Symposia

Registration ×

Speakers

Short Talk Speakers

Attendees

SMART Symposium on Cutting-Edge Research of Neuroscience in China, Japan and South Korea

Date

March 19-21, 2026

Registration Deadline

March 16, 2026

Venue

Cloud Park International Conference Center, Shenzhen, China

About

Organizers

Confirmed Speakers

Program

Registration

Poster Session

Accommodation

Download

About

This symposium is designed to offer insights into cutting-edge neuroscience research, spanning a broad spectrum from neuroplasticity to pathology. Recent studies have started to reveal neuronal specifications, the existence of specific neural circuits, and the mechanisms underlying their formation and remodeling. These processes form the foundation of diverse brain functions, and their dysregulation contributes to various disorders. To facilitate the exchange of the latest knowledge and perspectives, distinguished neuroscientists from Asian countries, including China, Japan, and South Korea, will gather in Shenzhen. The event is also expected to promote further collaboration and joint research initiatives among these nations.

Organizers

Wen-Biao GAN, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory

Tomomi SHIMOGORI, RIKEN Center for Brain Science

Greg Seong-Bae SUH, Institute of Basic Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory

Confirmed Speakers

(in alphabetic order)

George AUGUSTINE, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory

Guo-Qiang BI, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Moses CHAO, NYU Langone Health Medical Center

Zhou-Feng CHEN, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory

Eunji CHEONG, Yonsei University

Hyung Jin CHOI, Seoul National University

Yang DAN, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation

Shu-Min DUAN, Zhejiang University

Kazuo EMOTO, The University of Tokyo

Yukiko GODA, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

Hailan HU, Zhejiang University

Takeshi IMAI, Kyushu University

Haruo KASAI, The University of Tokyo

Helmut KETTENMANN, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology

Hyoung KIM, Seoul National University

Tae-Kyung KIM, Pohang University of Science and Technology

Seung-Hee LEE, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Basic Science

C. Justin LEE, Institute for Basic Science

Minmin LUO, Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing

Masanori MATSUZAKI, The University of Tokyo

Lin MEI, Chinese Institutes for Medical Research, Beijing, Capital Medical University

Junichi NABEKURA, Nagoya City University

Kinichi NAKASHIMA, Kyushu University

Mu-Ming POO, Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology

Song-Hai SHI, Tsinghua University

Yan-Gang SUN, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Hiroaki WAKE, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine

Jing WANG, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory

Mingjie ZHANG, Southern University of Science and Technology

Edward ZIFF, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

NOTE: More speakers to be announced.

