The adult brain consists of billions of neurons that show an unimaginable complexity in their structural diversity and functional connectivity allowing for a plethora of brain functions. Notably, a large number of neuropsychiatric diseases are associated with early alterations in the number, structure, or connectivity of neural networks. Recent discoveries have also highlighted the importance of species-specific timing in developmental processes. Thus, understanding the process of neurogenesis, the life-long formation of neurons, and how these are similar or different across species is of fundamental importance to identify novel strategies for therapeutic approaches.

Building on the success of our previous Monte Verità conference, the purpose of this conference is to bring together experts in the fields of brain development, life-long neurogenesis, tissue engineering, bioinformatics and cellular reprogramming to discuss exciting new developments, and how they inform our understanding of neural development and plasticity.

Monte Verità rises on the hills above Ascona and Lake Maggiore, and has always been a magnetic pole of convergence of ideas, trends, experiments and historical figures. Immersed in the quiet and green of a park of more than 7 hectares, with an incomparable view of Lake Maggiore, it offers visitors a unique experience.

SPEAKERS:

Laure Bally-Cuif, Institut Pasteur, France
Stéphanie Baulac, Institut du cerveau, France
Victor Borrell, Instituto de Neurosciencias, Spain
James Briscoe, Francis Crick Institute, UK
Anne Brunet, Stanford University, USA
Silvia Cappello, LMU Munich, Germany
Fiona Doetsch, University of Basel, Switzerland
Sonia Garel, College de France, France
Magdalena Götz, LMU Munich, Germany
Alex Gould, Francis Crick Institute, UK
Bassem Hassan, Institut du cerveau, France
Simon Hippenmeyer, IST, Austria
Denis Jabaudon, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Sebastian Jessberger, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Marlen Knobloch, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Simona Lodato, Humanitas Research Center, Italy
Ana Martin-Villalba, DKFZ, Germany
Takashi Namba, University of Helsinki, Finland
Alessandra Pierani, Université Paris Cité, France
Armen Saghatelyan, University of Ottawa, Canada
Eve Seuntjens, KU Leuven, Belgium
Tomo Toda, Max Planck – Physics and Medicine, Germany
Pierre Vanderhaeghen, Leuven Brain Institute, Belgium

 

DATES:
March 30th to April 2nd, 2026

LOCATION:
Monte Verità, Ascona, Switzerland
https://www.monteverita.org/en

ORGANISED BY:
Fiona Doetsch, University of Basel, Switzerland
Denis Jabaudon, University of Geneva, Switzerland
Sebastian Jessberger, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Marlen Knobloch, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Anne Brunet, University of Stanford

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS:
Conditions :
Participant numbers are limited.
We invite PhD students and young researchers to contribute to the conference with short talks and poster presentations.
The participants will be selected on the basis of their academic records and their profile.
The applicants are asked to submit a CV and an abstract sketching the content of the poster/short talk they are planning to deliver at the conference (max. 500 words). 

Deadline for submitting abstracts: December 15th 2025
Please send your application to: asconameeting@unige.ch

After a review procedure, you will be notified whether your proposal has been accepted.

For selected participants, the participation fee will be of CHF 100.- (incl. welcome drink, excursion and social dinner).
Board & lodging at the Hotel Monte Verità is based on an average of CHF 220.- per night/day. Stay from Monday, 30 March – Thursday, 2 April 2026 would then amount to approximately CHF 660.- (depending on room type).
Therefore, the total cost of the conference (participation fee + board & lodging) would then amount to approximately CHF 750-900.-.

Please note that travel costs of the participants are not covered.