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Venue

Organization

Program

Speakers

Venue

Axis Vermar Conference & Beach Hotel
Rua da Imprensa Regional
4490-518 Póvoa de Varzim
Tel: + 351 252 298 900 | Site: http://www.axishoteis.com/ | E-mail: reservas@axisvermar.com

The easiest ways to reach the meeting venue are:

By car: GPS coordinates are: N 41° 23′ 27.4482″ | W -8° 46′ 23.5194″

By metro:
You should take line B (average time: 30 minutes)
From Póvoa de Varzim station to Axis Vermar Conference & Beach Hotel, you may go by taxi.

Organization

Local Organizing Committee

CHAIRS
Teresa Summavielle | i3S - ESS
Fani Neto | i3S - FMUP

Scientific Organizing Committee

Program

May 28

08:00 Check-in

09:00 Welcome and Opening Session
(Conference Chairs and SPN President)

09:30 - 11:00 Symposium 1 - Neuroimmune interactions
(Chairs: João Peça, CNC & Julie Ribot, GIMM)

09:30 - 10:10 Invited Speaker | Stressing out γδ T cells in tissue pathophysiology
Julie Ribot, GIMM

Selected Talks:

10:10 - 10:25 ELEANA: Early-Life Environmental AllergeNs in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Joana Guedes, CNC

10:25 - 10:40 Unveiling the Gut-Microbiome-Immune-Brain Axis in Schizophrenia
Ana Raquel Santos, CNC

10:40 - 10:55 Heavy Obstacle: Obesity Hampers Myelin Repair in a Multiple Sclerosis mouse model
Alexandre Neto, iMed.ULisboa

11:00 Coffee-Break

11:30 - 12:30 Plenary Lecture 1 – Invited Speaker - Mónica Sousa, i3S
The roadmap enabling spinal cord regeneration in mammals

12:30 - 14:00 Lunch and Poster Session 1
(Chairs: Carlos Duarte, CNC & Clévio Nóbrega, ABC Ri)
Neurodevelopment / Regeneration
Rare Disorders
Glia / Neuroinflammation
Aging Brain/Oxidative stress

14:00 - 15:30 Symposium 2 - Oxidative Stress
(Chairs: João Relvas, i3S & João Laranjinha, CNC)

14:00 - 14:45 Invited Speaker | Redox regulation of neurovascular coupling by nitric oxide to improve cognition
João Laranjinha, CNC/UC

Selected Talks:

14:45 - 15:00 Targeting Microglial Vitamin C Transport as a Novel Strategy to Combat Alzheimer’s Disease
Camila Cabral Portugal, i3S

15:00 - 15:15Autophagy and Feeding Dynamics: Insights from egli-1 in the C. elegans nervous system
Jorge H. Fernandes, ICVS

15:15 - 15:30 Delivery of miR-124 Engineered Exosomes from Bioreactor-Expanded Human Neurospheres Prompts Neuroprotection in the 5xFAD Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Mafalda Migueis, iMed.ULisboa

15:30 - 16:30 Coffee Break and Poster Session 1 (cont.)
Neurodevelopment / Regeneration
Rare Disorders
Glia / Neuroinflammation
Aging Brain/Oxidative stress

16:30 - 18:00 Symposium 3 - Neurodevelopmental Advances
(Chairs: Diogo Castro, i3S & Filipe Monteiro, FMUP)

16:30 - 17:10 Invited Speaker | Asynchronous transcription and translations as timers of neuronal maturation in Drosophila
Catarina Homem, NMS/UNL

Selected Talks:

17:10 - 17:25 CD9 as a driver of neurophatic pain through adaptative immunity after spinal cord injury
Isaura Martins, Univ. Católica Portuguesa

17:25 - 17:40 Glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity drives disease progression in Spinocerebellar Ataxias
David Brito, ABC CoLAB - Ageing Better

17:40 - 17:55 Uncovering New Behavioral Traits and Therapeutic Avenues in a Clinically Relevant Mouse Model of Rett Syndrome
Daniela Monteiro, ICVS, UM

