12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Exhibitor Set Up
Zurich
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Agenda
ISPN Annual Conference 2026: Amsterdam
Oct 22, 2026 – Oct 25, 2026 · Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre · Amsterdam, Netherlands
Download the agenda (PDF) (opens in new tab)Thursday, October 22, 2026
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Ultrasound Lab
- 8:00-8:10A - Welcome & Course Overview | Giuliano Lo Bianco and Ali Valimahomed
- 8:10-8:25A - Ultrasound Fundamentals & Sonoanatomy Essentials | Ali Valimahomed (USA)
- 8:25-8:35A - Patient Selection & Procedure Strategy | Giuliano Lo Bianco (Italy)
- 8:35-11:35A - Hands-On Ultrasound Lab — 5 Rotating Stations, 35-minutes per rotation
- MSK & Peripheral Nerve Entrapments (Upper Limb) - David Dickerson (USA), Reda Tolba (UAE)
- MSK & Peripheral Nerve Entrapments (Lower Limb) - Adnan Al-Kaisy (UK), Robert Moghim (USA)
- Lumbar Spine & Sacrum - Anuj Bhatia (Canada), David Brinkman (NL)
- Trunk (Thoracic Spine and Abdomen) - Megan Linehan (USA), Remco Liebregts (Netherlands)
- Cervical Spine & Head Pain - Michael Gofeld (Canada), Hesham Elsharkawy (USA)
- 11:35-11:50A - Advanced Applications & Future Directions (regenerative, PNS, hybrid imaging) - Massimo Allegri
- 11:50A-12:00P - Wrap-Up, Key Takeaways & Q&A Additional Faculty: Nasir Khatri
Course Directors: Giuliano Lo Bianco and Ali Valimahomed
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch - Sponsored by Globus
*Not part of the CME program
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
ISPN Board of Directors Meeting
Geneva
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Regenerative Medicine Lab
Course Director: Christopher Robinson, Ansar Mahmood BMAC - Sudhir Diwan, Aaron K. Calodney mFAT - Timothy T. Davis, Adnan Al-Kaisy PRP/Protein Concentrate - Ricardo Ruiz Lopez, Jordan Lee Tate Business of Regenerative Medicine - Ansar Mahmood Additional Faculty: Nasir Khatri
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Young Innovator Pre-Conference Sessions
- From Fellow to Force: Building a High-Impact Career in Pain Medicine — Faculty: Vinny Francio, Anuj Shah, Benjamin Gill, Sheila Black, Timothy Deer. This session is aimed at providing practical, real-world guidance for engaged and motivated early-career pain physicians. Topics will include making the most of training and the early consultant/attending years, personal and professional development, skills acquisition, research involvement, and building meaningful professional networks.
- Inventing Impact: Turning Pain Innovation into Clinical Reality — Faculty: Jason Hannon, Ben Goss, Christopher Gilligan, Ganesan Baranidharan, Kavita Poply. This session will focus on how an idea becomes a real-world clinical solution. We plan to cover the full journey- from idea generation and IP protection, through prototyping, regulatory pathways and early clinical trials, to commercialization and widespread clinical adoption. Speakers will include industry representatives, regulators, and clinician-researchers.
Course Directors: Harry Soar and David van Vemde Young Innovators Committee Chair: Martina Rekatsina
*Not part of the CME program
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Young Innovator Reception Sponsored by Reactiv8
Hosted by: Harry Soar, David van Vemde and Jan Willem Kallewaard
5:00 PM
Welcome Reception with Exhibits Sponsored By Gold Sponsor BIOTRONIK Neuro
Zurich
Hosted by Dawood Sayed, Timothy R. Deer
*Not part of the CME program
Friday, October 23, 2026
7:45 AM
Registration Opens
Day 1 - Innovative Options for Pain Management
Regenerative and Restorative Medicine
8:15 AM – 8:20 AM
Welcome to ISPN 2026: The Global Spine & Pain Revolution
Matterhorn
Harold Nijhuis, Jan Willem Kallewaard
8:20 AM – 8:30 AM
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM
Orthobiologics: Has the Time Arrived to Incorporate Regenerative Medicine into Your Practice?
Matterhorn
Moderated by Kasra Amirdelfan, Douglas P. Beall Panelists: Jordan Lee Tate, Sudhir Diwan, Ricardo Ruiz Lopez, Aaron Calodney, Jose De Andres, Corey Hunter
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM
Cellular, Acellular or Synthetic: The Research, the Evidence and the Indications
Matterhorn
Moderated by Douglas P. Beall, Sudhir Diwan Panelists: Jonathan Carlson, Stanley Golovac, Christopher Robinson, David Brinkman, Victor M Silva Ortiz, Ansar Mahmood
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Restorative Neuromodulation for Low Back Pain: Patient Selection, Evidence, and International Experience
Matterhorn
Moderated by Vivek Mehta, Vinny Francio Panelists: Craig Montgomery, David Abejon, Simon Thomson, Harry Soar, Chris Gilligan, Kiran Patel, Megan Linehan
9:15 AM – 9:25 AM
Moderated Q&A
Matterhorn
Moderated by Kasra Amirdelfan All Faculty
Intrathecal Therapies
9:25 AM – 9:35 AM
The Sea Inside the Spine: The Role of Ziconotide
Matterhorn
Georgios Matis
9:35 AM – 9:50 AM
The Current and Future of Targeted Drug Delivery in Common Indications
Matterhorn
Moderated by Amin Elyas, Sheila Black Panelists: Georgios Matis, Fabricio Assis, Sam Eldabe, Adam Williams, Salim Hayek, Konstantin Slavin
9:50 AM – 10:05 AM
Cancer Pain: Practical Implementation of Targeted Drug Delivery for Chronic Cancer Pain and Beyond
Matterhorn
Moderated by Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Jason Pope Panelists: Ricardo Plancarte, Ashish Gulve, Maarten Moens, Aaron Calodney, Melissa Murphy, Jan Vesper
10:05 AM – 10:15 AM
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Break with Exhibits and Abstract Poster Viewing
Zurich
*Not part of the CME program
Top Abstracts Part 1
10:45 AM – 10:47 AM
10:47 AM – 10:53 AM
Top Abstract 1:
Matterhorn
10:53 AM – 10:59 AM
Top Abstract 2:
Matterhorn
10:59 AM – 11:05 AM
Top Abstract 3:
Matterhorn
11:05 AM – 11:11 AM
Top Abstract 4:
Matterhorn
Ablative Therapies
11:11 AM – 11:20 AM
New Frontiers in Ablative Therapy
Matterhorn
Ganesan Baranidharan
11:20 AM – 11:35 AM
The Evolution & Innovation in Facet Disease Treatments: Is There a New Treatment of Choice?
Matterhorn
Moderated by Nameer Haider, Ashley Bailey-Classen Panelists: Michael Gofeld, Leonardo Kapural, Fabricio Assis, Wout van Oosterwyck, Jan Vesper, Stephen Ward
11:35 AM – 11:50 AM
Basivertebral Nerve Ablation: Updates on Evidence, Technique, and Patient Selection
Matterhorn
Moderated by Dawood Sayed, Kiran Patel Panelists: Ramo Naidu, Douglas P. Beall, Nomen Azeem, Richard Ibrahim, Vinny Francio, Jad Khalil
11:50 AM – 12:00 PM
Moderated Q&A
Matterhorn
Ganesan Baranidharan
12:00 PM – 12:10 PM
Transition to Lunch
Matterhorn
12:10 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch Symposium Sponsored by Abbott — How Can Innovation and Evidence Together Deliver Better Outcomes?
Matterhorn
Steven Falowski, MD, Naoufel Ouerchefani, MD, Timothy Deer, MD, Pankaj Mehta, MD
Sponsored symposia will NOT be part of the CME program, nor eligible for CME credit
1:00 PM – 1:10 PM
Transition to Sessions
Matterhorn
Industry Panels *Not part of the CME program
1:10 PM – 1:25 PM
1:25 PM – 1:40 PM
1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
Artificial Intelligence
1:55 PM – 2:10 PM
Artificial Intelligence and How It Will Impact Global Spine and Pain Care (Title TBD by the lecturer)
Matterhorn
Robert Moghim
2:10 PM – 2:25 PM
The Modernization of Pain Practices with AI Tools: The Current Available Options
Matterhorn
Moderated by Robert Moghim, Usman Latif Panelists: Lisa Goudman, Anuj Bhatia, Derron Wilson, John Prunskis, Melissa Murphy, Giuliano Lo Bianco
2:25 PM – 2:40 PM
How Will Artificial Intelligence Change Patient Selection, Technique and Surgical Outcomes around the World?
