May 19–21, 2026
Charlottesville, Virginia
Promoting groundbreaking neuroscience research.
Join us for the 2026 University of Virginia Brain Symposium at the Contemplative Commons building in Charlottesville, VA. The symposium seeks to enhance the UVA neuroscience community through research talks, a poster session & networking events, and other educational opportunities.
The agenda will feature lectures by UVA researchers as well as national and international leaders in basic, translational, and clinical neuroscience research across disciplines.
Registration will open in March. We hope to see you there!
Registration will open soon!
Registration will open in March.
Please subscribe to the UVA Brain Institute mailing list to receive Brain Symposium updates!
Stay tuned for Poster Abstract Submission
We will host a poster session and reception on Wednesday, May 20, afternoon, at the Contemplative Commons building.
The Brain Institute will seek abstract submissions from across the University for the poster session beginning in early March.
Explore the Schedule
The 2026 symposium will include 2.5 days of research talks in four thematic areas of neuroscience that represent strengths at the University of Virginia: Systems Neuroscience, Contemplative Sciences & Psychedelics, Maternal Mental Health & Brain Development, and Neurodegeneration.
The event will also include a keynote speaker, two special topic presentations, a poster session, and multiple opportunities for networking.
Thank you to everyone who has made this event possible, including:
2026 Planning Committee
Stefen Beeler-Duden, PhD
JC Cang, PhD
Austin Cooper, PhD
Kelly Crace, PhD
Xuemei Huang, MD, PhD
Contemplative Sciences Center
Kelly Crace
Anna Arp
Tanya Evans
Amy Fansler, MPH
Jaideep Kapur, MBBS, PhD
John Lukens, PhD
Annie Marchildon
Julie Mollica
Edward Nieh, PhD
Jennifer Payne, MD
Cecelia Magargee
Brenda Loving
Kimmy Meegan
Katie Pelland
Meghan Puglia, PhD
Kevin Pelphrey, PhD
J. Kim Penberthy, PhD
Michael Sheehy, PhD
Tara Srivastava
Brain Institute
Chris Sheehan
Megan Wardius
Tesha Westbrook
Helen Wang, PhD
Emily Warren, PhD
Elizabeth Wenzel, PhD
Yajun Zhang, PhD
Questions?
Feel free to contact us using the form, email, or phone.
Email
BrainUVA@uvahealth.org
Phone
(434) 982-5558