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Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland - ISMRM Workshop on Advancing Translational MR Neuroimaging: Towards Imaging Biomarkers in Psychiatry and Neurodegeneration
Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland - ISMRM Workshop on Advancing Translational MR Neuroimaging: Towards Imaging Biomarkers in Psychiatry and Neurodegeneration
Program & Schedule
August 25 - 27, 2026
Starling Hotel Lausanne, Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland
Note: Full program details will be published on August 11, 2026 at 08:00 UTC. Log in as a registered attendee to view full details now.

Workshop Overview

Shifting the focus from symptom-based diagnosis to biomarker-based diagnosis is the general goal of psychiatry and neurodegeneration research. This workshop seeks to explore the potential of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy for identifying and utilizing biomarkers useful for diagnosing mental illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases, aiming to enhance the precision and reliability of psychiatric and neurodegenerative diagnoses. MR neuroimaging, especially with recent advances in imaging techniques, is a powerful tool that provides structural, functional, and molecular information about the brain. Together with dedicated acquisition schemes, system manipulations, novel analysis tools, and translational approaches, it offers significant potential to identify imaging biomarkers for psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Through collaborative discussions and presentation sessions, participants will engage with the latest research, MR technologies, and methodologies in the field of psychiatric and neurodegenerative biomarkers, aiming to foster advancements in diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.

Target Audience

MR scientists, clinicians, and technologists who are interested in the latest advances in MR neuroimaging techniques and research in biomarker-based diagnostics for psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the current MR imaging and spectroscopy methods applied in psychiatry and neurodegeneration research;
  • List the current challenges in identifying imaging biomarkers for psychiatry and neurodegeneration;
  • List current therapeutic interventions in psychiatry and neurodegeneration, and the current status;
  • Describe current MRI and MRS acquisition protocols for multicenter clinical studies;
  • Identify animal models for studying molecular mechanisms underlying psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases; and
  • Examine the current translational value of MR methods in psychiatry and neurodegeneration research.


