Call for Symposia, Special Trainee Symposia and Technical Symposia
Thank you for your symposia and workshop proposals. It was a busy review process for the Programme Committee. The selected proposals can be viewed in the Programme at a glance here.
Call for Proposals | 20 January – 8 April 2026 (midnight CEST)
We invite submissions of proposals for symposia, special trainee symposia, and technical symposia covering all areas of glial research.
The submission link will be available at the end of this page starting 20 January. Please review the instructions below carefully before beginning your submission.
TYPES OF PROPOSAL
Symposia
The Programme Committee will select approximately 30 symposia. Each symposium will be two hours long and should focus on scientific issues built around a coherent theme of interest to a broad audience.
Each symposium may include up to four speakers and a maximum of two chairpersons. All chairpersons must also give a talk and therefore count as speakers.
After the Call for Abstracts, each organiser will be asked to select one abstract for inclusion as an additional short presentation.
Special Trainee Symposia
Each special trainee symposium will last two hours and must include between four and eight speakers. Symposia will be chaired by one or two individuals, each of whom must deliver a presentation and therefore count among the speakers.
Technical symposia
Between two and three technical symposia will be selected by the Programme Committee and will take place on the morning preceding the formal opening of the Glia Congress. These symposia are intended to highlight technical advances across different fields of research, with an emphasis on methodology and techniques rather than scientific results.
Each technical symposium may last approximately two hours. Each symposium may include up to four speakers and a maximum of two chairpersons. All chairpersons must also give a talk and therefore count as speakers.
Organisers may invite companies to showcase technical equipment, provided that this is clearly aligned with the symposium topic.
CHOICE OF CHAIRPERSONS AND SPEAKERS
Recommendations
The primary criteria for selection are the scientific relevance of the topics, the accomplishments of the speakers in their respective fields, and their ability to communicate effectively to a broad, multidisciplinary audience. Preference will be given to symposia that approach a topic from multiple perspectives and aim to present a variety of views, rather than simply showcasing the work of collaborating groups.
The Programme Committee will also consider the balance of gender, scientific seniority, and geographical distribution of the speakers’ affiliations when selecting successful proposals. Both junior and senior scientists are encouraged to contribute to proposals. However, all speakers should have experience in presenting their research to a diverse, multidisciplinary audience.
Countries
While participation from European laboratories is encouraged, proposals from all countries are welcome, and may include speakers and chairpersons from any country.
Affiliation
Proposed speakers and chairpersons should be from different institutions and countries, with no more than two speakers from the same country.
Gender
A reasonable gender balance among speakers and chairpersons is strongly encouraged.
Eligibility
The following rules apply to all symposia proposals:
A chairperson or speaker from the previous Glia congress may not be selected as a speaker. Please consult the programme of the last meeting to verify this. (This restriction does not apply to chairpersons or speakers from the previous Introductory Course.)
Members of the current Programme Committee are not eligible to be speakers in a symposium or workshop.
Individuals may participate only once as a speaker and chairperson.
STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE
1. Choice of themes
Select a theme with genuine novelty and scientific relevance. Reviewing previous Glial Meeting programmes can help. The proposal title should be brief, precise, and meaningful—avoid vague phrases such as “New insights in…”, “Trends in…”, or “Advances in…”.
The description should:
State the scientific purpose and content,
Justify the choice of speakers/chairpersons,
Highlight novelty and international scientific interest.
The Programme Committee reviews numerous proposals, so clarity and a focused message are essential.
2. Choice of speakers/chairpersons
Only propose individuals who have given their consent and are eligible (see “Eligibility”). Each person may appear in multiple proposals but can participate in only one symposium or workshop if accepted. Ensure all partners are aware of each other’s proposals.
All proposed participants commit to attending the European Glial Meeting if the proposal is accepted and must comply with the “Agreement and disclaimer” rules.
3. Proposal submission
Proposals must be submitted online between 20 January 2026 and 8 April 2026 via the submission link further below (available starting 20 January).
All correspondence will be handled exclusively by the corresponding partner named in the submission form. Prepare your proposal carefully before submission, ensuring all pages/forms are completed. Incomplete proposals (e.g., missing chairpersons, fewer than four speakers, or missing communication titles) will not be considered.
DECISION ON PROPOSALS
The Programme Committee will review all complete proposals that comply with the rules. Proposals may be accepted as submitted, or, in some cases, accepted on the condition that chairpersons make required modifications to improve the proposal or ensure coherence with other selected symposia.
Decisions will be communicated by email in July 2026. Proposals are confirmed only once chairpersons have responded and confirmed their participation.
DATES AND DEADLINES
20 January 2026 | Submission opens |
8 April 2026 | Deadline for submission |
July 2026 | Decisions on proposals sent to the chairperson |
July 2026 | Preliminary programme on the website |
FUNDING
If accepted, the registration fee is waived for all speakers and chairpersons. Travel and accommodation costs are not covered; funding must be arranged by the chairperson and/or speakers.AGREEMENT AND DISCLAIMER
By submitting a proposal, all participants agree to the following:
The proposal must comply with ethical guidelines for scientific research, including those for human and animal studies.
The Programme Committee will not consider incomplete proposals or those including ineligible individuals (see “Choice of chairpersons and speakers”).
All proposed participants have given their consent and are committed to attending the European Glial Meeting if the proposal is accepted.
If accepted, each speaker agrees to the conditions of participation in the European Glial Meeting.
The Programme Committee may request changes to speakers or topics before final acceptance.
Any changes after acceptance may be refused, and the session may be cancelled if it no longer aligns with the approved proposal. All changes require prior approval from the Programme Committee.
The European Glial Meeting will not be liable for the content of a proposal, including any responsibility to participants or associated institutions.
NECESSARY ITEMS FOR PROPOSALS
To complete the submission forms, you will need:
Title: Maximum 100 characters; avoid abbreviations and Greek letters.
Brief description: Maximum 2,000 characters, including spaces.
Chairperson(s): Full name and affiliation.
Speakers: Full name and affiliation.
Speakers’ presentations: Title, short outline of contribution (max. 1,000 characters), and 3–5 key publications (not required for Special Trainee Symposium speakers).