Program

Day 1 (Thursday, March 19)
08:00 - 09:00	On-site Registration
09:00 - 09:05	Opening Remarks
Session 1: Gene Regulation, Neuronal Plasticity & Trophic Signaling
09:05 - 09:30	Moses CHAO, NYU Langone Health Medical Center Mysteries of Neurotrophic Factors
09:30 - 09:55	Lin MEI, Chinese Institutes for Medical Research, Beijing, Capital Medical University Dynamic Regulation of GABAergic Transmission by Neuregulin 1 and Its Receptor ErbB4, Both Risk Genes of Major Depression
09:55 - 10:20	Tae-Kyung KIM, Pohang University of Science and Technology Leveraging Enhancer RNAs to Dissect the Molecular Logic of Complex Neuronal Ensembles
10:20 - 10:45	Nobuhiko YAMAMOTO, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Neuronal Activity-Dependent Gene Regulation in Human Cortical Neurons
10:45 - 11:05	Group Photo & Break
Session 2: Synaptic Plasticity & Disease-Related Trafficking
11:05 - 11:30	Haruo KASAI, The Univeriry of Tokyo Associative Spine Enlargement Stabilizes Wakefulness and Supports Goal-Directed Behavior
11:30 - 11:55	Edward ZIFF, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Deregulation of GluA1 Surface Trafficking by the M146V Familial Alzheimer’s Disease Mutation of Presenilin 1
11:55 - 12:20	Mingjie ZHANG, Southern University of Science and Technology Synapse Formation and Plasticity: Why is Phase Separation Required?
12:20 - 14:00	Lunch for All Attendees
Session 3: Synaptic Plasticity & Brain-Wide Mapping
14:00 - 14:25	Takeshi IMAI, Kyushu University SeeDB-Live: Minimally Invasive Optical Clearing Media for Live Imaging of the Brain
14:25 - 14:50	Guo-Qiang BI, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Deconstructing the Nervous System with Mesoscale Imaging
14:50 - 15:15	Mu-Ming POO, Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology Transcriptomes, Connectomes, and Neuromodulation
15:15 - 15:45	Break
Session 4: Internal State: Sleep, Stress & Feeding
15:45 – 16:10	Yang DAN, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation The How and Why of Sleep
16:10 - 16:35	Shu-Min DUAN, Zhejiang University Slow-Wave Sleep Engages Brainstem Circuitry to Prevent Stress-Induced Anxiety
16:35 - 17:00	Hyung Jin CHOI, Seoul National University How the Brain Orchestrates Psychological Components of Eating: Hunger, Appetite, Satiation, Preference Learning
17:00 - 17:25	Greg Seong-Bae SUH, Institute of Basic Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Postprandial Sensing of Nutrient via Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis
17:25 - 17:30	Yue LIU, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation Langtaosha: A Blockchain-Supported Preprint Platform for Life Sciences
17:30 - 17:40	Li LU, Vita Vita Journal Vision and Manuscript Processing

Day 2 (Friday, March 20)
08:30-09:00	On-site Registration
Session 5: Somatosensation, Itch, Pain & Gut Sensing
09:00 - 09:25	Zhou-Feng CHEN, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Beyond Circadian Rhythm: Identification of a Noncanonical Visual Pathway for Contagious Itch and Threats
09:25 - 09:50	Yan-Gang SUN, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Alteration of Cellular Representation in the Central Amygdala Mediates Stress-Induced Analgesia
09:50 - 10:15	Eunji CHEONG, Yonsei University How Dual Inhibitory Circuit Maturation in the Thalamus Sharpens Sensory Encoding
10:15 - 10:40	Junichi NABEKURA, Nagoya City University Cortical Neural Circuit Remodeling in Chronic Pain: Toward Therapeutic Intervention
10:40 - 11:00	Break
Session 6: Circuit & Function, Drosophila to Mouse
11:00 - 11:25	Kazuo EMOTO, The University of Tokyo Molecular Basis of Structural and Functional Plasticity in Developing Neurons
11:25 - 11:50	Jing WANG, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory The Thrifty Fly: Energy-Efficient Neural Computation in Drosophila
11:50 - 12:15	Seung-Hee LEE, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Basic Science Flexibility and Stability in Perceptual Decision-Making
12:15 - 12:40	George AUGUSTINE, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory Clustering of Synaptic Vesicles by Synapsins
12:40 - 13:50	Lunch for All Attendees

Session 7: Microgial Cells and Disease
13:50 - 14:15	Helmut KETTENMANN, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology The Role of Microglial Cells in Health and Disease
14:15 - 14:40	Hiroaki WAKE, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine Pathological Immune Function in Neurological Diseases
14:40 - 15:05	Kinichi NAKASHIMA, Kyushu University Endogenous DNA Ligand–Induced Inflammation as a ShaPathogenic Driver across Various Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Session 8: Neuron–Glia Interactions
15:05 - 15:30	C. Justin LEE, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Basic Science TBA
15:30 – 15:55	Yukiko GODA, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology APP Uncovers a Coupling Between Synaptic Function and Astrocyte Morphological Complexity
15:55 - 16:20	Wen-Biao GAN, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory Glial Regulation of Neuronal Activity and Plasticity in the Motor Cortex
16:20 - 18:00	Poster Session
18:00 - 20:00	Banquet for All Attendees

