Complexity of Neural Function –the Brain in Charge
The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London.
Web Address
https://adelphigenetics.org/events/annual-conference-2026/
Registration
Deadline: 12/10/2026
Click here to register
General Information
Studying how the human brain works and malfunctions has revealed rich detail about the development, organisation and function of the brain. Neural functionality is dependent on the action of genes and their interaction with environment and even requires some stochastic activity. The complexity of neural function, and the myriad genes implicated in the smooth working of the systems, means that things can go wrong in many different ways.
In our 2026 annual conference we aim to explore how our understanding of brain function, and more generally biological mechanisms, has evolved through the study of neural diseases.
Study of neurodevelopmental disorders – Epilepsy has been recognised since biblical times, novel therapeutic approaches are emerging with increasing understanding of molecular mechanisms.
Understanding pain – with increasing molecular insight into the genesis of pain new drugs are now being developed.
Movement disorders – Parkinson disease. We look forward to hearing a discussion between a clinician scientist working to understand and ameliorate this disease and a high profile, knowledgeable, affected individual.
Many complex behaviours are increasingly understood at the neuro-molecular level. Our final focus will be on the fascinating topic of the neural control of appetite.
The full programme can be seen on our website.
Deadline for submissions: 12/10/2026
Meeting organisers:
executiveoffice@adelphigenetics.org
Speakers:
Siddharth Banka PhD – Professor of Genomic Medicine and Rare Diseases, University of Manchester
Andreas Brunklaus MD FAES – Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Honorary Professor at the School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Rory Cellan-Jones OBE MA – Journalist and author
Sadaf Farooqi PhD FRS FMedSci – Professorial Fellow; Professor of Metabolism and Medicine, University of Cambridge
Professor Simon E. Fisher DPhil – Director, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Professor of Language and Genetics at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University
Professor Maria Fitzgerald PhD FRS FMedSci – Emeritus Professor of Developmental Neurobiology, Dept Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London
Professor Sonia Gandhi PhD MRCP – Deputy Director at The Francis Crick Institute, MRC Senior Clinician Scientist and Professor of Neurology
Dr. Kevin Mitchell PhD – Associate Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin
