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Meeting program

3rd Global Meeting

Copenhagen, Denmark · 23–24 April 2026

Jointly hosted by the Posterior Fossa Society and the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Rigshospitalet.

Wednesday 22 April 2026

  1. 16:00–18:00

    Posterior Fossa Society board meeting and special interest group meetings

Thursday 23 April 2026

  1. 08:00–09:00

    Registration and coffee

  2. 09:00–09:15

    Welcome and introduction to the meeting

    Sharyl Samargia-Grivette, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA; René Mathiasen, Rigshospitalet, DK; Jonathan K. Grønbæk, Rigshospitalet, DK

  3. 09:15–10:45

    SessionLived experience

    Chaired by Astrid Sehested, Rigshospitalet, DK, and Kristin Szymanek, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA

  4. 10:45–11:30

    KeynoteUnderstanding the impact(s) of cerebellar disruption: From maps to mechanisms

    Catherine Stoodley, Children's National Medical Center, USA

  5. 11:30–12:30

    Lunch, poster walk and group photo

Radiology and neuroscience session/biology

Chairs: Jonathan Carlsen and Stuart McAfee

  1. 12:30–12:40

    Chair's introduction

    Jonathan Carlsen, Rigshospitalet, DK

  2. 12:40–13:10

    fMRI and MT imaging reveal how cerebellar efferent injury defines and differentiates PFS

    Stuart McAfee, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA

  3. 13:10–13:16

    Rapid fireCan differences in resting state EEG serve as a neurophysiologic marker for CMS?

    Sharyl Samargia-Grivette, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA

  4. 13:17–13:23

    Rapid fireTherapeutic potential of cerebellar stimulation after mild traumatic brain injury

    Detlef H. Heck, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA

  5. 13:24–13:30

    Rapid fireThe relationship between lesion location and motor and cognitive outcomes in pediatric cerebellar patients

    Rebecca Tegiacchi, American University & Children's National Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA

  6. 13:30–13:55

    Radiological research methods in paediatric cerebellar mutism syndrome

    Shivaram Avula, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK

  7. 13:55–14:20

    Machine learning–driven identification of MRI biomarkers in postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome

    Michaela Spiteri, Freelance AI consultant, UK

  8. 14:20–14:50

    Discussion

  1. 14:50–15:20

    Coffee break

Neurosurgery session

Chairs: Marianne Juhler and Andrea Carai

  1. 15:20–15:30

    Chair's introduction

    Marianne Juhler, Rigshospitalet, DK

  2. 15:30–16:00

    Neurosurgery working group recommendation paper

    Andrea Carai, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IT

  3. 16:00–16:30

    Examining factors for surgical complications in post fossa surgery beyond POSI

    Conor Mallucci, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, UK

  4. 16:30–17:00

    Discussion

  1. 18:00

    Social event and dinner at the Experimentarium

Friday 24 April 2026

  1. 08:00–08:15

    Coffee

Scoring, nosology and neurology session

Chairs: Barry Pizer and Giles Robinson

  1. 08:15–08:25

    Chair's introduction: Nosology of posterior fossa brain injury: any progress?

    Barry Pizer, University of Liverpool, UK

  2. 08:25–08:31

    Rapid fireDeveloping a novel tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of posterior fossa syndrome

    Vicky King, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK

  3. 08:31–08:37

    Rapid fireThe Cerebellar Neuropsychiatric Rating Scale Version 2: development and validation

    Jeremy D. Schmahmann, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA

  4. 08:37–08:43

    Rapid fireThe International Survey on Perioperative Evaluation in Children with posterior fossa Tumours (InSPECT): a multidisciplinary overview of current assessment practices

    Cheyenne Svaldi, University of Groningen, University College London, UK

  5. 08:43–08:49

    Rapid fireRevision of the Posterior Fossa Syndrome Questionnaire (PFS-Q) using data-informed decision making