Day 3 (Saturday, March 21)
08:30-09:00	On-site Registration
Session 9: Mood and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
09:00 - 09:25	Song-Hai SHI, Tsinghua University Converging Mechanism Underlying Neurodevelopmental Disorders
09:25 - 09:50	Minmin LUO, Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Multi-Level Neuromodulations for Depression
09:50 - 10:15	Hailan HU, Zhejiang University Neuron-Astrocyte Interaction in Depression
Session 10: Primate Circuits and Cell-Type Maps
10:15 - 10:40	Tomomi SHIMOGORI, RIKEN Center for Brain Science Cell Type Census in Cerebral Cortex Reveals Species-Specific Brain Function and Connectivity
10:40 - 11:05	Hyoung KIM, Seoul National University What Makes Us Primates? Efficient Value Processing through Vision and Touch
11:05 - 11:30	Masanori MATSUZAKI, The University of Tokyo Understanding Primate Cortical Circuit Dynamics
11:30 - 11:35	Closing Remarks

Registration

Registration Deadline: March 16, 2026

Please click the Register link at the top of this web page to proceed with the registration process.

Registration Fees

*Please upload valid documents for review if you are a student.

Notice

1. When making transfers, please include the following note: CJK + [Your Full Name].

2. Please complete the registration and payment before March 16, 2026. Attendees registering on-site will be provided with only the electronic program.

3. The electronic invoice for the registration fee will be sent to the registered email address within 15 working days after the symposium.

Refund Policy

1. A 2% administrative fee will be charged for all refund transactions.

2. Refund requests submitted after 18:00 (GMT+8) on March 18, 2026 will not be processed.

Poster Session

This conference will feature a poster presentation session, with an award for outstanding posters. We sincerely invite you to submit your abstract and participate in the poster presentation (encouraging the display of the latest research advancements or unpublished research topics).

How to Participate: Submit abstract for poster when register.

Poster Requirements: If you participate in the poster presentation, please print the poster yourself and bring it to the conference venue to be posted in the designated area by the staff.

Poster Size: Width 80 cm*Height 120cm

Accommodation

We do not provide centralized accommodation for this symposium. Participants can arrange their own accommodation by contacting nearby hotels. (If you encounter any difficulty in booking a hotel, please contact us at symposium@smart.org.cn.)

Phishing Alert: Please be alert to fraudulent emails claiming to offer symposium accommodation or hotel services. These phishing attempts may request payment or personal information. If you receive such an email, do not reply, click any links, download attachments, or share any information. We appreciate your vigilance.

1. EVEN Hotels Shenzhen Guangming Cloud Park, an IHG Hotel

Address: No. 98 Zhenyuan Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen

The hotel is 200 meters (~3-minute walk) from the conference venue.

Contact: Mr. Zhou, +86-135 0841 8360

2. Holiday Inn Express Shenzhen Guangming Cloud Park, an IHG Hotel

Address: No. 98 Zhenyuan Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen

The hotel is 200 meters (~3-minute walk) from the conference venue.

Contact: Mr. Zhou, +86-135 0841 8360

3. SYSU Academic Vila, Shenzhen Campus

Address : No.66 Gongchang Road, Guangming District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, Guangming District, Shenzhen

The hotel is 2.5 kilometers (~5-minute drive) from the conference venue.

Contact : Mr. Ran, +86-133 3028 2207

4. Guangming CIMC Executive Apartments Hotel

Address: CIMC Executive Apartments Hotel, Qiaoming Road, Fenghuang Street, Guangming District, Shenzhen

The hotel is 7.6 kilometers (~20-minute drive) from the conference venue.

Contact: Mr. Lu, +86-138 2659 2644

Email: symposium@smart.org.cn

Tel: +86-173 2236 4121

Download

Official Symposium Notice (Chinese)

地图显示