Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | 5:00 – Thursday, August 13, 2026 | 2:45 
In Person – Rockville, MD

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The 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference will be held August 11-13, 2026, at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Rockville, MD. This year focuses on the future of BRAIN-funded science and creativity. We look forward to Inventing the Future with our BRAIN community. 

Visit the 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference Website to view the agenda and learn more about plenary speakers, symposia, poster sessions, and this year’s photo and video contest.

The 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference convenes grant awardees, staff, leadership from the BRAIN Initiative’s federal and non-federal partners, and anyone interested in neuroscience and BRAIN Initiative-funded research. Conference participants discuss the latest scientific developments and exciting research priorities for technology-driven innovation in neuroscience. It provides a forum for collaboration, discussion, and coordination across the BRAIN Initiative community. 

Conference Highlights

• Tuesday, August 11, 5:00 – 8:00 PM Eastern Time: 
  Early Career Researcher’s Event - This is an optional evening networking event for early career researchers and mentors, hosted by the NIH BRAIN Initiative Training Team. Connect with peers, build relationships, and engage with the BRAIN Initiative staff.
   
• Wednesday and Thursday, August 12-13:
  • Plenary Speakers: Dr. Nanthia Suthana and Dr. Michael Yartsev
  • Poster sessions
  • Scholar Spotlight presentations
  • Symposia in the following BRAIN research areas:
    • Brain Tools and Technologies
    • From Cells to Behavior
    • Connectivity Across Scales
    • Secondary Analysis and Data Re-Use
  • Sessions covering the BRAIN Research Roadmap Innovation Domains and an interactive panel discussion focusing on:
    • The BRAIN Knowledgebase
    • Precision Molecular Circuit Therapies
    • Accelerating Human Neuroscience
    • BRAIN NeuroAI

Visit the 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference Website for the full agenda.

Location

Bethesda North Marriott, Rockville, MD

Contact

For more information about the conference, poster sessions, and symposia, visit the 2026 BRAIN Initiative Conference website.

Have questions or need help? Visit the conference FAQ page or email us: 

• Program inquiries: [email protected]
• Logistics, registration and submission inquiries: [email protected]