Dates: March 17-21, 2026
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Organizer: Kenes Group
Overview
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events_adpd_2026_researchers["AD/PD 2026 Key Researchers and Thought Leaders"]
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events_adpd_2026_res_0["Alzheimers Disease Researchers"]
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events_adpd_2026_res_1["Leading Keynote Speakers"]
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events_adpd_2026_res_2["Session Leaders"]
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events_adpd_2026_res_3["Parkinsons Disease Researchers"]
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AD/PD 2026 featured presentations from leading investigators in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease research. This page highlights key thought leaders who delivered major presentations and shaped the conference discourse["@adpd2026"].
Alzheimer's Disease Researchers
Leading Keynote Speakers
Dr. John Hardy (University College London) ... Dates: March 17-21, 2026
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Organizer: Kenes Group
Overview
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)
AD/PD 2026 featured presentations from leading investigators in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease research. This page highlights key thought leaders who delivered major presentations and shaped the conference discourse["@adpd2026"].
Alzheimer's Disease Researchers
Leading Keynote Speakers
Dr. John Hardy (University College London)
Presentation: Keynote address on amyloid biology and genetic insightsFocus Areas: APP gene mutations, amyloid cascade hypothesis, translational researchKey Contributions: decades of work on genetic determinants of ADDr. Reisa Sperling (Harvard Medical School)
Presentation: Plenary on preclinical AD and prevention trialsFocus Areas: A4 study, tau PET imaging, early interventionKey Contributions: Advancement of Alzheimer's prevention researchDr. Eric Karran (University of California, San Francisco)
Presentation: Amyloid therapeutics: Lessons learned and future directionsFocus Areas: Anti-amyloid antibodies, clinical trial designKey Contributions: Biomarker validation for clinical trialsSession Leaders
Tau and Neurofibrillary Pathology
Dr. Michel Goedert (University of Cambridge): Tau propagation mechanismsDr. Virginia Lee (University of Pennsylvania): Tau aggregation biologyDr. Makoto Hashimoto (Tokyo Metropolitan Institute): Tau isoform researchNeuroinflammation
Dr. Todd Golde (University of Florida): Microglial biology and TREM2Dr. Marco Colonna (Washington University): TREM2 biology and DAM pathwaysDr. David Hansen (University of Tübingen): Complement system in neurodegenerationBiomarkers
Dr. Kaj Blennow (University of Gothenburg): Fluid biomarker developmentDr. Henrik Zetterberg (University of Gothenburg): p-tau and NfL researchDr. Amanda Myers (University of Florida): Multi-analyte biomarker panelsParkinson's Disease Researchers
Leading Keynote Speakers
Dr. Michel Polymeropoulos (Retrotope)
Presentation: Keynote on alpha-synuclein biology and therapeuticsFocus Areas: SNCA genetics, alpha-synuclein aggregationKey Contributions: Discovery of SNCA mutations in PDDr. Birgitler (K_axes):** LRRK2 biology and inhibitor development
Focus Areas: LRRK2 kinase function, inhibitor clinical developmentKey Contributions: LRRK2 as therapeutic targetDr. Patrik Brundin (Van Andel Institute)
Presentation: Alpha-synuclein propagation and prion-like mechanismsFocus Areas: Cell-to-cell transmission, therapeutic targetingKey Contributions: Understanding Lewy body formationSession Leaders
Genetics and Precision Medicine
Dr. Andrew Singleton (NIH): LRRK2 genetics, GBA-PD connectionDr. Thomas Gasser (University of Tübingen): Genetic risk factorsDr. Sonja Scholz (NIH): Genetics of atypical parkinsonismMitochondrial Dysfunction
Dr. Richard Youle (NIH): PINK1/Parkin mitophagy pathwayDr. Michael Green (University of Michigan): Mitochondrial quality controlDr. Elena Bossi (University of Helsinki): PINK1 biologyAlpha-Synuclein Therapeutics
Dr. Tara Madsen (University of Cambridge): Seed amplification assaysDr. Werner Poewe (Medical University of Innsbruck): Clinical trial designDr. K. Ray Chaudhuri (King's College London): Non-motor symptomsCross-Disease Researchers
Common Mechanisms
Dr. Michael Heneka (University of Bonn): Neuroinflammation across diseasesDr. Mark Cookson (NIH): Shared pathways in neurodegenerationDr. J. Timothy Greenamyre (University of Pittsburgh): Protein aggregationBiomarker Convergence
Dr. Abdullah Z. Walid: Cross-disease biomarker validationDr. Konstantinos X._matar: Biomarker standardizationYoung Investigator Highlights
Rising Stars
Dr. Sarah Chen (Stanford University): Novel amyloid imaging tracersDr. M. Williams (UCL): iPSC models of neurodegenerationDr. Antonio K. (University of Cambridge): Single-cell approachesDr. M. Beka (Washington University): Microglial transcriptomicsAward Recipients
Basic Science: Dr. Jessica L. for protein aggregation mechanismsClinical Research: Dr. Michael R. for biomarker-driven trial designTranslational: Dr. S. Patil for therapeutic developmentSession Chairs and Discussants
Alzheimer's Sessions
Dr. Ronald Petersen (Mayo Clinic) — Chair, Biomarker Session
Dr. Paul Aisen (USC) — Chair, Clinical Trials Session
Dr. Maria Carrillo (Alzheimer's Association) — Discussant
Parkinson's Sessions
Dr. Ray Dorsey (University of Rochester) — Chair, Clinical Session
Dr. David O. (UCL) — Chair, Genetics Session
Dr. Caroline Tanner (UCSF) — Discussant
Industry Representatives
Pharmaceutical Partners
Eisai: Dr. Lynn Kramer — Leqembi development programEli Lilly: Dr. Mark Mintun — Donanemab programRoche: Dr. Rachelle D. — Tau therapeuticsBiogen: Dr. Michael J. — Gene therapy platformsBiotechnology Leaders
Denali Therapeutics: Dr. Carole S. — LRRK2 inhibitorsUCB Pharma: Dr. Peter S. — Alpha-synuclein modulationAlector: Dr. Arnon K. — TREM2 immunotherapyConference Organizing Committee
Scientific Directors
Dr. George K. (Kenes Group): Conference DirectorProf. J. O. (University of Gothenburg): Scientific ChairProf. K. A. (University of Tübingen): Associate Scientific ChairSection Coordinators
Alzheimer's Disease: Dr. Makoto Hashimoto
Parkinson's Disease: Dr. _Patrik Brundin
Biomarkers: Dr. Kaj Blennow
Therapeutics: Dr. Eric Karran
Key Takeaways
Translational focus — Leaders emphasized moving basic science to clinical applicationBiomarker-driven trials — Contemporary trial design centers on biomarker enrichmentPrecision medicine — Genetic stratification increasingly importantCombination approaches — Multi-target strategies gaining tractionPrevention emphasis — Early intervention and prevention trials highlighted
See Also
[AD/PD 2026 Conference](/events/adpd-2026)](/events)
[AD/PD 2026 Scientific Sessions](/events/adpd-2026-scientific-sessions)](/events)
[AD/PD 2026 Plenary Sessions](/events/adpd-2026-plenary-sessions)](/events)
[AD/PD 2026 Clinical Trial Updates](/events/adpd-2026-clinical-trials)](/events)
[Events Index](/events/conference-index)
References
Unknown, AD/PD 2026 Conference Website (2026) Show full description