Important Deadlines 

Early Registration Deadline: November 18, 2026 

Scholarship Deadline: September 22, 2026 

Short Talk Abstract Deadline: September 22, 2026 

Poster Abstract Deadline: December 28, 2026  

Meeting Summary 

Title: Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Mechanisms and Therapeutics 

Date: January 19 - 22, 2027 
Location: Beaver Run Conference Center, Breckenridge, CO, USA  

Scientific Organizers: Tomasz Nowakowski, Xin Jin, Stephan Sanders, and Zhaolan (Joe) Zhou 

Keynote Speaker(s): Huda Y. Zoghbi, Baylor College of Medicine 

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism, intellectual disability, and epilepsy, arise from disruptions during brain development and pose major challenges to public health. Although advances in genetics have identified hundreds of causal genetic risk factors, identifying convergent mechanisms underlying their pathobiology remains a challenge, which hinders the development of personalized therapies. This meeting addresses the critical gap between emerging insights into causal factors, neurodevelopment, and therapeutic innovation by uniting experts across basic and translational neuroscience. 

The proposed conference will foster new collaborations between investigators in genetics, functional genomics, developmental neurobiology, and industry. Specific aims include showcasing breakthroughs in single-cell genomics, genome perturbation technologies, gene-environment interactions, and novel therapeutic strategies such as gene replacement therapies and ASOs.  

The program is designed to challenge prevailing hypotheses towards understanding NDDs by taking a holistic perspective on molecular, cellular, and circuit level mechanisms underlying brain development and their vulnerabilities to genetic and environmental risk factors for NDDs. By integrating state-of-the-art technologies into biologically driven sessions, the conference will emphasize translational pathways from discovery of causal risk factors to clinical impact. Attendees will gain exposure to innovative methodologies, mechanistic frameworks, and considerations for clinical trials, thereby advancing the field toward tangible treatments. 

Unlike existing meetings that focus separately on neurodevelopment, stem cell models, or therapeutic pipelines, this conference uniquely fuses mechanistic understanding of genetic and environmental causes with translational application. Interactive sessions, panel discussions, and strong industry participation make this a pivotal forum for scientists seeking to shape the next generation of neurodevelopmental disorder research. 

*This meeting will be held jointly with Neural Plasticity and Recovery after Traumatic CNS Injury & Stroke 

View the program 

Join Options 

Attend in person or catch sessions on demand after the conclusion of the conference.

Click here to register

*Keystone Symposia Scholarships & Awards* 

Keystone Symposia offers discounted registration to students in undergraduate, M.S., Ph.D., or M.D. programs, providing access to the latest scientific advances, technologies, and approaches to further research and careers.  

In addition, several financial aid opportunities are also available to support attendance at its scientific meetings: 

• Student and Postdoctoral Scholarships provide up to $1,200 to help defray travel, lodging, registration, and related costs when presenting a poster at an in-person conference. Awards are competitive, based on the abstract’s scientific quality and relevance, and you must apply by the individual scholarship deadline for the desired meeting (abstract + mentor letter required).   

• Early-Career Travel Awards (ECITAs) support early-career investigators with funding to attend meetings; these also require application by the posted deadline for each conference.  

• Global Health Travel Awards (GHTAs) provide financial aid for scientists, clinicians, fellows, and students from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to participate in select Keystone Symposia meetings, especially those focused on global health topics. These awards may cover registration, lodging, airfare, and ground transportation, and applications are submitted through the Financial Aid Portal by the listed meeting deadlines. Learn which meetings have in-person GHTAs available: https://www.keystonesymposia.org/financial-aid/global-health-awards/ghta-listing 

For details on eligibility, deadlines, and how to apply for financial aid, visit: https://www.keystonesymposia.org/financial-aid.