Programme
This conference has received financial sponsorship from the following pharmaceutical companies: AbbVie, gammaCore UK Ltd. Kallyope, Lundbeck Ltd., Organon, Pfizer, Teva UK Limited and Theranica. These companies have provided sponsorship towards the costs of the conference but have had no involvement in the development of the scientific programme, selection of speakers, choice of topics, or editorial content, except for any clearly identified sponsored sessions or activities.
Thursday 3 September 2026
Teaching courses
Teaching courses are a core part of the pre-conference programme, created to support frontline healthcare professionals who manage headache disorders in everyday practice. They are specifically aimed at primary care practitioners, allied health professionals, and other clinicians involved in patient care.
These focused educational sessions are delivered by experienced clinicians, general practitioners, and researchers who specialise in headache care, particularly migraine. Each course is designed to be practical, up to date, and directly relevant to real-world clinical settings.
The aim is to give attendees greater confidence to recognise and understand headache disorders, manage them effectively, and support patients in their day-to-day practice. By strengthening knowledge and decision-making at the first point of care, these courses contribute to better outcomes for patients and a more consistent standard of treatment across services.
14:00 – 17:40 Opening Session
14:00 - 15:30 MTIS 2026 Registration
15:30 - 15:40 Opening Session
Michelle Walder, Chair, The Migrane Trust
15:40 - 16:30 Plenary Session 1: MacDonald Critchley Lecture
15:40 - 15:50 Introduction:
Dr. Mark Weatherall, Clinical Lead for Neurology at the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
15:50 - 16:30 What does CGRP tell us about migraine?
Prof Andy Russo, Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and Neurology, University of Iowa, USA
16:40 - 17:40 Expert debate: Navigating the evolving landscape of migraine treatment
Dr. Mona Ghadiri-Sani, The Walton Centre, Liverpool, UK
Dr. Jessica Briscoe, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, UK
This session is organised and funded by AbbVie Ltd
17:40 - 19.40 Welcome Reception
Friday 4 September 2026
09:00 - 10:30 Plenary Session 2: AI for Healthcare Professionals
Chair: Dr. Raquel Gil-Gouveia, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
09:00 - 09:10 Introduction
Dr. Raquel Gil-Gouveia, Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal
09:10 - 09:50 AI for Healthcare Professionals- What you need to know
Prof Jesper Tegner, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia
09:50 - 10:05 Imaging Primary Headache Disorders
Dr. Roberta Messina, Researcher at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
10:05 - 10:20 Use Cases of AI in Headache Management
Dr. Chia-Chun Chiang, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
10:20 - 10:30 Panel Discussion
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 12:00 Oral Communications 1
Oral presentations from submitted abstracts (8 minutes + 2 minutes discussion)
Note: Presentation will be confirmed following review of abstract submissions
Chairs:
Dr. Andrew Charles, UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, USA
Dr. Edoardo Caronna, VHIR Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Spain
OC1.1 Treatment persistence and outcomes with CGRP monoclonal antibodies versus candesartan: a real-world study
Dr. Annemijn Oosterlee, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
OC1.2 Age-Dependent Alterations in Cortical Thickness in Migraine: A Comparative Analysis with Healthy Controls
MD Sota Yamaguchi, Japanese Red Cross Shizuoka Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
OC1.3 Effects of Voluntary Exercise in the Cortical Spreading Depolarization Model of Migraine
Mr. Mattin Aframian, UCLA Neurology, Los Angeles, USA
OC1.4 Exploring the central effect of anti–calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies in migraine patients: a multimodal MRI study
MD, PhD Ilaria Cetta, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Italy
OC1.5 Premonitory allodynia in migraine: a window into attack biology
Dr. Nazia Karsan, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, London, UK
OC1.6 Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonism suppresses nociception in preclinical models of migraine
Dr. Olivia Grech, Lings College London, UK
12:00 - 13:00 Why Earlier Optimisation Matters in Migraine Prevention: Insights from Real-World Evidence
Dr. Anna Andreou, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London, UK
Prof. Piero Barbanti, San Raffaele University, Rome
This session is organised and funded by Lundbeck Ltd.
