Con-sequins 2026: From mission to momentum

Abstract

A foundational challenge of equity neuroscience is understanding how to move from describing inequitable neurological disparities to identifying the mechanisms, systems, and infrastructures needed to reduce them. The Society for Equity Neuroscience (SEQUINS) was founded in 2024 to advance brain health equity and reduce neurological disparities through science [1]. CON-Sequins ‘26, held on May 14, 2026, in Charleston, South Carolina, was the society’s second annual meeting and reflected its expanding role as a scientific, educational, disseminative, and workforce-development platform. It convened investigators, clinicians, trainees, public health leaders, and community-engaged scholars from across the United States and beyond. Major scientific themes included social drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, upstream contributors to racial disparities in stroke, global neurology, cerebral malaria, global health security, translational science infrastructure, artificial intelligence, clinical trial representation, community-engaged research, and workforce development. Early career scholars presented their work in three distinct poster sessions. This proceedings report summarizes the conference program, emerging scholarship, workforce-development activities, dissemination efforts, participation metrics, and future priorities for the field. Con-Sequins ’26 suggests that recurring convenings may provide a key mechanism for translating equity neuroscience from a conceptual framework into research, implementation, mentorship, and policy objectives.

Background

Neurological disorders are among the leading causes of disability, mortality, and health loss worldwide. Recent analyses from the Global Burden of Disease Study estimated that approximately 3 billion individuals were affected by neurological conditions in 2021, making disorders of the nervous system the leading contributor to disability-adjusted life-years globally [1, 2]. Although advances in neuroscience and clinical neurology have expanded opportunities to prevent, diagnose, and treat neurological disease, these advances have not been distributed equitably across populations [1–4].

Brain health is shaped by social position, geography, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, educational opportunity, environmental exposures, healthcare access, and structural inequities [2–9]. These factors affect both the likelihood of developing neurological disease and the probability of receiving effective prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Consequently, disparities persist across numerous neurological conditions, including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and neurodevelopmental disorders [1, 4].

Stroke and dementia provide particularly illustrative examples of the need for a dedicated field focused on neurological equity. Racial and ethnic disparities in stroke occur across the care continuum, including risk-factor control, symptom recognition, emergency response, access to acute treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, and secondary prevention [5, 6]. Likewise, disparities in dementia incidence, diagnosis, treatment, and research participation are shaped by social determinants of health, cardiovascular risk factors, neighborhood disadvantage, educational attainment, and healthcare access [7, 8, 10–12].

Recognition of these challenges contributed to the establishment of the Society for Equity Neuroscience (SEQUINS) in 2024. SEQUINS was founded to advance brain health equity through science and to serve as a global organization dedicated to supporting, teaching, promoting, and applying research aimed at reducing neurological disparities [13]. The society’s founding framework defined equity neuroscience as a multidis ciplinary academic field focused on understanding inequities in nervous system health across interacting biological, clinical, social, population, and global levels of influence, from particles to people, with a bidirectional local-to-global orientation [13].

Since its inception, SEQUINS has sought to create scientific infrastructure capable of supporting research, mentorship, dissemination, workforce development, and implementation activities focused on neurological health equity. The annual meeting serves as the society’s flagship scientific convening and provides a venue for bringing together investigators, clinicians, trainees, policymakers, and community partners committed to reducing inequities in nervous system health. Con-Sequins ‘26 was the second annual meeting and provided an opportunity to evaluate the continued development of equity neuroscience as an emerging field. This report summarizes the conference structure, scientific themes, emerging scholarship, workforce-development activities, dissemination efforts, participation metrics, and future priorities identified during the meeting.

Proceedings

Conference overview

Con-Sequins ‘26 was held on May 14, 2026, in Charleston, South Carolina. The conference was held in a hybrid format (in-person and virtual participation), and included Hall of Fame presentations, academic excellence award lectures, moderated poster sessions, networking activities, graduate recognition ceremonies, and early career travel-award support (Table 1). Major scientific domains included social determinants of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, racial disparities in stroke, global neurology, cerebral malaria, global health security, mentorship, translational science infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital health, clinical trial representation, and diverse-population brain health research.

Table 1.

Agenda of the 2026 global conference on equity neuroscience.

