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Crossing barriers at the axon initial segment

07 - 08 December 2026 09:00 - 17:00 Apex Grassmarket Hotel, Edinburgh Free
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Theo Murphy meeting organised by Professor Matthew Grubb, Professor Maren Engelhardt and Professor Maarten H P Kole

The axon initial segment is at the centre of neuronal computations in the nervous system, as a dynamic barrier that regulates both polarized transport and the flow of electrical information. Our meeting explores cutting-edge interdisciplinary work from international experts crossing their own barriers to discuss the very latest work in this emerging research field.

Programme

The programme, including speaker biographies and abstracts, is available below but please note the programme may be subject to change.

Poster session

There will be a poster session on Monday 7 December 2026. Registered attendees will be invited to submit a proposed poster title and abstract (up to 200 words). Acceptances may be made on a rolling basis so we recommend submitting as soon as possible in case the session becomes full. Submissions made within one month of the meeting may not be included in the programme booklet.

Attending this event

  • Free to attend and in-person only
  • When requesting an invitation, please briefly state your expertise and reasons for attending
  • Requests are reviewed by the meeting organisers on a rolling basis. You will receive a link to register if your request has been successful
  • Catering options will be available to purchase upon registering. Participants are responsible for booking their own accommodation. Please do not book accommodation until you have been invited to attend the meeting by the meeting organisers

Please note that scientific meetings hosted by ºìÌÒÊÓÆµ do not necessarily represent a Royal Society position or signify an endorsement of the speakers or content presented.

Enquiries: contact the Scientific Programmes team.

Schedule

Chair

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Professor Matthew Grubb

King’s College London, UK

09:15-09:40 Shedding light on chandelier cell–pyramidal neuron AIS connectivity in the neocortex
Professor Linda Van Aelst

Professor Linda Van Aelst

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, US

09:40-09:50 Discussion
09:50-10:15 The formation and plasticity of axo-axonic synapses at the AIS
Professor Juan Burrone

Professor Juan Burrone

King’s College London, UK

10:15-10:25 Discussion
10:25-10:50 Specific and plastic: axo-axonic innervation of the AIS by chandelier cells
Professor Yi-lin Tai

Professor Yi-lin Tai

Fudan University, China

10:50-11:00 Discussion
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-12:30 Flash talks from selected poster presenters

Chair

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Professor Andreas Draguhn

Heidelberg University, Germany

13:30-13:55 Specialised AIS helps fast-spiking interneurons in human neocortex to function as 'fast in-fast-out' circuits
Professor Karri Lamsa

Professor Karri Lamsa

Szeged University, Hungary

13:55-14:05 Discussion
14:05-14:30 The AIS after mild traumatic brain injury
Dr Kimberle Jacobs

Dr Kimberle Jacobs

Virginia Commonwealth University, US

14:30-14:40 Discussion
15:15-15:45 Break
15:45-18:15 Poster session and drinks reception
Professor Ehud Ahissar

Professor Ehud Ahissar

Weizmann Institute, Israel

Chair

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Professor Maren Engelhardt

Johannes Kepler University, Austria

09:30-09:35 Welcome back
09:35-10:00 Proximity proteomics reveal the molecular organisation of the AIS
Professor Matthew Rasband

Professor Matthew Rasband

Baylor College of Medicine, US

10:00-10:10 Discussion
10:10-10:35 The axonal cytoskeleton down to the nanoscale
Dr Christophe Leterrier

Dr Christophe Leterrier

CNRS-Aix Marseille Université, France

10:35-10:45 Discussion
10:45-11:15 Break
11:15-11:40 Regulation of the AIS cytoskeleton
Dr Elisa D’Este

Dr Elisa D’Este

Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany

11:40-11:50 Discussion
11:50-12:15 Experimental and numerical investigation of diffusion in the plasma membrane of the AIS
Dr George Lykotrafitis

Dr George Lykotrafitis

University of Connecticut, US

12:15-12:25 Discussion

Chair

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Professor Maarten Kole

Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, The Netherlands

13:35-13:50 Ultrafast imaging analysis of the AIS in physiology and channelopathy
Dr Marco Canepari

Dr Marco Canepari

Université Grenoble Alps, France

13:50-14:00 Discussion
14:00-14:25 AIS proteome remodeling upon changes in neuronal activity
Dr Hanne Borger Rasmussen

Dr Hanne Borger Rasmussen

University of Copenhagen, Denmark

14:25-14:35 Discussion
14:35-15:10 Break
15:10-15:35 Transcriptional control of AIS ion channel expression fine-tunes neuronal excitability during AIS long-term plasticity
Dr Amélie Fréal

Dr Amélie Fréal

Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands

15:35-15:45 Discussion
15:45-16:10 Cytoskeletal reorganization during AIS plasticity in auditory neurons
Professor Hiroshi Kuba

Professor Hiroshi Kuba

Nagoya University, Japan

16:10-16:20 Discussion
16:20-17:00 Panel discussion: Future directions for the AIS Organisers