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch
13:05 – 13:35 The evolving role and value of the headache nurse:
Miss. Bethany Hill, Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Ms. Siobhan Jones, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Discover how the role of the headache nurse is developing to meet growing clinical needs, enhance patient care, and support professional progression. Speakers will give an overview of the RCN nurse competency framework and share insights from a real-world case study
This session is organised and funded by Teva UK Limited
13:35 - 14:30 E-Poster Presentations
E-Poster Presentations EP01 to EP15
Chairs:
Dr. Marta Vila-Pueyo, King’s College London, UK
Prof Piero Barbanti, San Raffaele Telematic University in Rome
(2-minute presentation + 1-minute discussion).
E-Poster Presentations EP16 to EP30
Chairs:
Dr. Michele Viana, King’s College London, London, UK
Dr. Irene De Boer, Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands
Presentation from poster abstract submissions
14:30 - 15:30 Parallel Sessions
Parallel Session 1: Paediatrics / Adolescent Headache
Chairs: Dr Prab Prabakar, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK, Dr. Amy Gelfand, Pediatric neurologist in San Francisco, California
09:00 - 09:10 Introduction
Dr. Amy Gelfand, Pediatric neurologist in San Francisco, California
14:30 - 14:45 Newer Treatment Use in Children and Young People
Dr. Amy Gelfand, Pediatric neurologist in San Francisco, California
14:45 - 15:00 Vestibular Migraine in Children
Dr Nazia Karsan, King’s College, London
15:00 - 15:15 Functional Neurological Disorders and Migraine in Children
Dr Prabhakar, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
15:15 - 15:30 Moderated Discussion
Parallel Session 2: PACAP in Headache Disorders – From Human Models to Clinical Translation
Chair: Prof Messoud Ashina, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
14:30 - 14: 45 Human experimental models and the role of PACAP in headache disorders (migraine, cluster headache, and post-traumatic headache)
Prof Messoud Ashina, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
14:45 - 15:00 Mode and site of action of PACAP: insights from preclinical research
Dr Simon Akerman, Associate Professor at University of Maryland, USA
15:00 - 15:15 Clinical development and emerging data on PACAP - targeted therapies
Prof Piero Barbanti, San Raffaele University, Rome
15:15 - 15:30 Moderated Discussion
Parallel Session 3: Headache Classification- What’s new and what should be changed?
Chairs: Dr. Mario Peres, Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, Dr. Fayyaz Ahmed, Hull University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, UK
14:30 - 14:40 ICHD-4: what are we working on
Prof J Goadsby, King’s College London, UK
Chair, MTIS International Scientific Advisory Committee
14:40 - 15:00 Headache Classification – Cultural Nuances and Pitfalls
Dr. Mario Peres, Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo, Brazil
15:00 - 15:20 Headache Classification - A view from the clinic- what needs to be changed?
Dr. Fayyaz Ahmed, Hull University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, UK
15:20 - 15:30 Panel Discussion
15:30 - 16:00 Coffee Break
16:00 - 16:45 Plenary Session 3 : The Migraine Trust Lecture
Chairs: Dr Shazia Afridi, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, Dr Dawn C. Buse, PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, USA
16:00 - 16:45 Introduction
Dr Shazia Afridi, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
16:00 - 16:45 Exploring biobehavioural techniques in clinical care
Dawn C. Buse, PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, USA
Saturday 5 September 2026
08:30 - 10:00 Plenary Session 4 - Migraine and the Influence of Ovarian Sex Hormones
08:30 - 08:50 From Experimental Models to Patient Care: What Have We Learned?
Focus: Translational insights from experimental work that directly inform clinical understanding and treatment development in hormonally influenced migraine.
Dr. Else Tolner, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands
08:50 - 09:10 Menstrual Migraine: Current and Emerging Therapeutic Strategies
Focus: Practical management of menstrual migraine, acute and preventive approaches, hormonal strategies, and managing special cases.
Prof. Dr. Gisela Terwindt, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands
09:10 - 09:30 Migraine in Pregnancy and Lactation: Practical Clinical Management
Focus: How pregnancy affects migraine, evidence-based management during pregnancy, postpartum safety considerations and unmet needs.
Dr. Shazla Afridi, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
09:30 - 09:50 Migraine in perimenopausal transition: What is useful to do?
Focus: Women with migraine often have more perimenopausal complaints and increased frequency of migraine, how should this be managed?
