16th International Conference on Brain Energy Metabolism: Preserving Cellular Energetics and Brain Function in Aging and Neurological Disease

The 16th International Conference on Brain Energy Metabolism: “Preserving Cellular Energetics and Brain Function in Aging and Neurological Disease” will be held June 29-July 2, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. Alterations in energy metabolism at the cellular and subcellular level and in neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling are key aspects of brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease, however, little is known regarding the mechanisms and interactions between poorly understood, yet critical aspects of energy metabolism. The goal of the 16th ICBEM meeting is to bring together leading experts in emerging techniques and researchers in clinical and basic neuroscience, and radiology who would not otherwise meet. The 2026 ICBEM meeting will serve as a driving force for cutting-edge discussions, formulation of incisive experiments, and for fostering collaborations to open novel areas of exploration related to alterations in energy metabolism that underlie and contribute to aging related diseases. To enhance interaction, the conference is limited to ~118 attendees and opens with a Keynote talk, by Thomas Longden, Ph.D. who will address the effects of metabolism in pericytes on cerebral blood flow in normal and aging brain. The conference is organized into a roundtable discussion, small group discussion, poster sessions, and 8 scientific sessions with 21 session speakers, 4 (19%) of which are early career investigators. The conference brings together experts as well as students and postdocs in a highly interactive forum with more than 33% of meeting time allocated for discussion of emerging concepts related to the regulation of neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling in normal and aging brain, neuronal-glial communication, alterations in lipid metabolism that impact cell function in aging or the presence of ApoE4, the roles and neuroprotective potential of alternative substrates, whether glycolysis in microglia is “fueling the fire or fighting it”, and protecting neuronal metabolism. Many of the invited speakers work with preclinical models, brain aging or neurodegeneration, with most of the speakers working specifically on studies related to identifying alterations in metabolism that lead to impaired function and strategies for neuroprotection. A key concept is that energy metabolism is not just a permissive factor but is a driver of changes in brain function associated with age-associated disease. Trainee presentations are key aspects of the meeting and bring a new generation of scientists into our community to foster their maturation by having them as speakers and session co-chairs. In addition to talks by early career investigators, at least 20 students/postdocs will be awarded travel stipends based on competitive ranking of abstracts, and the top 8-9 will present short talks. This conference will provide an outstanding venue for cross-disciplinary interactions between basic neuroscientists and clinicians. Formal talks and informal discussions are always highlights of this unique conference series that fosters new collaborations and scientific interactions to address emerging issues. Project Number: 1R13AG101878-01 | Fiscal Year: 2026 | NIH Institute/Center: National Institute on Aging (NIA) | Principal Investigator: MARY MCKENNA | Institution: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BRAIN ENERGY METABOLISM, INC, SOUTH MIAMI, FL | Award Amount: $50,000 | Activity Code: R13 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZRG1 SCIL-T (80)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11391809