The 12th Annual Symposium of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute

The Gut–Brain Axis and Other Brain–Body Connections

Save the date: October 30, 2025 | Registration opens mid-Summer

Join us as leading researchers from Stanford and beyond delve into the dynamic interplay between the brain, gut, and body. Discover groundbreaking insights into how these interconnected systems shape health, behavior, and more through talks and a panel discussion. 

Don't forget to nominate graduate students and postdocs for the annual Sammy Kuo Awards! 

Nominations open June 30 to July 28. 

Learn more about Sammy Kuo

We'll also celebrate our vibrant community through the presentation of the Sammy Kuo Awards and a poster session highlighting neuroscience research by Stanford affiliates. 

Stay up to date

Mailing List: Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates regarding registration, poster session sign-ups, and additional event information. 

Stanford Affiliates: Make sure to join the #neurosciences Slack channel for additional reminders and to join community discussions. 

Featured Speakers

Scientific talks:

• Diego Bohórquez
  • Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurobiology, Duke University
• Elaine Hsiao
  • Director of the Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center
  • De Logi Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, UCLA
• KC Huang
  • Professor of Bioengineering and of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University
• Qiufu Ma
  • Director of the Research Center for Systems Physiology and Bioelectronic Medicine
  • Chair Professor of Neurobiology, Westlake University (Hangzhou, China)
• Kara Margolis
  • Director of the NYU Pain Research Center
  • Associate Professor of Molecular Pathobiology, NYU College of Dentistry
  • Associate Professor of Pediatrics and of Cell Biology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
• Christoph Thaiss
  • Assistant Professor of Pathology, Stanford University
  • Core Investigator, Arc Institute

Panel:

• Todd Coleman (moderator)
  • Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University
• Linda Nguyen
  • Clinical Professor of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Stanford University
• Kathleen Poston
  • Edward F. and Irene Thiele Pimley Professor of Neurology and the Neurological Sciences, Stanford University

Note: If you use a screen reader, all speaker names are linked to their professional pages or lab websites. For any questions about accessibility or special accommodations, please contact us.

Relive the 2024 Symposium (Brains & Machines: The Co-evolution of Neuroscience and AI) while you wait for the next one. View all event details, including agenda, speaker info, poster session details, and information about the event venue on the official symposium website, or visit the event page linked below to find links to all of the available talk recordings. 

Symposium Agenda & More Watch Symposium Recordings