Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Symposium 2025: The Gut–Brain Axis and Other Brain–Body Connections

Date:

Thursday, October 30, 2025 (This Event Has Passed)

Time:

8:30am to 6:00pm PDT

Location:

Li Ka Shing Center (LKSC), Stanford University

Registration Closed

Add to calendar:

Red banner for the 12th Annual Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute Symposium, themed “The Gut-Brain Axis & Other Brain-Body Connections.” Illustration shows a brain and gut connected by plugs. Event: October 30, 2025. Register by Oct 16.

Join leading researchers from Stanford and beyond to explore the dynamic interplay between the brain, gut, and body.

Discover groundbreaking insights into how these interconnected systems shape health, behavior, and more through scientific talks and a fireside chat.

Speaker info, poster session, & more

Organizers:

Todd Coleman | Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University
Julia Kaltschmidt | Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Stanford University

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

Schedule

Thursday, October 30, 2025

08:30am - 09:00am PDT

Check In & Morning Refreshments

Check in to receive your name badge and wristband. A wristband is required to access the lunch reception.

09:00am - 09:15am PDT

Opening Remarks

Kang Shen | Vincent V.C. Woo Director, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Professor of Biology and of Pathology
Todd Coleman | Symposium Co-Organizer, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University
Julia Kaltschmidt | Symposium Co-Organizer, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Stanford University

09:15am - 09:55am PDT

Talk 1: Body-brain interactions: a new frontier in biomedicine

Christoph Thaiss | Assistant Professor of Pathology, Arc Institute, Stanford University

09:55am - 10:35am PDT

Talk 2: Physiological impact of the small intestinal microbiome

KC Huang | Professor of Bioengineering and of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University

10:55am - 11:35am PDT

Talk 3: Afferent serotonergic signaling in gut–brain health: Clinical implications for mood and abdominal pain

Kara Margolis | Professor of Molecular Pathobiology, Cell Biology and Pediatrics; NYU, NYU College of Dentistry and NYU College of Medicine

11:35am - 12:15pm PDT

Talk 4: Modulation of inflammation and pain by electroacupuncture

Quifu Ma | Professor of Westlake University

12:15pm - 12:35pm PDT

Sammy Kuo Awards in Neuroscience

Kang Shen | Vincent V.C. Woo Director, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Professor of Biology and of Pathology

12:35pm - 01:50pm PDT

Lunch

Attendees must check-in and receive a wristband in order to access the lunch reception.

01:50pm - 02:30pm PDT

Talk 5: Deciphering visceral instincts

Diego Bohórquez | Associate Professor, Duke University

02:30pm - 03:10pm PDT

Talk 6: Toward evidence-based microbiome interventions for neurological disorders

Elaine Hsiao | Director, UCLA Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center; Associate Professor in Integrative Biology & Physiology, UCLA

03:30pm - 04:15pm PDT

Fireside Chat

Kathleen Poston | Professor of Neurology and the Neurological Sciences, Stanford University
Linda Nguyen | Clinical Professor, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Stanford University
Todd Coleman (moderator) | Symposium Co-Organizer, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University

04:15pm - 04:30pm PDT

Closing Remarks

Todd Coleman | Symposium Co-Organizer, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Stanford University
Julia Kaltschmidt | Symposium Co-Organizer, Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Stanford University

04:30pm - 06:00pm PDT

Poster Session and Reception

Related Event

Contacts

neuroscience@stanford.edu

Event Sponsor