Time	Session Type	Presentation Title / Activity
8:30 – 9:25 AM	Networking	Breakfast
9:25 – 9:30 AM	Opening	Welcome Remarks
9:30 – 10:15 AM	Hall of Fame Presentations I-II	Social determinants of health in ADRD inequities; upstream causes of racial disparities in stroke
10:15 – 10:20 AM	Discussion	Q&A
10:20 – 10:50 AM	Poster Session	Poster Session 1
10:50 – 11:00 AM	Break	Refreshments
11:00 – 11:25 AM	Award Lecture	Bright Star Award Lecture: global neurology and care in low- to middle-income countries
11:25 – 11:50 AM	Hall of Fame Presentation III	Brain health in cerebral malaria research, care, and public health planning
11:50 AM – 12:15 PM	Remarks / Recognition	Dean’s Comments; Recognition of NIH–CGS Program Graduates
12:15 – 1:15 PM	Networking	Lunch
1:15 – 1:40 PM	Hall of Fame Presentation IV	Brain health as a component of global health security
1:40 – 2:05 PM	Mentor Lecture	Patrick A. Griffith Outstanding Mentor Lecture: mentoring future leaders in sleep/circadian sciences and cardiovascular brain health research
2:05 – 2:35 PM	Poster Session	Poster Session 2
2:35 – 2:50 PM	Break	Refreshments
2:50 – 3:15 PM	Funding Agency Lecture	Forward: Navigating a Changing World
3:15 – 3:40 PM	Hall of Fame Presentation V	Brain health and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in diverse populations
3:40 – 4:10 PM	Poster Session	Poster Session 3
4:10 – 4:25 PM	Induction Ceremony	2026 Hall of Famers Induction
4:25 PM	Closing	Closing Remarks

As the society’s second annual meeting, Con-Sequins ‘26 demonstrated continuity and expansion of the organization’s scientific mission. Core elements of the inaugural meeting, including recognition of scientific leadership, mentorship, and academic development were retained, while the scientific agenda was expanded to include artificial intelligence, global health security, implementation science, social determinants of health screening, digital health, community-engaged research, and early career scholar presentations. The meeting also functioned as a mechanism for connecting researchers across institutions (and countries), fostering collaborations, supporting trainees and early-career investigators, recognizing excellence in equity neuroscience, and disseminating knowledge beyond traditional academic audiences.

Reach and representation

The reach of Con-Sequins ‘26 reflected the society’s commitment to building an interdisciplinary and globally connected field of equity neuroscience. Speakers, moderators, trainees, and participants represented academic medical centers, public health institutions, federal agencies, translational research networks, industry partners, and international collaborations. Participating institutions included the University of California, San Francisco; University of Alabama at Birmingham; University of North Carolina; University of Rochester; University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia; Vanderbilt University; University of Miami; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences; Medical University of South Carolina; Northwestern University; University of Kentucky; University of Texas, Houston; University of Chicago; New York University, and Northern California Institute for Research and Education. Industry partners present included Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Biogen and Genentech. This breadth of representation is notable because equity neuroscience inherently requires integration across diseases, disciplines, methodologies, and geographic contexts. Expertise represented at the conference included dementia epidemiology, stroke disparities, global neurology, cerebral malaria, global health security, cardiovascular brain health, sleep and circadian science, translational science, clinical trial infrastructure, implementation science, community-engaged research, and workforce development. Beyond representation from major U.S. academic institutions, participants and program contributors reflected collaborations extending into Africa and other global regions where neurological disease burden is high and access to neurological care remains limited [14, 15]. This global orientation aligns with the founding vision of equity neuroscience as a field that operates across local, national, and international contexts [13]. Con-Sequins ‘26 attracted 80 registrants, representing an increase from the inaugural 2025 meeting, which had 68 registrants. Of the 80 registered participants, 64 attended in person and 16 participated virtually.

Program emphasis

The scientific program was organized around major domains of equity neuroscience and emphasized the biological, social, clinical, implementation, and global factors that contribute to neurological health inequities. Presentations addressed dementia, stroke, global neurology, cerebral malaria, global health security, mentorship, workforce development, and translational science infrastructure. Collectively, the invited lectures reinforced a central theme of the conference: reducing neurological inequities will require movement beyond description toward prevention, implementation, systems-level change, and sustainable scientific infrastructure.

Hall of Fame Lectures

• The Hall of Fame lectures and their key areas of focus are summarized in Table 2.