Prof. Dr. Rossella E. Nappi, Gynecologist, Endocrinologist and Sexologist, IRCCS San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia (Italy)
09:50 - 10:00 Q&A
10:00 - 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 - 11:30 Parallel Sessions
Parallel Session: 4 Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias
Dr Rolf Fronczek, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), Netherlands, Dr Philip Holland, King’s College London, UK
10:30 - 10:42 The basic science of TACs
Dr Philip Holland, King’s College London, UK
10:42 - 10:50 Post-mortem hypothalamus study
Dr Isobel West, King’s College London, UK
10:50 - 11:02 Treatment of indomethacin-sensitive TAC’s
Dr Diana Wei, King’s College Hospital, London, UK
11:02 - 11:14 Clinical update on cluster headache
Dr Rolf Fronczek, Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) and Sleep-Wake Centre SEIN, Netherlands
11:14 - 11:30 Moderated Discussion
Parallel Sessions 5: Targeting CGRP in Migraine
Prof Lars Edvinsson, Lund University, Sweden, Dr Todd Schwedt, Mayo Clinic Arizona, USA
10:30 - 10:50 Where do the gepants and CGRP monoclonal antibodies act to modulate trigeminal signaling?
10:50 - 11:05 Personalizing CGRP - Targeted Migraine Treatment: Can We Predict Response?
Dr Todd Schwedt, Mayo Clinic Arizona, USA
11:05 - 11:20 Real-World Insights into CGRP-Targeted Migraine Therapy
Dr. Edoardo Caronna, VHIR Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca, Spain
11:20 - 11:30 Moderated Discussion
Parallel Session 6: Title: CSD and migraine aura: what’s new?
Dr Andrew Charles, UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, USA, Dr Anders Hougaard, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
10:30 - 10:50 Advances in the understanding of cortical spreading depolarization in animal models and humans
Dr Andrew Charles, UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles
10:50 - 11:05 Definitions of migraine aura and its place in the clinical phenomenology of migraine.
Dr Anders Hougaard, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
11:05 - 11:20 Characteristics of the migraine visual aura: what do they tell us about migraine pathophysiology and how to treat migraine?
Dr Michele Viana, King’s College London, London, UK
11:20 - 11:30 Panel Discussion
11:30 - 12:30 Beyond Monthly Migraine Days: What Really Matters to Patients?
Prof. Stewart J Tepper, Professor of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. Dr Nazia Karsan, King’s College, London
This session is organised and funded by Pfizer
12:30 - 13:30 Lunch
13:30 - 14:30 E-Poster Presentations
E-Poster Presentations EP31 to EP45
Chairs: Dr. Gregor Broessner, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria, Dr. Anish Bahra, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. UK
(2-minute presentation + 1-minute discussion).
E-Poster Presentations EP46 to EP58
Chairs: Dr. Mona Ghadiri, The Walton Centre in Liverpool, UK, Dr. Jane Anderson, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Barts NHS Trust, UK
Presentation from poster abstract submissions
14:30 – 15:30 Oral Communications 2:
Oral presentations from submitted abstracts (8 minutes + 2 minutes discussion)
Chairs: Dr. Eloisa Rubio Beltran, Kings College, London, UK, Dr. Fayyaz Ahmed, Hull University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, UK
OC2.1 Targeting PACAP in migraine prevention: Outcomes from the PROCEED phase 2b randomised, placebo-controlled trial of bocunebart (Lu AG09222)
Prof. Messoud Ashina, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
OC2.2 Suzetrigine: A Novel Treatment for Refractory Headache
Dr. Molly Fensterwald, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
OC2.3 Trends in Migraine Inpatient Admissions for England between 2013 and 2023, using Hospital Episode Statistics; a population-based observational study.
Dr. Keira Markey, Lancaster University/salford Royal Hospital, UK
OC2.4 Nitroglycerin provocation in vestibular migraine: dissociation between vestibular symptoms and vestibulo-oculomotor changes
Dr. Maria Dolores Villar-Martinez, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neurosciences, London, UK
OC2.5 Enlarged PeriVascular Spaces in Migraine with and without Aura: A Cross-Sectional MRI Study
Dr Estelle Van Eijk, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
OC2.6 Sleep-wake architecture in a stress-priming model of migraine
Ms Veronica Munday, King’s College London, UK
15:30 - 16:00 Coffee Break
16:00 - 16:30 Plenary Session 5: Nappi Cluster Headache Award Lecture
Chair: Dr Roberto De Icco, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
16:00 - 16:30 Galcanezumab reduces trigeminal nociception and is effective in preclinical models of migraine and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias
Dr. Marta Vila-Pueyo, King’s College London, UK
16:30-17:00 Closing Remarks
Prof P J Goadsby