18:00 SPN Meeting

May 29

09:00 - 10:30 Symposium 4 - Neuronal circuits/behaviour
(Chairs: Ana João Rodrigues, ICVS & Luisa V Lopes; GIMM)

09:00 - 09:40 Invited Speaker | Gut Microbiota influence on neuronal activation
Ilana Gabanyi, GIMM

Selected Talks:

09:40 - 09:55 Neural representation of appetitive and aversive events by the brain
Carina Soares-Cunha, ICVS, UM

09:55 - 10:10 Mapping Freezing of Gait circuits with Deep Brain Stimulation
Marcelo Mendonça, Champalimaud Foundation

10:10 - 10:25 Striatopallidal cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptors determine innate defensive behaviors
Rui S Rodrigues, Univ. Bordeaux, INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie

10:30 - 11:00 Coffee-Break

11:00 - 12:30 Symposium 5 - Brain interactions/Synaptic function
(Chairs: Ana Luisa Carvalho, CNC & Matthew Holt,i3S)

11:00 - 11:40 Invited Speaker | From Genes to Circuits: The Role of SHANK3 in Autism Pathophysiology
Patricia Monteiro, FMUP

Selected Talks:

11:40 - 11:55 From neuronal polarization to function: unveiling the transport and function of
neuronal surface receptors
Luis Ribeiro, MIA-Portugal, iCBR-CiBB

11:55 - 12:10 Astrocytic Foxo1 regulates hippocampal spinogenesis and synaptic plasticity and enhances fear memory
Daniela Abreu, ICVS, UM

12:10 - 12:25 Alzheimer’s risk gene Bin1 deregulates the synaptic endocytic trafficking
Claudia Almeida, NOVA Medical School

12:30 - 13:30 Plenary Lecture 2 – Invited Speaker – Sophie Leclerq, FNRS and UCLouvain
What is the impact of gut microbes on brain functions and behavior in alcohol use disorder?

13:30 - 14:30 Lunch and Poster Session 2
(Chairs: Adelaide Fernandes, FFUL & Cristina Rego, CNC)
Neurodegeneration
Sensory Processing
Neural Circuits

14:30 - 16:00 Symposium 6 - Aging/Neurodegenerative diseases
(Chairs: Tiago Outeiro & Cesar Mendes)

14:30 - 15:10 Invited Speaker | An update on the pathophysiology of basal ganglia in Parkinson’s disease
Abdelhamid Benazzouz, CNRS

Selected Talks:

15:10 - 15:25 Bacterial-mediated modulation of gut-brain axis pathology in sporadic Parkinson’s disease
Inês José Melo Marques, CNC-UC

15:25 - 15:40 Beyond amyloid-beta in Alzheimer’s disease: TrkB-FL receptor cleavage generates a synaptotoxic fragment capable of being shuttled in extracellular vesicles
Tiago Costa-Coelho, FMUL/GIMM/iMed/ FFUL

15:40 - 15:55 Striatal structural plasticity in dystonia
Raquel Colucas, Champalimaud Foundation

16:00 - 17:00 Coffee Break and Poster Session 2 (cont.)
Neurodegeneration
Sensory Processing
Neural Circuits

17:00 - 18:35 Symposium 7 - Advanced Topics in Neuroscience
(Chairs: Sara Xapelli, FMUL & Francisco Ambrósio, iCBR-CiBB)

17:00 - 17:10 Sponsor talk
Vector b2b

17:10 - 17:50 Invited Speaker | Next-generation disease models for diabetic retinopathy using retinal organoids
Sandra Tenreiro, NMS/UNL

Selected Talks:

17:50 - 18:05 A Sense of Need: How Single Amino Acid Deprivations Remodel Sensory Systems and Behavior
Gili Ezra-Nevo, Champalimaud Foundation

18:05 - 18:20 A novel approach to Neuroprotection: Biodegradable dendrimers as effective nanocarriers for Stroke therapy
Marília Torrado, i3S/ICBAS

