Mainz -- Research pitches instead of traditional poster presentations, networking with a little matchmaking, and a new platform for women in neuroradiology: The younger congress presidency at neuroRAD 2026 has brought some fresh ideas to Mainz.
More than 1,100 participants have gathered for the annual meeting of the German Society of Neuroradiology (DGNR), led this year by congress presidents Dr. Katharina Wenger-Alakmeh, Dr. Roland Schwab, and Dr. Daniel Kaiser.
One change is how research gets presented. The new Power Pitch format gives researchers just some minutes to present their findings, replacing traditional poster presentations.
Thursday evening's NextGen Connect event takes a similarly playful approach to networking. A ticket-based matching activity is designed to get participants talking to people outside their usual circles, with instant photos to capture the encounters.
The congress also announced Neuroradiologinnen (female neuroradiologists, ed.), a new group within the DGNR intended to give female members a stronger voice and address their particular concerns.
Bringing stroke care to the public
On Friday, the congress will move beyond the Rheingoldhalle. A public event will use actors to simulate a stroke emergency, showing how symptoms develop, what happens next, and how patients can be treated. Prevention will feature at several interactive stations.
The scientific program has also been divided into three broad strands: education and practical training, scientific discussion, and a look into the future, extending beyond neuroradiology to topics such as health policy and AI.
One of the more inspiring moments of Thursday's opening was the appointment of Prof. Michael Knauth as an honorary DGNR member.
His career has included work on intraoperative MRI and stroke imaging, but also some rather unusual research interests. He brought his curiosity about diving, mountaineering, and even seals into his scientific work, investigating how the brain responds to pressure, oxygen deprivation, and high altitude.
