Sparks Brain Preservation
A Non-profit Organization
September 19–20, 2026 · Salem, Oregon
A two-day gathering of researchers, clinicians, and thinkers working on the scientific foundations of brain preservation, hosted at the Sparks Brain Preservation facility.
About
The Brain Preservation Summit brings together people working across the technical, clinical, and philosophical dimensions of preserving the brain. Over two days in Salem, Oregon, speakers will share short talks on connectome preservation, aldehyde-based methods, cryobiology, electron microscopy, long-term storage, molecular nanotechnology, the future of the field, and many other topics.
The format will be TED-style: 15-minute talks with 5 minutes of Q&A, as well as structured breaks designed to let conversations continue between sessions.
Our goal with this event is to strengthen both our community at SBP as well as the broader community of people seriously working on this problem. We also want to make the current state of the science more transparent to those who are interested in this topic.
Attendance
The Summit is free to Sparks members. Membership starts at $150/year and includes attendance at the Summit along with all other member benefits. You can become a member here. Membership is not a long-term obligation. You can cancel at any time.
Non-members are welcome to attend for a $20 administrative fee, payable by cash or check at the door.
If you're planning to attend, we'd appreciate a quick email to hello@sparksbrain.org so we can estimate attendance, but it's not required. For any questions, please contact us.
Speakers
This is a partial list of confirmed speakers.
Alexander German, MD
Andrew McKenzie, MD, PhD
Anton Arkhipov, PhD
Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston, PhD
Borys Wrobel, PhD
Carrie Radomski
Emil Kendziorra, MD
John Smart, MS
Jordan Sparks, DMD
Keith Wiley, PhD
Ken Hayworth, PhD
Mati Roy
Max More, PhD
Nikki Olson
Nuno Martins, PhD
Randal Koene, PhD
Suzan Dziennis, PhD
Todd Huffman, MS
Schedule
The general shape:
Day 1 — Saturday, September 19
Day 2 — Sunday, September 20
Doors will open at 8:00 AM both days for check-in, coffee, and informal discussion. Talks will start at 8:30 AM. There will be a 90-minute lunch break at noon on Saturday. The official program ends at noon on Sunday, in case people need to make a flight back that afternoon. There will also be an optional, less structured Sunday afternoon for those who want to stay and continue the discussion.
Group tours of the facility, including our brain bank, will be offered during the event for those who are interested.
Meals: Lunch and dinner are not provided. Light refreshments and snacks will be available at the venue throughout the day.
Venue
Sparks Brain Preservation
3265 Marietta St SE, Salem, OR 97317
Salem is roughly one hour from Portland International Airport (PDX) to the north and Eugene Airport (EUG) to the south.
Some recommended hotel options
Near the facility (about a 10 minute drive):
Hampton Inn & Suites Salem (510 Hawthorne Ave SE)
Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn (3125 Ryan Dr SE)
Comfort Suites Salem (630 Hawthorne Ave SE)
Residence Inn by Marriott Salem (640 Hawthorne Ave SE)
The Hotel Salem (4370 Commercial St SE)
Downtown Salem (10-15 minute drive, but with more walkable restaurant options):
The Grand Hotel in Salem (201 Liberty St SE)
There is plenty of parking at our facility.