Conference Program

All times shown in UTC

Jump to:
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Registration
Speaker Upload Available
08:30 - 09:00
Foyer
Opening Remarks: Objectives of the Workshop
Event
09:00 - 09:15
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
1 presentations
Invited Talk Keynote Lecture: Psychiatry
09:15 - 10:15
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Break Break and Speaker Upload Available (30 min)
10:15 - 10:45
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
4 presentations
Invited Talk Quantitative MRI
10:45 - 11:05
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Microstructure MRI
11:05 - 11:25
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk 1H MRS/MRSI
11:25 - 11:45
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk From Asia COCORO
11:45 - 12:05
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Lunch
Speaker Upload Available
12:05 - 13:00
Foyer
Power Pitch I
PowerPitch
13:00 - 14:00
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
Poster Session I
Traditional Poster
13:00 - 14:00
Meeting Rooms IV and V
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
2 presentations
Invited Talk Brain Network Analysis
14:00 - 14:20
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Multimodal Analysis (e.g. Receptor-Enriched fMRI)
14:20 - 14:40
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Proffered Papers
Oral
14:40 - 15:30
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
Break
Speaker Upload Available
15:30 - 16:00
Foyer
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
2 presentations
Invited Talk Neuromodulation
16:00 - 16:20
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk MR-Guided Therapy Techniques
16:20 - 16:40
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Proffered Papers
Oral
16:40 - 17:30
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
Adjournment
17:30
Networking Reception
Event
18:00 - TBD
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Registration
Speaker Upload Available
08:30 - 09:00
Foyer
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
1 presentations
Invited Talk Keynote Lecture: Neurodegenerative Diseases
09:00 - 10:15
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Break Break and Speaker Upload Available (15 min)
10:15 - 10:30
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
4 presentations
Invited Talk X-MRS
10:30 - 10:50
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk MRS Application
10:50 - 11:10
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Imaging Neuroinflammation
11:10 - 11:30
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Glymphatic MRI
11:30 - 11:50
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Lunch
Speaker Upload Available
11:50 - 13:00
Foyer
Power Pitch II
PowerPitch
13:00 - 14:00
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
Poster Session II
Traditional Poster
13:00 - 14:00
Meeting Rooms IV and V
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
2 presentations
Invited Talk Preclinical Models
14:00 - 14:20
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Neurofeedback and MRI
14:20 - 14:40
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Proffered Papers
Oral
14:40 - 15:30
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
Break
Speaker Upload Available
15:30 - 16:00
Foyer
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
2 presentations
Invited Talk Neuroimaging in Psychiatry
16:00 - 16:20
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Neuroimaging in Neurodegeneration
16:20 - 16:40
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Proffered Papers
Oral
16:40 - 17:30
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
Adjournment
17:30
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Registration
Speaker Upload Available
08:30 - 09:00
Foyer
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
1 presentations
Invited Talk Keynote Lecture: Advanced MR in the Clinic
09:00 - 10:15
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Break Break and Speaker Upload Available (15 min)
10:15 - 10:30
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
4 presentations
Invited Talk ENIGMA OCD
10:30 - 10:50
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk ENIGMA SCZ
10:50 - 11:10
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk ABCD
11:10 - 11:30
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk From Asia COCORO
11:30 - 11:50
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Lunch
Speaker Upload Available
11:50 - 13:00
Foyer
Power Pitch III
PowerPitch
13:00 - 14:00
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
Poster Session III
Traditional Poster
13:00 - 14:00
Meeting Rooms IV and V
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
5 presentations
Invited Talk Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD²)
14:00 - 14:20
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Open Science Talk from China
14:20 - 14:40
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Multi-Center Study of MRS: Challenges & Approaches
14:40 - 15:00
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Data Harmonization of Neuroimaging Data
15:00 - 15:20
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Panel Discussion: Where We Are & Future Direction
15:20 - 15:40
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Break Break and Speaker Upload Available (30 min)
15:40 - 16:10
Meeting Rooms I, II, and III
3 presentations
Invited Talk Summary of Key Takeaways
16:10 - 16:20
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Discussion: Feedback and Future Directions
16:20 - 16:30
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Invited Talk Poster/Oral Awards Announcement
16:30 - 16:45
Speaker TBA
No syllabus uploaded No recording
Adjournment
16:45

Organizing Committee

co-chair
Peiying Liu, PhD
University of Maryland
Baltimore, United States of America
co-chair
Lijing Xin, PhD
Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne
Lausanne, Switzerland

Committee Members

Yuhei Takado, MD_PhD
WS 98 - Psychiatry Organizers
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology
Chiba, Japan
Anouk Schrantee, PhD
WS 98 - Psychiatry Organizers
Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Fei Du, PhD
WS 98 - Psychiatry Organizers
Harvard Medical School
Boston, United States of America
Peter Barker, PhD
WS 98 - Psychiatry Organizers
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, United States of America
Ralf Mekle, PhD
WS 98 - Psychiatry Organizers
Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Berlin, Germany
Antonia Kaiser, PhD
WS 98 - Trainee Observers
CIBM Center for Biomedical Imaging, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Lausanne, Switzerland
Dost Ongur, MD_PhD
WS 98 - Consultants to the Organizing Committee
McLean Hospital
Qiyong Gong, MD_PhD
WS 98 - Consultants to the Organizing Committee
Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University
Chengdu, China
Ileana Jelescu, PhD
WS 98 - Local Organizing Committee
CHUV | Lausanne University Hospital
Dimitrios Karampinos, PhD
WS 98 - Local Organizing Committee
EPFL

Supporters

The ISMRM wishes to thank the following supporter for their contributions to Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland - ISMRM Workshop on Advancing Translational MR Neuroimaging: Towards Imaging Biomarkers in Psychiatry and Neurodegeneration:

Additional Supporters

The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) acknowledges and thanks its Corporate Members for their continued support of the Society:

Bronze Corporate Members

Accreditation Information

The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine designates this live activity for a preliminary maximum of 15.25* AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Medical Association has an agreement of mutual recognition of Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), the accreditation body for European countries. Physicians interested in converting AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ to UEMS-European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education CME credits (ECMECs) should contact the UEMS at mutualrecognition@uems.eu.

