Molecular and Cellular Cognition Asia-Pacific Satellite Meeting

The 2026 meeting will focus on emerging discoveries positioning RNA as a central regulator of cognitive function across multiple levels of biological organisation, from synapses and neural circuits to behaviour and disease. Recent advances have transformed our understanding of RNA from a passive intermediary between genes and proteins to a dynamic regulator of neuronal function. Diverse RNA species, including non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs, RNA modifications, and locally translated transcripts, have emerged as critical mediators of synaptic plasticity, memory formation, cognitive flexibility, and brain health. Simultaneously, rapid progress in RNA technologies is creating unprecedented opportunities to develop novel therapeutics for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. This meeting will bring together internationally recognised leaders in memory research, synaptic biology, RNA neuroscience, epigenetics, and systems neuroscience to discuss how RNA-mediated mechanisms shape cognition and how these discoveries may be translated into next-generation therapeutics. The specific aims of the meeting are to: • Highlight recent advances in RNA-mediated regulation of learning, memory, and cognition. • Promote interdisciplinary interactions between molecular, cellular, systems, and computational neuroscientists. • Foster new national and international collaborations within the molecular and cellular cognition community. • Provide networking and mentoring opportunities for students and early-career researchers. • Explore emerging opportunities for RNA-based therapeutics targeting neurological and psychiatric disorders.