Preliminary Scientific Program

We, the organizing committee are pleased to share the preliminary scientific program for Synuclein Meeting 2027, which will take place at Aarhus

University, Denmark, from May 25–28, 2027.

The Synuclein Meeting has been held regularly since 2007, and the 2027 edition will mark its 20th anniversary. Over the years, it has become a well-established forum for researchers interested in α-synuclein biology and the mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies. 

The meeting covers all aspects of α-synuclein research, spanning structural and molecular studies, cellular and in vivo models, translational research, biomarkers, and clinical trials. We expect to host approximately 300–400 participants from academia, industry, the clinic and funding bodies. 

The meeting will bring together leading experts, clinicians, translational researchers, and emerging investigators working on Parkinson's disease and related synucleinopathies: dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).

The program will feature 13 thematic sessions with each session including:

  • 2-4 invited presentations (20 min + 5 min discussion)
  • 2-3 talks selected from submitted abstracts (10 min)

Session Overview

Session 1: Clinical Synucleinopathies: Disease Heterogeneity, Brain-First vs Body-First and Peripheral Manifestations

Chair: Leonidas Stefanis

  • Gunther Höglinger   
  • Per Borghammer
  • Astrid Terkelsen

Special Feature: Round table discussion following presentations

Session 2: α-Synuclein Structure and Disease Mechanisms: Linking Strains to Pathogenesis

Chair: Amanda Woerman

  • François Ichas
  • Joel Watts
  • Greg Merz


Session 3: Genetics and GWAS: Convergence of Genetic Risk and α-Synuclein Biology

Chair: George Tofaris

  • Huw Morris
  • Christos Proukakis

Session 4: Physiological Functions of α-Synuclein

Chair: Sreeganga S. Chandra

  • Karina Vargas
  • Erinc Hallacli   
  • David Koss

Session 5: Cellular Dysfunction and In Vitro Modeling of α-Synuclein Aggregation

Chair: Friederike Zunke

  • Florentia Papastefanaki
  • Wouter Peelaerts
  • Maria Xilouri

Session 6: Environmental Factors and Triggers in Synucleinopathies

Chair: Marina Romero-Ramos

  • Jeff Bronstein 
  • Briana De Miranda
  • Xiaobo Mao
  • Andrew West

Session 7: Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptomics in Synucleinopathies

Chair: Laura Parkkinen

  • Caleb Webber
  • Susana Aznar

Session 8: Spreading of α-Synuclein and Mechanisms Promoting Transmission

Chair: Andy West

  • Nathalie Van Den Berge
  • Jason Bartz

Session 9: Co-Pathologies and Disease Interactions

Chair: Laura Parkkinen

  • Michela Deleidi
  • TBA

Session 10: Immunity in Synucleinopathies: Peripheral and Brain Responses

Chair: Nathalie Van Den Berge

  • Marina Romero-Ramos
  • Šárka Lehtonen
  • William H. Robinson

Session 11: Novel Technologies and Biomarkers in Synucleinopathies

Chair: Poul Henning Jensen

Invited Speakers

  • Christina D. Orrù
  • Hiroaki Sekiya

Session 12: Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutic Interventions in Preclinical Models

Chair: Maria Xilouri

Invited Speakers

  • Poul Henning Jensen
  • Alice S. Chen-Plotkin
  • Erdem Tamgüney
  • Sreeganga S. Chandra

Session 13: Clinical Trials and Translation to the Clinic

Chair: TBC

Invited Speakers

  • Shalini Padmanabhan (Michael J. Fox Foundation)
  • Simon Stott (Cure Parkinson)

Several companies will be invited to discus and present the latest compounds and trials.