18:20 - 18:35 Scalability of SiNAPS-based neural interfaces and freely-moving chronic electrophysiology performance
Joao Ribeiro, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia

20:00 Gala Dinner

May 30

09:30 - 10:30 Special session 1
ALBA Session
(Chair: Sara Xapelli, FMUL and Catarina Miranda, CNC)
Mentors:

Gaining confidence as a leader
Megan Carey | Champalimaud Foundation

Leadership in under-resourced countries
Hugo Miranda | NOVA Medical School

Thriving in your career while dealing with disabilities
Catarina Miranda | CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology

Impostor phenomenon
Sara Xapelli | Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa

Fostering inclusive mentorship
Carlos Matos | Faculdade de Medicina e Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade do Algarve

10:30 Coffee-Break

10:30 - 11:30 Special session 2

Fostering interactions and synergies for the future of Portuguese Neuroscience
(Chair: SPN Junior Committee)
SPN Junior Committee:
David Brito, ABC CoLAB - Ageing Better
Catarina Seabra, CAJAL Advanced Neuroscience Training Programme / Chaperone / Brain Gain
Adriana Capucho, NOVA Medical School
Daniela Abreu, ICVS, UM

11:30 - 12:30 Special session 3
Neurotechnology and AI: Exploring the Frontiers of Neuroscience
(Chairs: Fani Neto, FMUP and João Paulo Cunha, INESC- TEC)
Speakers:
Paulo Aguar, i3S
Luis Jacinto, FMUP

12:30 - 13:30 SENC Plenary Lecture – Invited Speaker – Juan Casto Rivadulla Fernández, Universidade da Coruña
Non-Invasive Neuromodulation in Epilepsies: From Animal Models to Humans

13:30 - 14:30 Lunch and Poster Session 3
(Chairs: Isaura Tavares,FMUP & Rosalina Fonseca,i3S)
Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences
Psychiatric Disorders / Addiction
Other options

14:30 - 16:30 Symposium 8 - Translational Neuroscience
(Chairs: Tiago Gil Oliveira, ICVS & Albino Maia, NMS/UNL, Champalimaud Foundation)

14:30 - 14:50 Sponsor talk
Ambidata

14:50 - 15:20 Invited Speaker | Can brain lesions help refine neuromodulation in Psychiatry?
Gonçalo Cotovio, Champalimaud Foundation

15:20 - 15:50 Invited Speaker | Neurotransmitter circuit mapping of brain lesions: insights into the neural basis and therapeutics of stroke behavioral syndromes
Pedro Alves, FMUL

Selected Talks:

15:50 - 16:05 Advanced mouse neuroimaging with translational MRI
Rui Simões, i3S

16:05 - 16:20 A cholinergic brainstem input to the nucleus accumbens bidirectionally mediate cocaine reinforcing effects
Barbara Coimbra, ICVS, UM

16:30 - 17:00 Coffee Break and Poster Session 3 (cont.)
Cellular and Molecular Neurosciences
Psychiatric Disorders / Addiction
Other options

17:00 Awards and Closing Session

Speakers

Julie Ribot, GIMM
Julie Ribot is a immunologist specializing in the interplay between the immune system and tissue physiology, with a particular focus on neuroimmunology. She is presently a Principal Investigator and co-head of the Ribot & Silva-Santos Lab at GIMM. Her lab investigates neuro-immune interactions, particularly the role of IL-17-producing γδ T cells in brain function and disease. Julie Ribot's work has unveiled the influence of meningeal γδ T cells on cognitive functions, such as short-term memory, and their involvement in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Beyond her research, Julie Ribot is committed to education and mentorship, serving as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon.