Matterhorn
Moderated by Melissa Murphy, Krishnan Chakravarthy Panelists: Lisa Goudman, Usman Latif, Christopher Robinson, Giuliano Lo Bianco, Pankaj Mehta, Giustino Varrassi
2:40 PM – 2:50 PM
Moderated Q&A
Matterhorn
Robert Moghim
2:50 PM – 3:20 PM
Break with Exhibits
Zurich
*Not part of the CME program
Pharmacologics
3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Novel Pharmacological Agents in Pain Management - (Title TBD by the lecturer)
Matterhorn
Xander Zuidema
3:35 PM – 3:50 PM
Beyond Opioids: How a New Generation of Medications Will Change Pain Management
Matterhorn
Moderated by Jan Willem Kallewaard, David Dickerson Panelists: Jose De Andres, Xander Zuidema, Haggai Sharon, Vivek Mehta, Kavita Poply, Martina Rekatsina
3:50 PM – 4:05 PM
The Role of Nutraceuticals in Wellness and Chronic Pain
Matterhorn
Moderated by Timothy Deer, Angel Boev Panelists: Massimo Allegri, Christopher Robinson, Kiran Patel, Jordan Tate, Timothy T. Davis, Victor M Silva Ortiz
4:05 PM – 4:15 PM
Moderated Q&A
Matterhorn
Jan Willem Kallewaard
Science Hour
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Basic Science in SCS for Pain: What Have We Learned After 40 Years?
Matterhorn
Ilona Obara
4:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Waveforms in SCS: Do They Really Have Different Mechanisms of Action?
Matterhorn
Moderated by Ilona Obara Panelists: Usman Latif, Jose de Andres, Cecile de Vos, Krishnan Chakravarhty, Dirk de Ridder, Mazhar Rasul
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Loss of Efficacy in SCS: What Does the Science Tell Us?
Matterhorn
Moderated by Jan Willem Kallewaard Panelists: Anuj Bhatia, Sam Eldabe, Lisa Goudman, Ilona Obara, Jason Pope, Salim Hayek
5:00 PM
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Reception with Exhibits Sponsored by Curonix
Zurich
*Not part of the CME program
Saturday, October 24, 2026
7:30 AM
Registration Opens
Day 2 Neuromodulation
Expanding Indications in Neuromodulation
8:00 AM – 8:05 AM
Welcome Day 2
Matterhorn
Harold Nijhuis, Jan Willem Kallewaard
8:05 AM – 8:20 AM
8:20 AM – 8:35 AM
Restoring Perfusion: The Expanding Role of SCS in Ischemic Disease
Matterhorn
Moderated by Harold Nijhuis, Jan Willem Kallewaard Panelists: Naoufel Ouerchefani, Jarek Maciaczyk, Frank Wille, Wout van Oosterwyck, Martina Rekatsina, Mark Malinowski
8:35 AM – 8:50 AM
Neuromodulation in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: Real-world Evidence and Patient Selection
Matterhorn
Moderated by Steven Falowski, Krishnan Chakravarthy Panelists: Ashish Gulve, Aaron Calodney, Cecil de Vos, Kenneth B. Chapman, Tiago Freitas, Sean Li
8:50 AM – 9:00 AM
Spinal Cord Stimulation
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM
The Neuromodulation Ecosystem: Closed Loop, Remote Monitoring, Personalized Multi-waveform & AI Driven SCS
Matterhorn
Moderated by Kasra Amirdelfan, Timothy Deer Panelists: Harold Nijhuis, Usman Latif, Isaac Pena, Jan Willem Kallewaard, Stephano Palmisani, Tiago Freitas
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Rethinking SCS Systems: Advancing the Neural Interface in SCS Hardware & Lead Design
Matterhorn
Moderated by Steven Falowski, Jason Pope Panelists: Dirk De Ridder, Jarek Maciaczyk, Rob Levy, Leonardo Kapural, Konstantin Slavin, Ilona Obara
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
Is DRG Stimulation Underutilized Worldwide? Barriers to Adoption Across Borders and a Global Perspective for Therapy Expansion
Matterhorn
Moderated by Derron Wilson, Reda Tolba Panelists: Kenneth B. Chapman, Stefan Schu, Jan Vesper, Pankaj Mehta, Frank Huygen, Kiran Patel
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Break with Exhibits and Abstract Poster Viewing Sponsored by Saluda Medical
Zurich
*Not part of the CME program
Top Abstracts Part 2
10:30 AM – 10:32 AM
10:32 AM – 10:39 AM
Top Abstract:
Matterhorn
10:39 AM – 10:46 AM
Top Abstract:
Matterhorn
10:46 AM – 10:53 AM
Top Abstract:
Matterhorn
10:53 AM – 11:00 AM
Top Abstract:
Matterhorn
11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
ISPN Awards
- Lifetime Achievement - Frank Huygen
- Excellence in Global Education Award - Kavita Poply; Vivek Mehta
- International Clinical Excellence Award 2026 - Victor M. Silva-Ortiz
- Young Innovator of the Year - Martina Rekatsina
Matterhorn
11:20 AM – 11:25 AM
Transition to Lunch
Matterhorn
11:25 AM – 12:15 PM
Lunch Symposium Sponsored by Medtronic — Originator to Innovator: Shaping the Future of Pain Interventions
Matterhorn
Dr. Jan Willem Kallewaard, Wesley van der Ven, Dr. Anu Kansal, Dr. Anjum Bux
Sponsored symposia will NOT be part of the CME program, nor eligible for CME credit
12:15 PM – 12:20 PM
Transition to Sessions
Matterhorn
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
12:20 PM – 12:40 PM
ISPN Hall of Fame Lecture: Innovative Neuromodulation Therapies for Head and Facial Pain
Matterhorn
Presented by 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Jean-Pierre Van Buyten
12:40 PM – 1:00 PM
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation: Foundations, Clinical Applications and Future Directions
Matterhorn
Moderated by Ali Valimahomed, Reda Tolba Panelists: Morad Nasseri, Corey Hunter, Sheila Black, Naoufel Ouerchefani, Stefan Schu, Jan Vesper
1:00 PM – 1:15 PM
The Best Targets in PNS for Effective Therapy
Matterhorn
Moderated by Harry Soar, Jean-Pierre Van Buyten Panelists: Jarek Maciaczyk, Simon Thomson, Eric Cornidez, Jordan Tate, Sinan Barazi, David Dickerson
1:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Craniofacial Pain and Headache Disorders
Matterhorn
Moderated by Alaa Abd-Elsayed, Salim Hayek Panelists: Sinan Barazi, Konstantin Slavin, Girish Vajramani, Eleni Maratos, Phillipe Rigoard, Jean-Pierre Van Buyten
1:30 PM – 1:40 PM
Moderated Q&A
Matterhorn
Ali Valimahomed
Advancements in Decompression of the Spine
Matterhorn
1:40 PM – 1:55 PM
The Next Era of Minimally Invasive Spine: Global Innovation and Precision Techniques
1:55 PM – 2:10 PM
Lumbar Decompression Percutaneous vs. Open: Patient Selection from the Surgical and Interventional Perspective
Moderated by Jan Willem Kallewaard, Steven Falowski Panelists: Ganesan Baranidharan, Didier Demesmin, Jad Khalil, Soriaya Motivala, Robert Rapcan, Richard Ibrahim
2:10 PM – 2:25 PM
The Evolution of Endoscopic Spine Surgery: Precision Access and Patient Selection
Moderated by Gurtej Singh, Didier Demesmin Panelist: Manish Raj, Erkan Kurt, Eleni Maratos, Angel Boev, Nasir Khatri
2:25 PM – 2:35 PM
Moderated Q&A
Advanced Practice Nurses Breakout Session
Course Directors: Caro Edelbroek, Zohra Hussaini, Ashley Comer
1:40 PM – 1:45 PM
Welcome
Caro Edelbroek, Zohra Hussaini
1:45 PM – 2:05 PM
Expanding SCS Indications: A Study on Chemo-induced Polyneuropathy
Manon Jansen
2:05 PM – 2:25 PM
Novel Analgesics and Opioid-Sparing Pain Care
Ashley Comer
2:25 PM – 2:35 PM
Q&A
Ashley Comer, Manon Jansen
2:35 PM – 3:05 PM
Break with Exhibits
Zurich
*Not part of the CME program
Minimally Invasive Techniques for Stabilization
Matterhorn
3:05 PM – 3:20 PM
Minimally Invasive SI Fusion: Indication, Techniques and Outcomes
Moderated by Nomen Azeem, Ashley Bailey-Classen Panelists: Jonathan Carlson, Timothy T. Davis, Morad Nasseri, Robert Rapcan, Sudhir Diwan, Nasir Khatri
3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Redesigning Spine Surgery: Hardware Driven Advances in MIS
Moderated by Melissa Murphy, Steven Falowski Panelists: Gurtej Singh, Jad Khalil, Manish Raj, Angel Boev, Nameer Haider, Eleni Maratos
3:35 PM – 3:50 PM
Rethinking Fusion: Emerging Strategies for Stabilization and Motion Preservation
Moderated by Angel Boev, Robert Levy Panelists: Anuj Shah, Ramo Naidu, Ricardo Ruiz Lopez, Soriaya Motivala, Jad Khalil, Robert Rapcan
3:50 PM – 4:00 PM
Moderated Q&A
Advanced Practice Nurses Breakout Session
Course Directors: Caro Edelbroek, Zohra Hussaini, Ashley Comer
3:05 PM – 3:30 PM