• “The Importance of Understanding Social Determinants of Health for Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias Inequities. ” Kristine Yaffe, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco, opened the scientific program with a presentation examining the role of social determinants of health in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) inequities. Dr. Yaffe reviewed evidence demonstrating persistent racial and ethnic disparities in dementia incidence across the United States and highlighted the importance of both cardiovascular risk factors and social determinants of health as contributors to these disparities [10–12]. Drawing upon a large Veterans Health Administration cohort, Dr. Yaffe described findings showing that Black and Hispanic older adults experience higher risks of developing dementia than White older adults [10]. These disparities persisted across geographic regions, suggesting that regional variation alone does not explain observed differences in dementia risk [10]. Dr. Yaffe further discussed evidence demonstrating the importance of socioeconomic status in explaining racial disparities in dementia incidence. In a prospective study of biracial older adults, adjustment for socioeconomic measures substantially attenuated Black-White differences in dementia risk, suggesting that socioeconomic factors contribute importantly to observed disparities [11]. She also reviewed research linking neighborhood disadvantage with increased dementia risk and poorer cognitive outcomes [12]. Additional studies have demonstrated associations between social determinants of health and adverse cognitive outcomes, including cognitive performance, brain imaging measures, and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers [8, 12]. Dr. Yaffe concluded that interventions targeting social determinants of health and cardiovascular risk factors across the life course may represent promising opportunities for reducing dementia inequities and promoting brain health equity.

• “Shouldn’t We Be Going Upstream to Find the Causes of Racial Disparities in Stroke? ” George Howard, DrPH, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, delivered a presentation focused on upstream contributors to racial disparities in stroke. Dr. Howard began by reviewing national and REGARDS-based evidence showing that Black Americans continue to experience higher stroke mortality than White Americans despite advances in prevention and treatment [16, 17]. Using data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, Dr. Howard emphasized that disparities in stroke mortality are driven primarily by differences in stroke incidence rather than differences in case fatality [16, 17]. Particularly striking were findings showing that Black adults between the ages of 45 and 54 years experience approximately 2 times the risk of stroke compared with White adults of the same age group [4, 17]. Dr. Howard also emphasized the importance of primordial prevention and sustained control of vascular risk factors. Because hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for stroke, prevention, early detection, and durable control of elevated blood pressure remain central strategies for reducing stroke risk and may contribute to reducing racial disparities in stroke incidence [6, 18, 14]. Invoking a familiar public health principle of preventing disease before it develops, Dr. Howard argued that meaningful reductions in stroke disparities will require interventions that address social, behavioral, environmental, and healthcare-system factors before disease occurs.

• “How Brain Health is Overlooked in “Cerebral ” Malaria Research, Care, and Public Health Planning. ” Gretchen Birbeck, MD, MPH, of the University of Rochester and University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia, delivered a presentation examining neurological inequities associated with cerebral malaria. Her lecture highlighted the broader marginalization of neurological disorders within global health systems and underscored the need to elevate brain health within research, clinical care, and public health planning. Dr. Birbeck noted that neurological disorders often receive less attention than other major disease categories, particularly in resource-limited settings where competing health priorities, workforce short-ages, and funding constraints may limit investment in neurological care [19, 20]. She described cerebral malaria as a compelling example of this challenge. Although the disease directly affects the brain, discussions of clinical outcomes frequently focus on survival while overlooking long-term neurological consequences experienced by survivors. She reviewed evidence demonstrating that survivors of cerebral malaria are at increased risk for epilepsy and other long-term neurological sequelae [15]. Despite these consequences, neurological outcomes may be underrepresented in clinical trial end-points, burden-of-disease estimates, and public health planning efforts related to malaria [18, 14, 15]. Dr. Birbeck also discussed structural contributors to these challenges, including shortages of neurologists, limited neurological infrastructure, inadequate rehabilitation services, insufficient research funding, and the historical underrepresentation of neurological outcomes within global health agendas [19, 20]. She emphasized the importance of investing in workforce development, supporting locally led research programs, reducing stigma associated with neurological disorders, and generating evidence capable of informing policy and clinical practice in affected regions. A recurring message throughout the presentation was that brain health must be considered a central outcome of global health efforts rather than a secondary consequence of disease. Dr. Birbeck argued that sustainable improvements in neurological equity will require integration of neurological outcomes into research, care delivery, health-system planning, and public health policy.

• “Brain Health as an Essential Component of Global Health Security in an Emerging Multi-Polar World. ” Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH, of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health delivered a presentation positioning brain health as a critical component of global health security. His lecture explored the relationship between neurological health, international development, geopolitical change, and emerging global health priorities. Dr. Trevathan began by reviewing the historical evolution of global health governance and the role of international partnerships in addressing major health challenges. He discussed how global health initiatives have frequently been shaped by broader political, economic, and security priorities, highlighting programs such as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as examples of large-scale international investment in health infrastructure and disease prevention [21]. The presentation then shifted toward contemporary geopolitical changes and their implications for global health. Dr. Trevathan discussed BRICS expansion and broader shifts in global governance as contextual developments that may influence future models of international health collaboration [22, 23]. He argued that future progress in neurological equity will require engagement with a broader range of international partners and institutions than has traditionally characterized global health collaborations. Dr. Trevathan emphasized that neurological health should be viewed not only as a medical concern but also as a determinant of economic productivity, educational attainment, societal resilience, and population well-being. He encouraged the equity neuroscience community to engage proactively with global health-security frameworks and to develop collaborative strategies capable of addressing neurological inequities across diverse geopolitical contexts. His presentation reinforced the importance of viewing brain health through a global lens and highlighted opportunities for equity neuroscience to contribute to broader discussions regarding international development, health security, and population health.

• “Studying Brain Health and the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Diverse Populations. ” James E. Galvin, MD, MPH, of the University of Miami delivered the final Hall of Fame presentation, focusing on brain health and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) risk in diverse populations. Dr. Galvin reviewed evidence demonstrating that cultural, structural, and historical factors contribute to disparities in dementia diagnosis, treatment, healthcare access, and participation in research. He highlighted mistrust, historical injustices, differences in health literacy, and barriers to care as important contributors to inequities in dementia outcomes among historically marginalized populations [24, 25]. A major focus of the presentation was the Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA), a culturally informed instrument developed to assess Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias health literacy in diverse populations [26]. Dr. Galvin described how the tool was developed to address limitations of traditional dementia education approaches and to provide a culturally relevant framework for improving dementia-related health literacy. He also reviewed emerging work related to the Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI), a prospective cohort study designed to examine brain-health risk and resilience in diverse older adults [27]. These efforts reflect a growing emphasis on understanding brain health as a multidimensional construct influenced by biological, social, behavioral, and environmental factors. Additional research discussed during the presentation demonstrated associations between neighborhood disadvantage, residential segregation, and accelerated cognitive decline, highlighting the importance of social and environmental conditions as determinants of long-term brain health [12]. Dr. Galvin concluded that achieving dementia equity will require culturally responsive approaches that simultaneously address vulnerability factors, strengthen resilience, improve health literacy, and foster meaningful engagement with communities disproportionately affected by dementia.

Table 2.

Hall of fame presentations and invited lectures.

Session	Speaker	Presentation	Moderator
Hall of Fame Presentation I	Kristine Yaffe, MD; University of California, San Francisco	The Importance of Understanding Social Determinants of Health for Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease Related Dementias Inequities	Erica Littlejohn, University of Kentucky
Hall of Fame Presentation II	George Howard, DrPH; University of Alabama at Birmingham	Shouldn’t We Be Going Upstream to Find the Causes of Racial Disparities and Stroke?	Anjail Sharrief, UTHealth Houston
Bright Star Award Lecture	Monica Diaz, MD, MS; University of North Carolina	Global Neurology: Improving Neurological Care and Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries	Karen Orjuela, University of Chicago
Hall of Fame Presentation III	Gretchen Birbeck, MD, MPH; University of Rochester / University Teaching Hospitals, Lusaka, Zambia	How Brain Health Is Overlooked in “Cerebral” Malaria Research, Care, and Public Health Planning	Michelle Nichols, Medical University of South Carolina
Hall of Fame Presentation IV	Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH; Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health	Brain Health as an Essential Component of Global Health Security in an Emerging Multi-Polar World	Jonathan Edwards, Medical University of South Carolina
Patrick A. Griffith Outstanding Mentor Lecture	Girardin Jean-Louis, PhD; University of Miami	Mentoring Future Leaders in Sleep/Circadian Sciences and Cardiovascular Brain Health Research	Karen Orjuela, University of Chicago
Funding Agency Lecture	Salina Waddy, MD; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences	Forward: Navigating a Changing World	Sara Hassani, Northwestern University
Hall of Fame Presentation V	James Galvin, MD, MPH; University of Miami	Studying Brain Health and the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Diverse Populations	Federico Rodriguez-Porcel, Medical University of South Carolina

Academic Excellence Lectures

• “Global Neurology – Improving Neurological Care and Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. ” The Bright Star Award Lecture was delivered by Monica M. Diaz, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Her presentation, entitled Global Neurology: Improving Neurological Care and Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, focused on the substantial mismatch between the burden of neurological disease and the availability of neurological care resources worldwide. Dr. Diaz emphasized that neurological disorders account for a substantial proportion of global disability and mortality, with the greatest burden occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to specialized neurological care remains limited [1, 19, 20]. Despite carrying a disproportionate share of the world’s neurological disease burden, many LMICs face persistent shortages of neurologists, inadequate diagnostic infrastructure, limited rehabilitation services, and insufficient research capacity [19, 20]. Dr. Diaz highlighted the importance of sustainable international partnerships, locally driven research agendas, and long-term investments in workforce development as mechanisms for reducing global neurological inequities. She discussed successful examples of institution-to-institution collaborations that promote bidirectional knowledge exchange while strengthening local clinical and research infrastructure. Such partnerships help ensure that research priorities align with community needs and support sustainable capacity building rather than short-term project implementation. A central theme of the presentation was the importance of developing future generations of neurologists and neuroscience researchers within underserved regions. Dr. Diaz encouraged investigators and academic institutions to invest in training opportunities, mentorship programs, and collaborative research initiatives that strengthen local expertise and leadership. She concluded by calling for neurological equity to become an explicit objective within broader global health initiatives and emphasized that meaningful progress will require sustained commitment to both scientific excellence and global partnership.

• “NIH Diversity Supplements as Workforce Infrastructure: A High-Return Policy Lever at Risk. ” Girardin Jean-Louis, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurology, and Director of the Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, delivered the 2026 Patrick A. Griffith Outstanding Mentor Lecture. Dr. Jean-Louis argued that workforce diversity is essential for advancing scientific innovation, strengthening community engagement, improving research relevance, and fostering trust in biomedical research. He emphasized that investigators from historically underrepresented backgrounds often bring valuable perspectives that enhance the development of research questions, study designs, and community-centered approaches to addressing health disparities. A central focus of the lecture was the role of National Institutes of Health (NIH) Diversity Supplements as a mechanism for recruiting, training, and retaining scientists from groups historically underrepresented in biomedical research. Dr. Jean-Louis described these supplements as a highly effective workforce-development strategy that has helped support trainees and early-career investigators across multiple disciplines within the biomedical sciences. He expressed concern regarding potential reductions in diversity-focused training opportunities and highlighted the importance of continued investment in programs designed to expand participation in research careers. According to Dr. Jean-Louis, strengthening the neuroscience workforce will require sustained support for mentorship, career development, research training, and institutional infrastructure capable of fostering inclusive excellence. His remarks aligned closely with the mission of SEQUINS, which seeks to develop future generations of investigators committed to advancing brain health equity through science, education, mentorship, and community engagement.

Agency Remarks Lecture

• “Forward – Navigating a Changing World. ” Salina P. Waddy, MD, Associate Director of Clinical Affairs for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), delivered the conference Funding Agency Lecture entitled Forward: Navigating a Changing World. Dr. Waddy provided an overview of the Trial Innovation Network (TIN), a national collaborative infrastructure designed to improve the efficiency and quality of multicenter clinical research across the United States [28]. Established through the CTSA Program, the TIN provides investigators with resources related to study design, recruitment, operational planning, regulatory processes, and implementation of multisite clinical trials [28]. Dr. Waddy described how translational science infrastructure can help address common barriers to clinical research, including participant recruitment, study activation, protocol harmonization, and inclusion of historically underrepresented populations. She emphasized that equitable participation in research remains a critical priority and highlighted the importance of creating systems that facilitate broad engagement across diverse populations and geographic regions. During her presentation, Dr. Waddy reported that the Trial Innovation Network has supported numerous studies across therapeutic areas, including neurological disorders. Because these operational figures were presented as conference content rather than as a primary outcome of the cited publication, they should be interpreted as speaker-reported program information. The peer-reviewed literature supports the TIN as a translational-science infrastructure intended to increase the impact and efficiency of clinical trials [28]. Dr. Waddy also reviewed workforce-development opportunities available through NIH programs, including Loan Repayment Programs and clinical research training initiatives. She encouraged trainees and early-career investigators to pursue opportunities that support careers in clinical research, health disparities research, and translational science.

