Dear Colleagues,

In June, we had the pleasure of gathering in Maastricht, the Netherlands, for the PNS 2026 Annual Meeting, the largest and most successful meeting in our Society’s history. This year’s meeting set new records across multiple dimensions, including sponsorship support and exhibitor engagement, more than 660 abstract submissions, and attendance exceeding 1,500 participants from 68 countries. These achievements were complemented by an exceptional scientific program that showcased the breadth, innovation, and global impact of peripheral nerve research and clinical care.

As we continue to advance the Society’s mission and strategic priorities, we remain focused on expanding our international presence and creating opportunities for members at every career stage. The growing diversity, engagement, and reach of our community are clear indicators of our momentum. I am also delighted to share that PNS membership has surpassed 925 members this year, another milestone and record for our Society.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Scientific Program Committee for delivering an exceptional educational experience at PNS 2026. Special thanks go to Dr. Brian Callaghan and Dr. Ruth Stassart, whose vision, leadership, and dedication were instrumental in shaping a high-quality and impactful program.

We also thank the PNS Junior Committee, led by Dr. Paola Alberti, for organizing the Saturday Education Course, the always-popular Lunch with the Experts roundtable sessions, and the new junior member speed-networking event. These initiatives provided valuable opportunities for learning, mentorship, and collaboration. Increasing the visibility, engagement, and professional development of our junior members remains a key strategic priority, and we are proud of the Junior Committee’s important contributions toward that goal.

Our sincere appreciation also goes to the Local Organizing Committee, chaired by Dr. Janneke Hoeijmakers, for their hospitality and efforts in coordinating the local arrangements that helped make the meeting a memorable success.

During the meeting, we were honored to recognize several outstanding leaders and rising talents in our field. The prestigious Alan J. Gebhart Prize for Excellence in Peripheral Nerve Research was jointly awarded to Dr. Vincent Timmerman (University of Antwerp) and Dr. Peter Van den Bergh (University Hospital Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain) in recognition of their longstanding contributions to peripheral nerve research and to the mission of the PNS.

We also presented eight named awards to junior members for exceptional abstract presentations. In addition, we introduced the new PNS Rising Star Award, recognizing emerging leaders in peripheral nerve research and clinical care. Congratulations to this year’s inaugural recipients, Dr. Paola Alberti and Dr. James Sleigh.

An event of this scale would not be possible without the generous support of our industry partners. We are deeply grateful to our Annual Partners, Alnylam, argenx, AstraZeneca, CSL Behring, Sanofi, and Takeda, for their ongoing commitment to the Society. Their support enabled us to provide complimentary registration to 176 junior member abstract presenters and award 71 travel grants to abstract presenters from low- and middle-income countries, helping ensure broad global participation in our annual meeting.

This past year has been marked by significant growth and progress across many of our strategic priorities, including organizational sustainability, research and education, international outreach, early-career development, strategic partnerships, and advocacy. Highlights include:

• Strengthened governance and communication among the Board, Special Interest Groups, and Committees, including the adoption of unified special interest bylaws across the organization and the appointment of Special Interest Group Board liaisons to all standing committees.
• Expansion of training grant opportunities and meeting travel grant programs.
• Development of new short-term clinical fellowship opportunities focused on specialized training at centers of excellence around the globe, with a planned launch in 2027.
• Enhanced partnerships with peer scientific organizations, including the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), World Muscle Society (WMS), and World Federation of Neurology (WFN).
• Continued availability of open-access Annual Meeting recordings.
• Expansion of future meeting locations globally beginning in 2028, with an announcement forthcoming later this summer.
• New Annual Meeting offerings designed specifically for junior members.
• Exploration of a potential joint meeting with the World Muscle Society in 2029, bringing together the nerve and muscle communities.
• Strengthened collaboration with Patient Advocacy Group (PAG) partners, including the introduction of a patient panel at the 2026 Annual Meeting and the launch of PAG-led Instagram takeovers to further amplify the patient voice within the PNS community.
• Continued success of the Peripheral Nerve Podcast, including the current series hosted by the Traumatic Toxic Neuropathy Consortium (TTNC) focused on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
• Ongoing growth of the PNS Test Database, a valuable resource highlighting laboratories that offer free or discounted diagnostic testing for neuropathies.

I extend my sincere thanks to the PNS Board of Directors for their vision, leadership, and commitment to the continued success of our Society. I am equally grateful to our Special Interest Groups and Committees, whose expertise, dedication, and volunteer efforts drive meaningful progress across all areas of our mission. Finally, I would like to recognize our PNS Executive Office staff, whose hard work behind the scenes makes both our ongoing initiatives and new programs possible.

We look forward to gathering again for the 2027 PNS Annual Meeting, which will take place 8-11 May 2027, at the Hilton Chicago, in Chicago, IL, USA.  Please note the shift to a May meeting date when planning your calendars. We are excited to welcome you to the Windy City for what promises to be another outstanding meeting.

As we look to the future, PNS is stronger than ever. We remain a vibrant, growing, and financially healthy organization, well positioned to further invest in our mission, support our members, and advance the field of peripheral nerve research and care. The future of our Society is bright, and I am excited about what we will accomplish together in the year ahead.

Sincerely,

Alessandra Bolino, PhD
President, Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS)