Aline Desmedt is a professor of neuroscience at the University of Bordeaux and team leader at the Neurocentre Magendie ("Physiopathology of declarative memory", INSERM U1215). Her research focuses in particular on the neurobiological bases of traumatic memory. After obtaining a doctorate in neuroscience at the University of Bordeaux, A. Desmedt completed postdoctoral training at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. Laureate of 2 scientific awards, she coordinates several scientific projects dedicated to the brain bases of post-traumatic stress disorder and is the author of numerous scientific articles on this topic and more than 70 invited conferences. After having developed the first animal (mice) model of traumatic memory (Kaouane et al., Science, 2012), she recently demonstrated that a re-contextualization of traumatic memory can «normalize» this pathological memory (e.g. Al Abed et al., Nature Com, 2020).

Dr. Paola Castellano is a psychologist and psychotherapist in training. She currently holds a research fellowship at the Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, where her work focuses on psychophysiological indicators of depression. She is also a scientific collaborator at the Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, where she investigates the relationship between psychological factors and pain. Dr. Castellano obtained her PhD from the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, with a dissertation investigating the individual psychological factors involved in health and illness behaviors and the psychophysiological consequences of antibiotic misuse. Her main research interests include clinical psychology, mood disorders, neuroscience, and the biopsychosocial aspects of health and pain.

Dr. Tomas Ros is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Geneva, specializing in the methodological development of EEG neurofeedback for psychiatric and neurological conditions. His research is driven by a fascination with the link between brain function and human behaviour, a passion he pursued through his PhD in Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London (2010).
As a postdoctoral fellow at Western University in Canada, he investigated neurofeedback as a potential treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), work that earned him the Brain Star Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. At the University of Geneva, he has expanded these applications to pioneer new therapies for post-stroke rehabilitation and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Dr. Ros holds a PhD from Goldsmiths College, an MSc in Neuroscience from Louis Pasteur University, and a BSc in Physics from Imperial College of Science and Technology.

Prof. Richard Contrada is a health psychologist, professor in the Department of Psychology and member of the Institute for Health, Healthcare Policy, and Aging Research at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (U.S.A.). He has conducted biopsychosocial research on cardiovascular disorders and other medical conditions, represented in over 100 publications. Prof. Contrada’s work has been supported by the National Institutes for Health (NIH), American Heart Association, Charles A. Dana Foundation, and the Fetzer Institute. He also served as Co-Investigator and Project Director of an NIH Center on promoting health in African Americans, and Co-Director of an NIH Mind-Body Center. Prof. Contrada is a Fellow of the Society for Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine (formerly the Psychosomatic Society), Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, and American Psychological Association, among other scientific organizations.

Dr Michael Duffy is a Consultant Cognitive Psychotherapist specialising in PTSD and complex grief and Senior Lecturer and Director of the Specialist MSc (Trauma) in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Queen’s University Belfast. He leads the QUB Trauma Research Network; is a Fellow of the Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation; Assoc. Fellow of the George J Mitchell Institute for Global Peace Security & Justice and Fellow of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy. He is research advisor to the Northern Ireland Regional Trauma Network and a member of the UK Trauma Council. Michael led the work of the Trauma team after the Omagh bombing in 1998 and published several studies into the psychological effects of this event on adults, children and adolescents. He later was Team Leader at the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma (NICTT) and led 2 clinical trials on the application of TF-CT for conflict related PTSD. He has provided many workshops on PTSD after large scale traumas including: 2004, New York the 9/11 Twin Towers attack; 2005, 7/11 London bombings; 2012 Oslo bombing and Utoya Island shootings; 2017, the Manchester Concert bomb. His main research area is on PTSD and evidence-based psychological interventions. Currently, his research relates to cognitive therapy for complex grief and he is CI on a NIHR funded multi site RCT to explore the question- “Does a phased approach enhance outcomes for CT-PTSD for Complex PTSD?”

Dr. Dylan Gee is a Professor of Psychology at Yale University, where she directs the Clinical Affective Neuroscience and Development Laboratory (CANDLab). Dr. Gee received her bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of California Los Angeles, and completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Weill Cornell Medical College. Her lab’s research focuses on neurodevelopmental mechanisms of early adversity and risk for psychopathology in childhood and adolescence, with a translational focus to inform interventions and policy related to youth well-being. In addition to her lab’s research, she serves as a co-principal investigator at the Yale site of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Dr. Gee was selected as a World Economic Forum Young Scientist and her work has received broad recognition, including the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contributions to Psychology, the Janet Taylor Spence Award for Transformative Early Career Contributions from the Association of Psychological Science, and the American Psychological Association’s Early Career Award for Outstanding Contributions to Children, Youth, and Families. Dr. Gee frequently gives talks to parents and educators, and her lab’s work has had a notable impact on public policy related to child development and mental health.