Selection Process for Special Lectures and Awards

Speakers for the special lectures were selected by a 15-person Con-Sequins Annual Meeting Program Committee based on member nominations and predefined selection criteria for each award category (Table 3).

Table 3.

Criteria for special lecture and award selection.

Award/Lecture	Selection Criteria
Hall of Fame Presentations	Candidate is a senior investigator of any scientific (basic, translational, clinical, or population) or professional background who has made outstanding contributions in the field of equity neuroscience in their lifetime. Evidence of mentorship of students, post-docs, residents, fellows, and early career faculty is important.
Bright Star Lecture	Early career individual (no more than 6 years as Assistant Professor) who is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health to study one of the five major areas of neurological inequities/disparities (sex/gender, race/ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic, or global)
Funding Agency Official Remarks	Presentation by a Program Officer from NIH, CDC, FDA, PCORI, DHS, Gates Foundation, etc. Program Officer willing and able to present agency’s plans for equity neuroscience training, career development, and research as well as its contemporary funding opportunities.
Griffith Outstanding Mentor Awardee	Award recognizes mentorship rather than scientific accomplishment, emphasizing the training experiences and successes of the nominee’s mentees, not the mentor’s personal career achievements. Award acknowledges the successful development of mentees who have gone on to become independent equity neuroscientists, ultimately shaping the future of the field. For award consideration, mentoring refers to the process of guiding, supporting, and promoting the training and career development of others. Award recipients are individuals who have actively engaged in sustained efforts aimed at the mentoring of trainees in the field of equity Nominees may include basic, clinical, or translational researchers working in the field of equity neuroscience. They should have a record of successfully mentoring researchers in the field of equity neuroscience over time. Mentees should be actively involved in research, teaching, mentoring, community activities or other leadership activities in the field of equity neuroscience.

Early Career Poster Sessions

Three moderated poster sessions were conducted throughout the conference and served as a major venue for showcasing emerging scholarship in equity neuroscience. The sessions were moderated by Jill Berkman, MD (Vanderbilt University), and Kim O’Neill, MD (New York University). Twenty investigators presented research spanning stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, artificial intelligence, digital health, social determinants of health, community-engaged research, implementation science, and medical education. Collectively, the poster presentations illustrated the breadth of equity neuroscience and demonstrated how researchers are operationalizing concepts of neurological health equity across diverse populations, healthcare systems, and geographic settings. Stroke systems of care represented a major area of emphasis. Accepted abstracts examined racial and sex-based disparities in reperfusion therapy within telestroke networks, temporal trends in stroke prevalence before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, barriers to timely stroke care in underserved populations, and disparities in acute stroke evaluation among tribal communities (Table 4). These projects highlighted persistent inequities in stroke recognition, access, referral systems, imaging availability, and treatment delivery. Several presentations focused on dementia, cognition, and social determinants of health. Investigators examined the impact of adverse childhood experiences on later-life cognitive outcomes, community-based approaches to improving research participation among historically underrepresented populations, and strategies for integrating social determinants of health screening into neurological care. These presentations reinforced the importance of life-course exposures and social context as determinants of brain health. Artificial intelligence and digital health emerged as additional areas of interest. Investigators presented work evaluating large language model performance in clinical neurology scenarios, developing artificial intelligence-based risk prediction tools for stroke and dementia in African populations, and examining barriers to patient portal use among stroke survivors. These studies highlighted both the promise and potential risks of technology-driven approaches to healthcare delivery, particularly with respect to algorithmic bias, digital access, and equitable implementation. The poster sessions also expanded the scope of equity neuroscience beyond stroke and dementia. Presentations addressed multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, pediatric neurosurgical conditions, and sex-stratified neuroscience research. Additional abstracts focused on equity-oriented medical education, experiential learning approaches, and workforce development. Taken together, the poster program demonstrated the increasing methodological and topical diversity of equity neuroscience scholarship. Importantly, the poster sessions provided trainees and early-career investigators with opportunities to receive feedback from senior faculty, invited speakers, and peers.