Mónica Sousa, i3S
Mónica Sousa is a leading neuroscientist and Principal Investigator at the Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S) of the University of Porto, where she heads the Nerve Regeneration Group. She also serves as Director of the Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), one of i3S's founding institutes . Mónica Sousa leads the Nerve Regeneration Group at i3S, concentrating on the mechanisms of axon growth, degeneration, and regeneration. Her team notably discovered that the spiny mouse is the first known mammal capable of spontaneous spinal cord regeneration, offering new insights into potential therapeutic avenues for spinal injuries. In recognition of her significant contributions to life sciences.

João Laranjinha, CNC/UC
João Laranjinha is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal. João Laranjinha leads the Redox Biology and Brain Sensing Group at the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC) at the University of Coimbra. His research focuses on the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the brain, particularly its function as a neurometabolic regulator and mediator of neurovascular coupling, with implications for aging and neurodegenerative diseases. He has contributed significantly to the understanding of redox biology, including studies on the redox cycles of dietary phenolic antioxidants, such as caffeic acid, and their interactions with vitamins E and C. His work has implications for atherosclerosis prevention and the measurement of nitric oxide dynamics in hippocampal slices.

Catarina Homem, NMS/UNL
Catarina Homem is a developmental biologist and Principal Investigator at NOVA Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal. She leads the "Proliferation and Fate Regulation of Stem Cells" research group, focusing on how temporal and metabolic cues regulate neural stem cell behavior during development. Her lab utilizes Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to investigate mechanisms governing stem cell proliferation and differentiation, with implications for understanding developmental disorders and cancer. Beyond her research, Catarina Homem serves as an invited professor at NOVA Medical School and is a board member of the Portuguese Society of Stem Cells and Cell Therapies.

Ilana Gabanyi, GIMM
Ilana Gabanyi is a neuroscientist and Principal Investigator at the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) in Portugal, where she leads the NeuroBiota Lab. Her research focuses on the direct interactions between gut microbiota-derived signals and brain neurons, exploring how microbial compounds influence neuronal activity and behavior. Her lab employs interdisciplinary approaches, including 3D brain imaging, microbial sequencing, and transgenic mouse models, to dissect the mechanisms of microbiota-neuron crosstalk. Her work aims to uncover how bacterial signals reach the brain, the factors influencing neuronal responses, and the downstream effects on behavior and physiology. Her research on the gut-brain axis has implications for neurological disorders with sex-specific prevalence, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Patricia Monteiro, FMUP
Patrícia Monteiro is a Principal Investigator at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP), where she leads the Neurophysiology and Neuroengineering Lab. Her research focuses on understanding the neural circuits underlying neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Patricia Monteiro's lab employs electrophysiological recordings and innovative neuroengineering tools to study how cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo circuits encode and decode information, and how disruptions in these circuits contribute to disorders like ASD and OCD. Her team is also developing translational technologies, such as neural probes and wireless brain stimulators, to monitor and modulate brain activity.

Sophie Leclercq, FNRS and UCLouvain
Sophie Leclercq is a FNRS Research Associate at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain). She specializes in the gut-brain axis, focusing on how intestinal microbiota influence mental health, particularly in the context of alcohol use disorders. Currently, she leads clinical and preclinical studies at UCLouvain's Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS) and Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), aiming to elucidate the biological pathways underlying gut-brain communication in alcohol use disorders. Her research encompasses areas such as gut microbiota, gut barrier function, inflammation, metabolomics, stress, PTSD, and nutrition.

Abdelhamid Benazzouz, CNRS
Abdelhamid Benazzouz is a prominent neuroscientist specializing in movement disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease. He serves as a Professor at Aix-Marseille University in France and leads research focused on the neurophysiology and therapeutic approaches of basal ganglia dysfunctions. His work includes the study of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and its effects on motor symptoms. Abdelhamid Benazzouz has contributed significantly to understanding the mechanisms of neuronal oscillations in Parkinsonian models, aiming to improve clinical interventions.

Sandra Tenreiro, NMS/UNL
Sandra Tenreiro is a Principal Investigator at NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal, where she leads the Degeneration and Ageing research group. Her research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying retinal degeneration in age-related diseases, with a particular emphasis on proteostasis. Utilizing retinal organoids and cellular models, her work aims to develop new therapeutic approaches for conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Sandra Tenreiro is recognized for her contributions to the understanding of retinal degeneration and the development of innovative disease models.