Beyond Eligibility: Pre-Screening, Exclusion Criteria, and Readiness Assessment for Advanced Procedures
Caro Edelbroek
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM
Programming the Future: Closed-Loop SCS and the Next Era of Personalized Neuromodulation
Zohra Hussaini
3:50 PM – 4:00 PM
Q&A and Closing Remarks
Caro Edelbroek, Zohra Hussaini
Best Practices and Guidelines
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM
Guidelines or Guardrails? The Role of Society Recommendations in Spine and Pain Care
Matterhorn
Moderated by Jan Willem Kallewaard, Sam Eldabe Panelists: Hemant Kalia, Mark Malinowski, Robert Levy, Stephen Ward, Johan van de Minkelis, Mazhar Rasul
4:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Best Practice Guidelines for Spine Injections and Radiofrequency Ablation: Evidence and Implementation
Matterhorn
Moderated by Krishnan Chakravarthy, David Abejon Panelists: Eric Cornidez, Hemant Kalia, Salim Hayek, Stanley Golovac, Ricardo Plancarte, Sean Li, Guilherme Ferreira Dos Santos
4:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Defining Best Practices in Neuromodulation: Guidelines, Evidence and Clinical Reality
Matterhorn
Moderated by Mark Malinowski Panelists Maarten Moens, Phillipe Rigoard, Frank Huygen, Georgios Matis, Johan van de Minkelis, Jean-Pierre Van Buyten
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Best Practices in Pharmacological Approaches for the Pain Patient
Matterhorn
Moderated by David Dickerson, Xander Zuidema Panelists: Wout van Oosterwyck, Frank Wille, Sudhir Diwan, Haggai Sharon, Massimo Allegri, Ilona Obara
5:00 PM
Day 2 Closing Remarks
Matterhorn
Jan Willem Kallewaard and Harold Nijhuis
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Reception with Exhibits
Zurich
*Not part of the CME program
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Cadaver Lab - Offsite - Continue to the next page for the full agenda!
Please Use Public Transportation Instructions from Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre to Amsterdam Skills Centre
7:10 AM
Recommended Departure Time from Movenpick
Public Transportation Directions:
Mövenpick → Amsterdam Skills Centre (Please plan 40-50 minutes for travel)
- From the Mövenpick, walk to the Muziekgebouw/Bimhuis tram stop directly outside the hotel.
- Take Tram 26 toward Centraal Station — 1 stop.
- At Amsterdam Centraal, follow signs for the Metro.
- Take Metro 54 toward GEIN.
- Exit at Station Holendrecht.
- Walk to Amsterdam Skills Centre, Tafelbergweg 47, 1105 BD Amsterdam.
Important: On Metro 54, make sure the destination shown is GEIN. That means you're traveling in the correct direction.
8:00 AM – 8:40 AM
Check In at Lab – Coffee and Pastries
Lecture Series - Mumbai Room
8:40 AM – 9:00 AM
Patient Selection, Pearls and Pitfalls: DRG
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM
Patient Selection, Pearls and Pitfalls: Closed Loop Spinal Cord Stimulation
9:20 AM – 9:40 AM
Patient Selection, Pearls and Pitfalls: Occipital Nerve Stimulation
Frank Huygen
9:40 AM – 10:00 AM
Patient Selection, Pearls and Pitfalls: TBD
Hands-On Cadaver Workshop — 1-Hour Rotation at Each Station
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Groups will rotate through 2 of the 4 stations - 1 hour rotation per station
- DRG — Sean Li
- Closed Loop Spinal Cord Stimulation — Eric Cornidez
- Occipital Nerve Stimulation — Frank Huygen
- TBD
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Lunch
**not part of the CME program, not eligible for CME credits
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Groups to complete final 2 rotations - 1 hour rotation per station
- DRG — Harold Nijhuis
- Closed Loop Spinal Cord Stimulation — Eric Cornidez
- Occipital Nerve Stimulation — Frank Huygen
- TBD
2:30 PM
Departures
Download the agenda (PDF) (opens in new tab)
Program as published by the society; times are venue-local. The PDF above is always the current revision.