Table 4.

Accepted abstracts and emerging scholarship at con-sequins ‘26.

Theme	Title	Author	Equity Neuroscience Focus
Education and Training	Transforming Medical Education: Baseline Assessment of Health Disparities Knowledge in Academic Neurology	A. Aquino Hernandez	Health equity education in neurology training
Stroke Systems and Telestroke Equity	Sex-Modified Racial Disparities in Reperfusion Therapy Within a Statewide Telestroke Network	N. Badu-Prempeh	Racial and sex-modified disparities in reperfusion therapy
Stroke Epidemiology and Rural Health	Temporal Trends in Stroke Prevalence Across North Dakota Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic	E. Akomaning	County-level stroke prevalence trends
Global Stroke Care	Barriers to Timely Stroke Care Among Underserved Populations in Low- and Middle-Income Countries	B. Yusuf	Prehospital delay, referral gaps, financial constraints, and institutional readiness
Aging, Adversity, and Cognition	Cumulative ACE Burden Drives Cognitive Decline Among Low-Income Seniors	N. Sims	Adverse childhood experiences and later-life cognitive function
Multiple Sclerosis Equity	Aging, Brain Health Disparities, and Healthcare-Related Social Determinants of Health in Multiple Sclerosis	C. Román	Barriers to care, brain aging, cognition, and lived experience in MS
Data Science and Global Brain Health	Development of an AI-Driven Diagnostic Dashboard for Stroke and Dementia Risk in African Communities	E. Omolola Adebimpe-John	AI-based stroke and dementia risk stratification
Huntington’s Disease Care Equity	Delivery of Huntington’s Care at UCLA	D. Okine	Access to multidisciplinary Huntington’s disease care
Trial Representation	Unveiling Reporting and Representation of Race and Ethnicity in Acute Interventional Neurology Trials	H. Meza Comparan	Race/ethnicity reporting and representation in acute neurology trials
Health Services and SDOH Screening	Advancing Equity in Neurologic Care	S. Maynez	Standardized SDOH screening and referral workflows
AI Bias in Neurology	Evaluating AI Performance in Clinical Neurology	J. Manu	Race/ethnicity-related variation in large language model outputs
Equity Curriculum Development	Applying Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory to Health Equity Curricula	S. Kumar	Case-based learning and SEQUINS Scholars curriculum
Digital Health and Stroke Recovery	Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Patient Portal Use Among Stroke Survivors	A. Kaur	Digital literacy and patient portal access after stroke
Community-Based Participatory Research	The Community Brain Health Collaborative	M. Flake-Rojas	Community-engaged research inclusion and brain health equity
Stroke Secondary Prevention	Influence of Medical and Non-Medical Risk Factors on Discharge Antihypertensive Prescribing After Stroke	M. Flake-Rojas	Secondary prevention and discharge prescribing equity
Tribal Health and Telestroke Access	Disparities in Access to Acute Stroke Evaluation Across Tribal Communities	S. Doherty	Tribal stroke access, imaging, and telestroke infrastructure
Multiple Sclerosis Prodrome	Racial and Ethnic Variations in the Multiple Sclerosis Prodrome	S. Cortes	Race/ethnicity differences in prediagnostic MS symptoms
Sex as a Biological Variable	Sex-Stratified Analyses in Multi-Omics Studies	L. Behrens	Sex reporting and sex-stratified analysis in neuroscience
Pediatric Neurosurgical Equity	Systematic Equity Assessment of Hispanic Representation in Spina Bifida Literature, Medical Education, and Clinical Resources	S. Babool	Hispanic representation and language-access gaps in spina bifida resources
Parkinson’s Disease Access	Who Gets Referred? Sociodemographic Gaps in Access to Subspecialty Care for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease	S. Aslam	Referral gaps and access to movement-disorders subspecialty care

Training Program Graduate Recognitions

• Training in Research for Assure Neuroscience Scholars Cultivate Expertise in Notable Disparities Science (TRANSCENDS) is a partnership between the American Academy of Neurology and the Medical University of South Carolina supported by an NIH R25 training grant. The program prepares neurologists for careers in clinical and translational research while strengthening diversity within the neuroscience workforce. Graduates recognized during the conference included Ashley Madera (Barrow Neurological Institute), Catherine Norise (University of Pennsylvania), Deborah Rose (Johns Hopkins University), and Christine Smith (University of Florida). Their recognition reflected the importance of sustained investment in research training and career development for future leaders in neurology.

