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ISTAART is inviting its members to propose ISTAART Immersives, the half- and full-day hands-on workshops that run before the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC). AAIC 2027 comes to Chicago from 18 to 21 July 2027, with the Immersives on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 July. Proposals close on Friday 13 November 2026.
AAIC is the biggest meeting in dementia science, and the Immersives are where a lot of its practical learning happens. They’re small-group sessions built around doing rather than listening: technical training, collaborative working sessions, or a new format you think would work better than a lecture. If there’s a method, tool or skill you had to learn the hard way and wish someone had taught you properly, this is your chance to be the person who does.
It’s also a good thing to have on your CV. Designing and leading a workshop at the field’s main international meeting shows teaching, leadership and the respect of your peers, and the people who come along are exactly the ones you want to know.
What kind of workshops get in
Look at recent programmes to get a feel for the range. Past Immersives have covered getting started with neuroimaging analysis, the basics of fluid biomarkers, applied regression in R, systematic reviews for dementia researchers, tips for successful grant submissions, leadership skills for emerging scientists, and partnering with people affected by dementia in research. Some are deep technical training, others are about the skills around the science. Both have a place.
Who can submit
Proposals are open to ISTAART members. If you’re not a member yet, sort that out before you start. Student membership is free, and membership also gets you into the ISTAART Professional Interest Area (PIA) Day and member events at AAIC.
The Immersives are in person only, with no online option, so you and your co-leads will need to be in Chicago on 16 or 17 July 2027. Think about travel funding now rather than after you’re accepted.
Putting together a strong proposal
Be clear about who the workshop is for and what they’ll be able to do by the end of it. “An introduction to X” is a topic; “by the end, you’ll have run your first X analysis on a real dataset” is a workshop. Show how the session is genuinely interactive, because that’s the whole point of the format.
Think about the team, too. A mix of career stages works well, and co-leading alongside a more senior colleague is a sensible way in if you’re earlier in your career. And plan the practical side: groups are small and hands-on, so if people need laptops, software or datasets set up in advance, say so.
ISTAART has a step-by-step video guide to submitting an Immersives proposal, with advice from a former member of the AAIC Scientific Program Committee. It’s worth twenty minutes before you start writing. If you’re planning to submit an abstract to AAIC 2027 as well, our ISTAART guide to AAIC abstracts covers that side.
How to submit
Proposals go through the AAIC submission site, where you’ll need to log in or create an account. Full details of the conference are on the ISTAART at AAIC page.
Submit your proposal by Friday 13 November 2026.
Dementia Researcher
