Development & 3D Modeling of the Human Brain   
December 7 - 10, 2026 (In-person only)
Abstract Deadline: September 25, 2026

Organizers:

Guo-li Ming, University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine
Sergiu Pasca, Stanford University

We are pleased to announce the fifth Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory winter conference on Development and 3D Modeling of the Human Brain. The goal of this meeting is to bring together researchers from diverse fields to discuss advances in neural differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, including 3D brain organoids and assembloids, and their contribution to the understanding of human brain development, evolution, and disease.

The meeting will begin on the evening of Monday, December 7, 2026, and end after lunch on Thursday, December 10. To maximize interactions amongst participants, this meeting is now IN-PERSON only - no virtual attendance is available. Abstracts should contain new and unpublished material. Selection of material for oral and poster presentations will be made by the organizers and session chairs.

Topics:
  • Human Brain Development and Disease
  • Human Brain Evolution
  • Brain Models, Development and Disease I
  • Brain Models, Development and Disease II
  • Brain Models and Disease

Keynote Speakers: 
Adrian Krainer, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Olivier Pourquié, Harvard Medical School
Xiaowei Zhuang, Harvard University

Invited Speakers:
Paola Arlotta, Harvard University
Simon HippenmeyerInstitute of Science and Technology, Austria
Kazuto Kato, Osaka University, Japan
Juergen Knoblich, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria
Madeline Lancaster, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Guillermina Lopez-Bendito, Instituto de Neurociencias Alicante, Spain
Oscar Marin, King's College London, England
Guo-Li Ming, University of Pennsylvania
Laurent Nguyen, University of Liege, Belgium
Gaia Novarino, Institute of Science and Technology, Austria
Sergiu Pasca, Stanford University
Botond Roska, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Switzerland
Debra Silver, Duke University Medical Center
Hongjun Song, University of Pennsylvania
Lorenz Studer, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Sally Temple, Neural Stem Cell Institute 
Guiseppe Testa, Human Technopole, University of Milan & European Institute of Oncology, Italy
Barbara Treutlein, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Flora Vaccarino, Yale University
Xiaoqun Wang, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Please bring this notice to the attention of any of your colleagues who may be interested in participating in the meeting.

All abstracts must be submitted by the abstract deadline. Late registrations may be accepted after the abstract deadline if the meeting is not oversubscribed. In the event of over-subscription, every effort will be made to ensure that all groups who wish to participate will be represented. The status (talk/poster) of abstracts will be posted on our website as soon as decisions have been made by the organizers.

We are eager to have as many young people as possible attend since they are likely to benefit most from this meeting. We have applied for funds from government and industry to partially support graduate students and postdocs. Please apply in writing via email to Kelley McGrath and state your financial needs.

Social Media:

The designated hashtag for this meeting is #cshlbrain. Note that you must obtain permission from an individual presenter before live-tweeting or discussing his/her talk, poster, or research results on social media. Click the Policies tab above to see our full Confidentiality & Reporting Policy.

This meeting is sponsored by:



Pricing:

Academic Private Room/Private Bath Package: $1550 (Subject to Availability)
Academic Private Room/Shared Bath Package: $1460
Academic Shared Room Package: $1340
Academic No-Housing Package: $1020
Student Package*: $1230
Student No-Housing Package: $910
Corporate Private Room/Private Bath Package: $1990
Corporate No-Housing Package: $1470

*Student Housing is default double occupancy. Please enquire about availability and fees to upgrade to private room.

NOTE: We cannot guarantee housing will be on campus

Room packages close 2 weeks before the meeting start date

Regular packages are all-inclusive and cover registration, food, housing, parking, a wine-and-cheese reception, and a lobster banquet. No-Housing packages include all costs except housing. Full payment is due four weeks prior to the meeting.