• Training Africans to Lead and Execute Neurological Trials and Studies (TALENTS) is a training initiative designed to strengthen neurological research capacity in Africa. TALENTS promotes long-term research partnerships and supports the development of independent investigators capable of leading neurological research within their home countries. Graduates receiving Certificates of Science in Clinical Research included Uzoamaka Akobundu (Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria), Daniel Gams Massi (Université de Douala, Cameroon), Nicholas Kulaba (Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Uganda), and Daniel Mutonga (Kenyatta University, Kenya).

Conference Travel Awards

• Con-Sequins 2026 provided travel awards to fifteen trainees and early-career investigators. Award recipients were selected through a competitive review process of 27 submissions based on the scientific merit and their relevance to neurological disparities research. The travel awards were designed to reduce financial barriers to conference participation and to support workforce development by increasing access to scientific networking, mentorship, and dissemination opportunities. Although not all recipients were ultimately able to travel to Charleston, the awards enabled many trainees and junior investigators to present their work and engage directly with leaders in the field.

Post-Conference Information

Overall satisfaction was high, with a mean conference rating of 4.5 out of 5; all respondents rated the conference as either 4 or 5. Conference content was rated as extremely relevant by 60% of respondents, very relevant by 30%, and somewhat relevant by 10%. Scientific presentations were identified as the most valuable component of the meeting (90%), followed by networking opportunities (55%), equity-focused content (55%), and poster sessions (45%). Eighty percent of respondents reported they would definitely attend or recommend a future Con-SEQUINS meeting, while 15% reported they probably would. Open-ended feedback highlighted the quality of scientific presentations, opportunities for networking and mentorship, and the conference’s interdisciplinary focus on neurological health equity. Common suggestions for improvement included expanding networking opportunities, increasing trainee engagement, enhancing virtual participation resources, and considering a longer conference format. Collectively, these evaluation findings suggest that Con-Sequins 2026 served as a valuable venue for interdisciplinary exchange, equity-focused scholarship, workforce visibility, mentorship, and sustained engagement with the growing equity neuroscience community. Future evaluations should examine longerterm outcomes beyond participant satisfaction, including collaborative publications, funded grants, trainee advancement, mentorship outcomes, implementation initiatives, and policy engagement activities that emerge from conference participation.

Conclusions

Con-Sequins ‘26 demonstrated the continued maturation of the Society for Equity Neuroscience (SEQUINS) as a scientific, educational, dissemination, and workforce-development platform dedicated to advancing brain health equity through science. As the society’s second annual meeting, the conference reflected an evolution from articulating the conceptual foundations of equity neuroscience toward building the infrastructure necessary to support sustained scientific inquiry, collaboration, implementation, and workforce development [13]. Conference participation increased relative to the inaugural meeting, suggesting continued growth and engagement within the equity neuroscience community. A central theme that emerged across scientific sessions was the need to move beyond describing disparities toward identifying and addressing the mechanisms that generate inequitable neurological outcomes. Scientific exchange at the meeting is disseminated through post-conference publications in the Society’s journal, including conference proceedings such as this one, individual papers corresponding to each Hall of Fame Lecture, and papers corresponding to the Bright Star and Griffith Mentoring awards. Prior year publications arising from this pipeline include a Hall of Fame lecture paper by Morgenstern and Ramirez and an Academic Award lecture paper by Bayram [29, 30]. This pipeline ensures intellectual leads form the meeting inform a mechanistic research agenda and shape programming at the SEQUINS 2027 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Ultimately, Con-Sequins 2026 highlighted a transition from conceptualizing equity neuroscience as an emerging framework toward operationalizing it as a scientific field with its own research agenda, workforce-development pipeline, dissemination infrastructure, and global network of collaborators (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

Selected activities from the 2026 Global Conference on Equity Neuroscience.

Panel A: Hall of Fame induction and recognition.

Panel B: Poster-session discussion highlighting emerging scholarship.

Panel C: Meeting participants and invited leaders convening during the scientific program. The 2026 Global Conference on Equity Neuroscience included Hall of Fame recognition, moderated poster sessions showcasing emerging research, and opportunities for collaboration among senior leaders, early-career investigators, trainees, and community-engaged scholars committed to advancing neurological health equity.