Online Summer School 2026: Digital Brain Twins in Clinical Research

We are excited to announce the return of our Virtual Course Series: "Digital Brain Twins in Clinical Research" for the Summer 2026 edition!

In this comprehensive course participants will learn the basic concepts and methods for reproducible biology founded personalized brain network modeling and simulation. We will learn how to construct models, process multimodal imaging data for creating individualized models, run simulations and use supporting neuroinformatics tool such as the Charité/BIH Virtual Research Environment, workflows and build interfaces to related tools via APIs. Students will learn how to run brain simulations to address medical problems and gain a good understanding of the open-source neuroinformatics platform The Virtual Brain.

Course Details

• Dates and Hours: June 15, 2026 – June 30 2026, 16:30 to 18:30 (on June 19th from 17 to 19)
• Location: Online
• Language: English
• Cost: Free
• Requirements for participation: good English language skills and basic programming skills (Python, Matlab)

Course Content

This module provides basic knowledge on personalized brain network modeling for state-of-the-art in clinical research. Required interdisciplinary methods will be introduced. A focus will be set on the open-source simulation platform TVB.

Course overview:

• Theoretical background of large-scale brain network modeling
• Personalization pipelines: processing of brain images for individualization of brain network modeling
• Concepts of nonlinear dynamics
• Running workflows on high-performance computers
• Parameter optimization and model inference
• Application of brain network modeling for clinical questions
• Introduction to the medical condition targeted through brain simulation: dementias, psychosis and epilepsy
• Visualizations of multimodal brain dynamics, ontologies, machine learning, graph theory
• Making use of digital Research Infrastructures used for data integration and simulation in compliance with the EU general Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

Program

• Session 1, June 15, 16:30 - 18:30:
  

“The Virtual Brain - Overview” Prof. Dr. Petra Ritter

• Session 2, June 16, 16:30 - 18:30:
  

“Introduction to TVB modeling framework and The Virtual Brain Ontology for reproducible and comparable computational modeling” Leon Martin, MSc.

• Session 3, June 17, 16:30 - 18:30:
  

"Digital Brain Twins on GDPR compliant platforms: Virtual Research Environment and Health Data Cloud” Dr. Michael Schirner & Marc Sacks, MSc.

• Session 4, June 18, 16:30 - 18:30:
  

“Digital Twins, Intelligence & Plasticity” Dr. Michael Schirner & Luca Brandt, MSc.

• Session 5, June 19, 17:30 - 19:00:

“Integrating biological knowledge in brain network models & modeling neurodegeneration” Dr. Leon Stefanovski

• Session 6, June 22, 16:30 - 18:30:

  “Generating virtual brains using tailored brain image processing workflows” Luise da Costa Zemsch, MSc. & Davi Daubner, BSc.

• Session 7, June 23, 16:30 - 18:30:

“Brain network model optimization and multiscale co-simulation” Marius Pille, MSc. & Dr. Dionysios Perdikis

• Session 8, June 24, 16:30 - 18:30:

“Understanding principles of brain function in the mouse model” Simon Lagunas, MSc & Jeehye An, MSc

• Session 9, June 25, 16:30 - 18:30:

“In silico optimization of brain stimulation” Dr. Jil Meier & Tiago Felicetti

• Session 10, June 26, 16:30 - 18:30:

“Modeling mechanisms of consciousness” Dr. Qin Liu & Lion Deger, MSc. & Valery Bragin, MSc.

• Session 11, June 29, 16:30 - 18:30:

“Modeling mechanisms of psychosis” Dr. Konstantin Bülau & Christoph Hüttl

• Session 12, June 30, 16:30 - 18:30:

“TVB-Positron Emission Tomography & In silico drug discovery and testing” Dr. Halgurd Taher & Jennifer Them, MSc. & Rico Schmitt

Course Credits

• 2 ECTS for Master students at the Bernstein Center Computational Neuroscience Berlin (BCCN)
• 3 ECTS for PhD students at the Charité (Promotionsumgebung)

Software

Open-source software The Virtual Brain can be installed on own notebook/computer (runs on MacOS, Linux, Windows) or used via the research infrastructure EBRAINS (requires free registration at https://ebrains.eu/register/).

Find out More

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of brain network modeling and simulation! Registration is free but mandatory, and the course can be completed in one semester.

To register and access the online course, please use the online registration form. Registration remains open throughout the duration of the course.

For more information and lecture materials, download the information sheet below.

We look forward to your participation in this exciting educational journey!