PANERIS Winter School 2026 on Ageing & Neurodegenerative Diseases
The PANERIS Winter School on Ageing & Neurodegenerative Diseases took place from 23 to 27 February 2026 at the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM) in Lisbon, bringing together students and early-career researchers for an intensive week of training, scientific exchange and networking.
The Winter School aimed to strengthen knowledge and skills in key areas of neuroscience, with a particular focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying brain ageing and neurodegenerative disorders. To this end, the programme combined high-level scientific lectures, hands-on practical sessions and career development workshops, offering participants a multidisciplinary learning experience. Topics covered included neural stem cells and neuroregeneration, astrocyte–neuron interactions, neurotrophic signalling and neuroinflammation, highlighting their relevance in both physiological and pathological contexts. Additional lectures from invited speakers complemented the programme, by sharing their expertise on cutting-edge topics in the field.
A key highlight of the week was the poster session, which provided participants with the opportunity to present their research, receive feedback and engage in scientific discussions with peers and senior researchers. The Winter School also hosted two Career & Skills sessions, delivered by the European and International Projects Office Team from IDIBAPS, focusing on fellowship applications and career paths beyond academia. These sessions were additionally opened to members of the GIMM community, extending their impact beyond the core group of participants.
Beyond the scientific programme, the event fostered a collaborative and inclusive environment through networking and social activities that offered participants a creative and informal setting to interact and strengthen connections across institutions and disciplines.
As the final Winter School of the PANERIS project, this event marked an important milestone, consolidating the project’s efforts in capacity building, knowledge exchange and skills development among students and early-career researchers. By bringing together participants, lecturers and partners from different countries, the Winter School not only strengthened the PANERIS network but also laid the foundations for future collaborations and continued training initiatives beyond the project’s duration, ensuring a lasting impact on neuroscience research and talent development in Europe.
Acknowledgments
The Winter School on Ageing & Neurodegenerative Diseases was organized by the Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine as part of the PANERIS project.
The opinions and views expressed are solely those of their author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or of the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the REA can be held responsible for them.
