experts with scientific perspectives on the latest developments in brain health.

Prof Baljean Dhillon

Prof Baljean Dhillon

University of Edinburgh
Dr Marialena Dounavi

Dr Marialena Dounavi

University of Cambridge
Professor Frederik Barkhof

Professor Frederik Barkhof

UCL
Prof Terry Quinn

Prof Terry Quinn

University of Glasgow

Chairing session on Comorbidities

Tuesday 19 May

Session six – Women’s health and brain health

Time: 13:45 – 15:35

Chair: Dr Sarah Gregory

  • Menopause and brain health, Prof Eef Hogervorst – Loughborough University
  • Women’s health and the Next Gen Programme, Dr Francesca Farina – University of Chicago
  • Intimate partner violence and brain health, Dr Natalie Jenkins – Mount Sinai
  • Contact sport and brain health, Dr James Robson – Scottish Rugby Union
Prof Eef Hogervorst

Prof Eef Hogervorst

Loughborough University
Dr Francesca Farina

Dr Francesca Farina

University of Chicago
Dr Natalie Jenkins

Dr Natalie Jenkins

Mount Sinai
Dr James Robson

Dr James Robson

former Scottish Rugby Union CMO
Dr Sarah Gregory

Dr Sarah Gregory

Scottish Brain Sciences

Tuesday 19 May

Session seven – Clinical Considerations

Time: 16:00 – 17:15

Chair: Prof John Harrison

  • Prodromal dementia with Lewy Bodies, Dr Paul Donaghy – Newcastle University
  • Blood Based Biomarkers: Gateway to a better future, Prof Craig Ritchie – University of St Andrews
  • Conference closing remarks, Prof John Harrison – Amsterdam UMC
Dr Paul Donaghy

Dr Paul Donaghy

Newcastle University
Prof Craig Ritchie, MBChB, PhD

Prof Craig Ritchie, MBChB, PhD

Scottish Brain Sciences/University of St Andrews
Prof John Harrison, PhD

Prof John Harrison, PhD

Amsterdam UMC

Download: IBHC 2026 – Confirmed programme

Conference sponsors and partners

Thank you to our sponsors and partners for supporting the International Brain Health Conference 2026

Platinum Sponsor

Lilly is a medicine company turning science into therapies to make life better for people around the world. To learn more, visit Lilly UK or Eli Lilly and Company UK & Ireland: Overview | LinkedIn

Bronze Sponsors

Roche/Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland

Roche has grown into one of the world’s largest biotech companies and a global supplier of transformative innovative solutions across major disease areas. To learn more visit Roche.

Roche Diagnostics UK and Ireland is a leading provider of in-vitro diagnostics . To learn more visit  Roche Diagnostics

Alliance Medical

Alliance Medical Limited is Europe’s leading independent provider of imaging services operating across the continent – in the UK, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway and Spain. To learn more visit Alliance Medical

Other Sponsors

ONE BioHub

ONE BioHub is the home for life sciences in Aberdeen. It provides start-up, spinout and scaling life sciences businesses with laboratories and offices and fully customisable grow-on space. Learn more here ONE BioHub – Life Sciences

Charity partners

Conference contact

For any questions about the conference, email events@brainsciences.scot