Activities certified for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ that take place within a member country of the UEMS are not eligible for conversion to ECMECs under this agreement.

For Presenters & Attendees

Presentation Submission Guidelines

We strongly recommend uploading your presentation before the workshop (instructions will be emailed to all presenters). If you cannot upload before the deadline, then you must bring your presentation directly to the workshop meeting room on a USB storage device.


On-Site Presentation Computers & Software Provided

  • Internet access is NOT available on presentation computers.
  • The Windows computer will have the latest versions of the following software:
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • The Apple computer will have the latest versions of the following software:
  • MacOS
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Apple Keynote
  • Installation of any additional software will not be permitted.


Loading Your Presentation On-Site

  • It is not possible to load your presentation once your session has begun. Please pre-load your presentation as early as possible.
  • You must use the provided computer at the presenter podium or table. There will be no connection to use your own laptop at the lectern.
  • Power Pitch slides CANNOT be submitted on-site. They must be submitted to the Workshop Manager before the event.
  • There is no speaker ready room.
  • The pre-loaded version does not need to be your final version, as long as you load your final version before your session begins. Draft versions can be loaded and later updated. You can do this simply to test the fonts, animations, and videos, and then bring your final version in before your scheduled time. By loading a draft version, any potential issues can be discovered and corrected prior to presentation.
  • Since editing time will be limited, please ensure that all fonts appear as expected and all sound/video clips are functioning properly. PowerPoint users can EMBED FONT to ensure your text appears as intended. Commercial fonts and Apple system fonts cannot be embedded. It is recommend to avoid these types of fonts.


Slide Presentation Guidelines

Showing Your Presentation

  • The A/V staff will start each presentation.
  • Once the presentation is launched, you will control the presentation from the lectern using a standard computer mouse.
  • The left button will advance to the next slide and start movies.
  • The right button will reverse to the previous slide. (Mac PowerPoint users will bring up a menu when the right mouse button is pressed.)
  • The mouse will also function as a pointer. No laser pointers are provided.
  • The sessions are digitally captured and a laser pointer cannot be recorded.
  • There will not be a keyboard. If you do not want the mouse pointer to disappear during the presentation, please consult the A/V staff when loading.


Preferred Presentation Formatting

  • This workshop will use a high-definition 16:9 format screen (see illustration), which can support a wide screen format.
  • To use the widescreen format, check your PAGE SETUP setting before creating your presentation.
  • Older versions of PowerPoint may have 4:3 as the default setting. Make sure to change this to ON-SCREEN SHOW (16:9) in order to make full use of the presentation screen.
  • Changing this setting after the presentation has been created can cause format issues on slides.
  • A presentation in the 4:3 format can be shown, but there will be black bars on both sides of the image (see example).
  • Video files should be embedded into the presentation. Do not use linked video files.
  • If using a video file for your presentation, it is imperative that it is tested on-site as early as possible to ensure it will play on the provided computers.
  • If a video does not play on the provided computers, it may take hours to fix, if it can be fixed at all.
  • Please note, just changing the file extension does not convert the file. Both free and commercial software is available for that purpose.
  • Set your presentation to Loop Continuously to prevent an accidental ending of recording during capture. This option is found under the SLIDE SHOW -> SETUP SLIDE SHOW menu in PowerPoint.
  • Please REMOVE ALL HYPERLINKS from any web address or e-mail addresses in your presentation. Simply highlight the text and select REMOVE HYPERLINK. An accidental click on a link will interrupt your presentation.


