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
- 16:00–18:00
Posterior Fossa Society board meeting and special interest group meetings
Thursday 23 April 2026
- 08:00–09:00
Registration and coffee
- 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
- 09:15–10:45
SessionLived experience
Chaired by Astrid Sehested, Rigshospitalet, DK, and Kristin Szymanek, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
- 10:45–11:30
KeynoteUnderstanding the impact(s) of cerebellar disruption: From maps to mechanisms
Catherine Stoodley, Children's National Medical Center, USA
- 11:30–12:30
Lunch, poster walk and group photo
Radiology and neuroscience session/biology
Chairs: Jonathan Carlsen and Stuart McAfee
- 12:30–12:40
Chair's introduction
Jonathan Carlsen, Rigshospitalet, DK
- 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
- 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
- 13:17–13:23
Rapid fireTherapeutic potential of cerebellar stimulation after mild traumatic brain injury
Detlef H. Heck, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA
- 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
- 13:30–13:55
Radiological research methods in paediatric cerebellar mutism syndrome
Shivaram Avula, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
- 13:55–14:20
Machine learning–driven identification of MRI biomarkers in postoperative cerebellar mutism syndrome
Michaela Spiteri, Freelance AI consultant, UK
- 14:20–14:50
Discussion
- 14:50–15:20
Coffee break
Neurosurgery session
Chairs: Marianne Juhler and Andrea Carai
- 15:20–15:30
Chair's introduction
Marianne Juhler, Rigshospitalet, DK
- 15:30–16:00
Neurosurgery working group recommendation paper
Andrea Carai, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IT
- 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
- 16:30–17:00
Discussion
- 18:00
Social event and dinner at the Experimentarium
Friday 24 April 2026
- 08:00–08:15
Coffee
Scoring, nosology and neurology session
Chairs: Barry Pizer and Giles Robinson
- 08:15–08:25
Chair's introduction: Nosology of posterior fossa brain injury: any progress?
Barry Pizer, University of Liverpool, UK
- 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
- 08:31–08:37
Rapid fireThe Cerebellar Neuropsychiatric Rating Scale Version 2: development and validation
Jeremy D. Schmahmann, Massachusetts General Hospital, USA
- 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
- 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
- 08:50–09:20
Core issues and key choices for CMS/PFS scoring systems
Andrew Lux, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, UK
- 09:20–09:50
Discussion, chaired by Giles Robinson, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, USA
- 09:50–10:20
Coffee break
Treatment options and biology
Chairs: Jason Gill and Alvaro Lassaletta
- 10:20–10:30
Chair's introduction: Treatment options and biology
Jason Gill, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, USA
- 10:30–11:15
KeynoteRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in pediatric neuro-oncology rehabilitation
Manuel Lujan, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, ES
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 12:30–13:00
Discussion
- 13:00–13:45
Lunch and poster walk
Rehabilitation and speech and language therapy
Chairs: Sharyl Samargia-Grivette and Vânia de Aguiar
- 13:45–13:55
Chair's introduction
Sharyl Samargia-Grivette, University of Minnesota Duluth, USA
- 13:55–14:01
Rapid fireCapturing complexity: methodological rigor and inclusive sampling in auditory-perceptual analysis
Annesofie Ishøy Nielsen, University of Copenhagen, DK
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 14:20–14:40
Preoperative speech and language in relation to postoperative mutism and reduced speech
Vânia de Aguiar, University of Groningen, NL
- 14:40–15:00
Language and speech in children after posterior fossa surgery: developmental perspectives
Ditte Boeg Thomsen, University of Copenhagen, DK
- 15:00–15:30
Discussion
- 15:30–15:45
Coffee break
Education and advocacy
Chairs: Nathan Rosenberg and Heather Conklin
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 16:35–16:55
Identifying educational gaps, communication challenges, and opportunities for improvement: the neuro-oncologist perspective
Angela Mastronuzzi, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IT
- 16:55–17:25
Discussion
- 17:25
Round-off discussion and closing remarks
Jonathan Grønbæk, René Mathiasen and Astrid Sehested, Rigshospitalet, DK