Juan Casto Rivadulla Fernández, Universidade da Coruña
Juan Casto Rivadulla Fernández is a neuroscientist and Professor of Physiology at the University of A Coruña, specializing in sensory processing, neuromodulation, and cognitive neuroscience. Rivadulla leads the Neurociencia e Control Motor (NEUROcom) research group, which focuses on the role of feedback circuits in visual processing, the effects of cannabinoids on sensory transmission, and the neural mechanisms underlying attention. He has contributed to clinical research on epilepsy and the use of static magnetic fields for neuromodulation, particularly in models of Dravet syndrome. Beyond his research, Juan Casto Rivadulla is recognized science communicator. He curated the exhibition O mundo na túa cabeza to commemorate Santiago Ramón y Cajal's Nobel Prize centenary and co-founded the popular Café-Tertulia Científica initiative in Galicia.

Gonçalo Cotovio, Champalimaud Foundation
Gonçalo Cotovio is a psychiatrist and clinical researcher specializing in neuropsychiatry and neuromodulation. He is currently a Psychiatry Resident and Research Associate at the Champalimaud Foundation’s Neuropsychiatry Unit in Lisbon, Portugal. His research interests encompass the neurobiology of mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Gonçalo Cotovio has contributed significantly to understanding the functional neuroanatomy of mania and has been involved in developing innovative treatments for OCD using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). He collaborates with various institutions, including Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Ocidental, Harvard Medical School, and the Champalimaud Foundation, contributing to advancements in the understanding and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Pedro Alves, FMUL
Pedro Alves is a neurologist and neuroscientist affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon (FMUL). He serves as an Invited Assistant Professor of Neurology and leads the Laboratory of Language Studies at the Egas Moniz Center for Studies. Clinically, he is an Assistant Neurologist at the Stroke Unit of Hospital de Santa Maria. His research focuses on behavioral neurology and neuropsychology, particularly cognitive impairments following stroke. Pedro Alves has led projects like NeuroT-Treat and NeuroT-Map, aiming to map and modulate neurotransmitter circuits in stroke patients. He is actively involved in professional societies, serving as President of the Portuguese Section of Behavioral Neurology and as a representative in the European Academy of Neurology.

May 29th 2025 | Gala dinner

Meeting dinner: 25€

Abstract Submission

The call for abstracts will be open between January 15^th and March 5^th 2025 (notification of acceptance until 21^st of March 2025). The abstract will be evaluated and selected either for oral communication or poster communication.

Participants with submitted abstracts should register until April 4^th.

Abstracts should be structured according to the following template:

Abstract template >>

Registration for abstract submission is closed.

SPN Scholarships

Scholarships will be awarded to SPN members that will present their work in the meeting.

International Scholarships
For researchers working abroad

4 PhD Students
4 Post-Doctoral Fellows

(Award: 750€)

National Scholarships
For researchers working in Portugal

5 MSc or MSc Students
10 PhD Students
10 Post-doctoral Fellows

(Award: Early-bird registration fee)

Eligibility

Submission of a short CV, with publication record and communications
Submission of an abstract
SPN membership in good standing
Contact of a reference person

Application from February 3^rd to March 5^th.
Please submit all the required information here >>
For further information contact the conference chairs.

Selected awardees will be contacted before March 20^th.
Selected awardees will receive the scholarships during the SPN General Assembly, at SPN2025.

Regulations for SPN2025 Travel Awards >>

Registration

Registration fee includes coffee breaks and lunches. Accommodation is not included in the registration fee.

Registration fees:

	Early bird until April 4^thPayment deadline: April 4^th	Late registration until April 30^thPayment deadline: May 2^nd
Students (SPN member)*	150 €	200 €
Students (Non-SPN member)*	200 €	250 €
Other (SPN member)	250 €	300 €
Other (Non-SPN member)	350 €	400 €