ISMRM Policy Regarding Presentation Slides

Content of CME activities will be restricted to pure science, industry issues, and operation of devices, and should not include any advertising, corporate logos, trade names or a product group message of an ACCME-defined ineligible company.

Presentations must give a balanced view of therapeutic options and use of generic names will contribute to this impartiality. Trade names or company names should only be used if essential. If included, where available trade names from several companies should be used, not just trade names from a single company.

How to Make a Video from Your Slideshow

Presenters can produce videos from their PowerPoint or Keynote slideshows. There are three main requirements for all videos submitted for inclusion in this conference:

Video Resolution: 1280x720 (720p)Video File Format: .MP4 (H.264 codec)Maximum video file size: 325 MB

Tips for Audio Recording:

  • Find a small, quiet space to record in.
  • Turn off loud machines and fans, especially air conditioners and heaters.
  • Avoid spaces with echo. Rooms with bare walls, such as bathrooms and kitchens, often produce noticeable echo.
  • Sound dampening (echo reduction) is easy and can be done with blankets, carpeting, curtains, furniture, and clothing. Soft items hung on a wall are great sound dampeners.
  • A closet full of clothes is a great space for recording.
  • Record yourself with a good headset or external microphone. Position the microphone just to the side of your mouth to reduce "pops" (bursts of air hitting the microphone, such as those produced by the letters p and b).
  • Avoid using a built-in microphone, such as on a laptop computer or webcam.
  • Speak loudly, clearly, and forcefully, as if you were outdoors and speaking to a group. The audience will not want to have to interpret mumbling or quiet speaking, and will lose interest or move on to the next video.
  • Make a brief test recording and review both the sound and picture quality. You may also want to double-check the MP4 format and bit rate before recording the entire presentation. Make adjustments if needed.


Making a Video in Microsoft PowerPoint

How to record narration and timings in PowerPoint: Microsoft Support Article

  • In the menu bar, click File
  • Click Export
  • Click Create a Video
  • In the Presentation Quality drop-down, select Internet Quality (1280 x 720)
  • Click Create Video
  • In the Save As dialog, go to the Save as type box and select "MPEG-4 Video (*.mp4)".
  • Enter a name in the File name box. Be sure to name your file according to the instructions on this website, under the appropriate tab for your presentation type.

For more detailed instructions, please visit Microsoft's website.

Be sure to select your version of PowerPoint from the options above "Save as a video file" to ensure the instructions cover your version of the software.

Making a Video in Apple Keynote

How to record narration and timings in Keynote: Apple Support Article

  • Click on the service menu on top of your screen File → Export To → Movie
  • If you recorded a narration, you can click the Playback pop-up menu, then choose Slideshow Recording. If you want the slides to advance by themselves, you can leave the option Self-Playing.
  • If you choose Self-Playing you can enter the time you want the next slide or build to advance. These timings apply only to click events.
  • On the Resolution drop-down menu, click Custom and enter 1280px x 720px. Be sure to select the H.246 option. This is .mp4 and it is going to work on any device and software.
  • Click Next…
  • Enter a name in the Save As field. Be sure to name your file according to the instructions on this website, under the appropriate tab for your presentation type.
  • To choose where to save the presentation, click the arrow next to the Where pop-up menu, then choose a location in the dialog. For example, it can be on the desktop. The default location Keynote chooses is the Keynote folder on your iCloud.
  • Finally, Click Export.

For more detailed instructions, please visit Apple's website.

Other software that can produce .MP4 files such as Camtasia or Zoom are also acceptable as long as the above file requirements are met.


Traditional Poster Guidelines

A traditional poster presentation combines a visual display on a poster board of the highlights of research with a question-and-answer opportunity. You will be assigned a time period during which you should be present at your poster for discussion and questions. In addition, the poster will be available for viewing by attendees during all hours the workshop is open.

Note: You must print your own poster, and it should be done before you leave for the workshop. Do not expect printing services on-site.