    Darcy Raches, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA

  6. 08:50–09:20

    Core issues and key choices for CMS/PFS scoring systems

    Andrew Lux, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, UK

  7. 09:20–09:50

    Discussion, chaired by Giles Robinson, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA

  1. 09:50–10:20

    Coffee break

Treatment options and biology

Chairs: Jason Gill and Alvaro Lassaletta

  1. 10:20–10:30

    Chair's introduction: Treatment options and biology

    Jason Gill, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, USA

  2. 10:30–11:15

    KeynoteRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in pediatric neuro-oncology rehabilitation

    Manuel Lujan, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, ES

  3. 11:15–11:40

    Pharmacological interventions for cognitive recovery and brain repair: implications for PFS

    Donald J. Mabbott, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, CA

  4. 11:40–12:05

    ZolPFS: RCT with zolpidem as a pharmacological intervention in PFS

    Jonathan Grønbæk, Rigshospitalet, DK; René Mathiasen, Rigshospitalet, DK; Alvaro Lassaletta, Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús, ES

  5. 12:05–12:30

    Update on FASTigial study (Findings Anatomical SubsTrates of neuropsychological outcome after posterior fossa tumor surgery)

    Iris Obdeijn, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, NL

  6. 12:30–13:00

    Discussion

  1. 13:00–13:45

    Lunch and poster walk

Rehabilitation and speech and language therapy

Chairs: Sharyl Samargia-Grivette and Vânia de Aguiar

  1. 13:45–13:55

    Chair's introduction

    Sharyl Samargia-Grivette, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA

  2. 13:55–14:01

    Rapid fireCapturing complexity: methodological rigor and inclusive sampling in auditory-perceptual analysis

    Annesofie Ishøy Nielsen, University of Copenhagen, DK

  3. 14:01–14:07

    Rapid fireWhat does an enriched environment look like for children with posterior fossa syndrome, why is it important, and how to optimise and enrich a clinical environment

    Becca Tapley, Brainbow, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK

  4. 14:07–14:13

    Rapid firePosterior fossa syndrome: practice patterns and experiences of pediatric rehabilitation medicine physicians in the US

    Kelli Chaviano and Vera Tsetlina, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Children's of Alabama, USA

  5. 14:13–14:19

    Rapid fireClinical characterization of impaired language and fine motor trajectories following pediatric posterior fossa tumor treatment: a latent growth curve analysis

    Elien Rosquin, KU Leuven, Belgium

  6. 14:19–14:25

    Rapid fireDomain-specific neuropsychological outcomes after proton vs photon radiotherapy in pediatric CNS tumor survivors

    Borja Esteso-Orduña, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain

  7. 14:20–14:40

    Preoperative speech and language in relation to postoperative mutism and reduced speech

    Vânia de Aguiar, University of Groningen, NL

  8. 14:40–15:00

    Language and speech in children after posterior fossa surgery: developmental perspectives

    Ditte Boeg Thomsen, University of Copenhagen, DK

  9. 15:00–15:30

    Discussion

  1. 15:30–15:45

    Coffee break

Education and advocacy

Chairs: Nathan Rosenberg and Heather Conklin

  1. 15:45–15:55

    Chair's introduction: Time in PFS rehabilitation: considerations of optimal timing and time toxicity

    Nathan Rosenberg, Nationwide Children's Hospital, USA

  2. 15:55–16:15

    PREFER survey: Parent Reported Experience with Posterior Fossa Surgery Effects and Recovery at St. Jude

    Stuart McAfee, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA

  3. 16:15–16:35

    Barriers and opportunities in providing patient-centered care for children diagnosed with posterior fossa syndrome: through the St. Jude lens

    Heather Conklin, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA

  4. 16:35–16:55

    Identifying educational gaps, communication challenges, and opportunities for improvement: the neuro-oncologist perspective

    Angela Mastronuzzi, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IT

  5. 16:55–17:25

    Discussion

  1. 17:25

    Round-off discussion and closing remarks

    Jonathan Grønbæk, René Mathiasen and Astrid Sehested, Rigshospitalet, DK