SfN Council Renews Partnerships, Renames Committee
SfN Council met for its fall meeting during Neuroscience 2025 in San Diego and used that time to address a comprehensive agenda. During its meetings, Council reviewed year-end 2025 activities while deepening focus on the Society’s priorities for 2026. Key activities included reviewing SfN’s finances, an overview of SfN’s committee activities, and reviewing a change to the charter of one of SfN’s committees. Incoming Executive Director Kevin Marvel, attended the meetings and was formally introduced to Council. Key themes and outcomes from the meetings are highlighted below.
Neuroscience 2025
The total attendance at Neuroscience 2025 (in person and virtual) was 21,093. Overall, 27% of attendees were from outside the United States, with Japan having the highest attendance. Student members comprised the largest member category at 43%, continuing a trend observed in recent years. Registration for the on-demand virtual component remained open through the full availability period to maximize access to content and closed on December 21. Of the total Neuroscience 2025 attendees, 577 participated virtually only, with 47% residing outside the United States.
A total of 434 companies exhibited in 705 booths on the Neuroscience 2025 Exhibit Hall and offered a wide variety of products, services, and technologies to attendees. Twenty-one companies also held a presentation or product demonstration in the Product Theater, and there were 79 booths at the Graduate School Fair.
Neuroscience 2025 was the second year of late-breaking abstract submission. SfN received 1,145 late-breaking abstracts, and these posters were grouped by sub-theme in their own section of the poster floor. Council approved the Program Committee’s recommendation that late-breaking abstract submissions continue in future years at a 2,500 cap and with a 50 percent higher submission fee. Late-breaking abstracts will also include Theme K: History, Education, and Society in addition to the scientific themes.
Finance
SfN has continued to demonstrate strong financial health and has had continued success in supporting its mission in the face of ongoing challenges in the environment for funding scientific research. At their fall meeting, Council reviewed the results from fiscal year 2025 and the current progress of fiscal year 2026. Council continues to identify resources to grow and maintain SfN’s current revenue streams and identify new revenue streams.
International Partnerships
Council reviewed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO). SfN has a long history of collaboration with these international neuroscience organizations and looks to extend these partnerships in areas of mutual interest. Council approved the renewal of an MoU with FENS for a three-year period spanning July 1, 2026- June 30, 2029 with a continued focus on activities spanning animals in research, advocacy, career development and training, and additional global growth opportunities. Council approved the renewal of the MoU with IBRO for a three-year term from January 1, 2026 — December 31, 2028 focusing on advancing global membership, supporting career development and meeting attendance, and improved outreach and engagement in the neuroscience community.
Advocacy
Council heard an update on SfN’s advocacy activities throughout the year, which began with the launch of the Advocacy Response to Recent Actions by the U.S. Administration webpage, an online hub for advocacy efforts including action alerts, statements, sign-on letters, webinars, long-term campaigns, and more. The page is continuous to be updated in real time. Some of the highlighted work focuses on SfN's membership in several coalitions that have gathered and provided information to key stakeholders and the public about animals in research. SfN helped launch People for Effective and Ethical Research (PEER), an informal coalition focused on animals in research and participated in its first PEER Hill Day, meeting with congressional offices about this issue. SfN has also continued to partner with coalitions to advance its advocacy at the grassroots and congressional levels, including Research!America’s “Americans for Medical Research” campaign.
Trainee Advisory Committee to Become the Early Career Advisory Committee
Council reviewed and approved proposed revisions to the Trainee Advisory Committee Charter as proposed by the committee and a Council-led Working Group that had subsequently been formed to discuss the proposed revisions. The committee’s name will change to the Early Career Advisory Committee (ECAC) and will provide input and strategic guidance to SfN Council and committees on issues that are central to undergraduate students, postbaccalaureate researchers, graduate students, and members within 10 years of having received their final degree, focusing on their professional development and enhancing their experience within the Society. In addition, the ECAC composition has expanded to include members within 10 years of having received their final degree and who consider themselves to be early stage professionals in their respective sector.
Trainee Professional Development Awards
The Trainee Professional Development Awards (TPDA) continue to be a pillar of support for upcoming generations of scientists. These merit-based awards are presented each year to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows who demonstrate excellence in their research. The awards provide early career researchers with the chance to present a scientific abstract, meet peers and senior scientists, and participate in learning opportunities at the SfN annual meeting. TPDA recipients receive complimentary registration and a travel stipend to offset the costs of attending the SfN annual meeting. Additionally, recipients have access to additional professional development opportunities throughout the year following their award, including a quarterly newsletter.
In 2025, SfN reached a record-setting funding total of $622,500, which allowed 497 TPDA awardees to travel to San Diego, the highest number in a single year. These individuals represent 29 countries and 280 institutions around the world. Council continues its commitment to stewarding the expansion of TPDAs and has committed to matching all donations made to support the 2026 TPDAs through the Friends of SfN Fund, up to $100,000.