Measurements

Each presenter is assigned a square space with maximum dimensions of 36 inches wide by 36 inches high (approx. 91.44 cm x 91.44 cm). Posters exceeding these measurements (i.e., extending into areas reserved for other posters) may be removed.

Posters will be attached to their spaces with either tape or push-pins, which will be provided at the workshop.

Suggestions for Preparing Scientific Posters

Content
  • The poster should show the full title of your submission.
  • Text should be brief and well organized, presenting only enough data to support your conclusions.
  • The text should make clear the significance of your research.
  • The text should include (most likely as separate elements of the poster) your hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions.


Design
  • A clear, simple, uncluttered arrangement is the most attractive and the easiest to read.
  • For best legibility, it is suggested that the title lettering be at least 2 inches (5cm) high, with authors' names and affiliations smaller.
  • All lettering should be legible from a distance of approximately 5 feet (1.5m). It is suggested that font size should be at least 24 point, in bold style. The typeface chosen should be a simple and clear one (e.g., Helvetica). Titles should be in all upper case letters. The remainder of the text should be in a combination of upper and lower case letters.
  • Color should be used sparingly, to provide contrast. The featured parts of the poster can be highlighted with warm colors, and the less important parts can be done in cool colors. Some suggestions for color combinations are as follows: Green on white, red on white, black on white, blue on white, white on blue, and white on black.
  • Illustrations should be simple and eye-catching, with unnecessary detail left out. If possible, convert tables to graphic displays. Pie graphs can be used to show parts of a whole, line graphs can be used to show trends or changing relationships, and bar graphs can be used to show volumes.
  • Photos should be enlarged enough to show relevant detail.
  • Standard computer printouts usually are not effective on posters, because the type is too small and the lines are too thin to be seen from a distance.
  • Patient confidentiality must be protected. No names should appear in illustrations.


Travel & Hotel Information

Welcome to the

Starling Hotel Lausanne

Rte Cantonale 31 1025 Saint-Sulpice, Switzerland

Airport

The Geneva International Airport (GVA) is the closest international airport to Lausanne, Switzerland. It is about 62 km/38.5 miles away and is about a 45-minute car ride.

Car Rental

Car rental companies at GVA can be viewed here.

Taxis

Information about taxi company services from GVA can be found here.

Rideshare

Uber is available at GVA Airport.

Public Transportation

The CFF Railway Station of GVA is directly accessible from the Check-In and Arrivals sections. There are multiple lines that go to Lausanne, and most take 50 minutes to an hour. Click here for time tables, to purchase tickets, and for ticket discounts.

The hotel offers free shuttles (on request) between Morges and Lausanne train station.

Schedule: Monday to Friday 07:00 –10:30 & 16:30 – 21:30.


Metro

Attendees can take the M1 metro line from the Lausanne Flon station, which stops at the EPFL (Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne) station. It is about a 12-minute walk to the Starling Hotel Lausanne from EPFL.

Bus

Alternatively, attendees can take the bus from neighboring town Morges and get on MBC Bus 701. Once the bus reaches the EPFL Scientific Park, it is about a 4-minute walk to the Starling Hotel Lausanne.

Parking

Parking in the Starling Hotel Lausanne’s car park is included with hotel accommodations. Those without accommodations can still park at the venue at CHF17.00 per day.

Accommodations

Hotel accommodations are included with registration fees only if they are selected during registration. There is a limited amount of hotel rooms secured for this workshop. It is possible rooms will sell out prior to the early registration deadline; please register as soon as possible to secure a room before the room block is filled. Registration with accommodations only include the nights of 24-27 August 2026 (check-out is on the 28th). Limited rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees extending their stay prior to or after these dates may do so at their own expense. Check-in is 15:00 on the day of arrival, and check-out is 11:00 on day of departure.

Attendees who opt out of registration with accommodations are responsible for their own hotel bookings and fees.