Andrei C. Miu is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience and Behavioral Genetics and founding Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (http://www.cognitive-neuroscience.ro/) in the Department of Psychology at Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. He holds a B.A. in Psychology, an M.Sc. in Neuroscience and Molecular Medicine, and a Ph.D. in Psychology with an interdisciplinary thesis on emotion and cognition. His research examines individual differences in emotion — including their neural and genetic underpinnings — and their impact on cognition and risk for psychopathology. Recently, his work has focused on emotion regulation as a mechanism linking childhood maltreatment to psychopathology, using behavioral, neurophysiological, neuroendocrine, and genetic methods.
Dr. Miu has authored over 80 peer-reviewed articles, several designated Highly Cited Papers (top 1% in Psychiatry/Psychology) on Web of Science. He has received fellowships and awards from Fulbright, Go8 Future Research Leaders (Australia), and SEMPRE (UK), among others

Professor of Psychobiology at the University of Malaga, she specializes in Neuroscience research and teaching. She holds both a BA and PhD in Psychology from the same institution, where she earned the Extraordinary Doctoral Award. Her academic journey began with a collaboration grant, followed by several roles within the university, which have enabled her to develop a robust research focus on the role of lipid transmitters in neurogenesis and behavior. Recently, her work has expanded to exploring the intersection of stress, neuroinflammation, neuroplasticity, and, more recently, the gut microbiome, particularly in relation to depressive disorders.
Over the course of her career, she has led numerous research projects funded through competitive calls and has collaborated with national and international research teams. Her findings have been published in over 70 indexed scientific articles. Some of her work has received awards from the General Foundation of the University of Malaga, and several of her publications have been recognized for their significant contribution to understanding human diseases, with notable mentions in Global Medical Discovery and World Biomedical Frontiers. In addition to research, she teaches at undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels and supervises doctoral theses. She also participates in academic management and knowledge transfer initiatives with industry, seeing the university as a hub for dialogue between science, education, and society.

Richelle is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, within the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney. She has held previous appointments at Monash University within the School of Translational Medicine, and at the University of Calgary, Department of Psychology. Her research program aims to understand how early life experiences regulate susceptibility to sleep disturbances, chronic pain, and post-concussive symptomologies in adolescents. She is particularly interested in understanding the effects that perinatal trauma and adverse childhood experiences have on adolescent neurodevelopment, and how these processes differ for males and females. Within this realm, her lab is interested in understanding how early life experiences get “under the skin” to shape neurodevelopment, modulate neuroplasticity, and increase an individual’s risk for the development of chronic pain and sleep disorders. Taken together, her laboratory specialises in the translation of discovery science and preclinical animal models to human, clinical populations, through robust, mutually beneficial collaborations with clinical researchers.

Judith Daniels is a PhD, is a scientist-practitioner at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. She studied psychology at the universities of Giessen and Bielefeld (Germany) and received a PhD from the University of Bielefeld. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Western University in London, Canada, she headed a research group at Charite Berlin, Germany. She then became assistant professor at the Department of Psychosomatics at the University of Magdeburg, Germany. Since 2015, she has been a professor at the Faculty of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the University of Groningen, where she holds a chair in Clinical Psychology. She is also the head of the research department at Traumacentrum Beilen, GGZ Drenthe, The Netherlands, which is a specialized treatment facility for complex cases of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. In the last 20 years, she has conducted research on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Dissociative Disorders.

Maria-Magdalena Macarenco is doctor in Psychology, clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, EMDR consultant, supervisor, and trainer. With over 20 years of experience in clinical practice, she specializes in trauma and psychological trauma therapy. Since 2013, she has been offering continuing education courses in psychotraumatology. Her areas of professional interest include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD; Dissociation and psychotraumatic mechanisms; Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); The connection between trauma and autoimmune diseases; Trauma-oriented psychotherapy.

Prof. Dr. Inga Schalinski is a researcher and licensed psychological psychotherapist with expertise in trauma-related fields. She holds a full professorship at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich (Germany). Her research focuses on childhood maltreatment and its impact on both mental and physical health, with a particular emphasis on the neurobiology and treatment of dissociative symptoms. She has published numerous research papers in leading academic journals, advancing knowledge on the long-term consequences of childhood maltreatment.

Marcelo Matias (he/him) is an existential psychotherapist (MBACP Accred) and supervisor. With extensive experience with individuals, couples and groups, he specializes in burnout, identity, sexuality, and workplace stress. He concluded a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy, focusing his research on gay men's workplace burnout and recovery. He is Brazilian and London-based.

Marie Mennesson completed her Bachelor's degree in Cell Biology and Physiology and her Master's degree in Neuroscience at the University of Bordeaux, France. I then pursued a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Helsinki, Finland, under the supervision of Professor Iiris Hovatta. During my PhD, I worked on the kainate receptor auxiliary subunits NETO1 and NETO2 in anxiety- and fear-related behaviors. In this project, I showed that the NETO2 protein was necessary for normal fear expression and extinction memory, two processes often disrupted in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After defending my PhD, I returned to Bordeaux and joined the Dr. Jean-Michel Revest's laboratory at the Neurocentre Magendie as a postdoctoral researcher. In this project I focused on the role of PAI-1 protein (tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) as a blood biomarker for the diagnosis of PTSD, but also as a new therapeutic target for treating this trauma-related illness.

Dr. Olga Kukharuk is a psychologist, psychotherapist (СBT, EMDR), and researcher with a PhD in Psychology. Her professional focus lies in trauma-informed interventions, social cohesion, and the use of immersive technologies in mental health care. She leads the psychological and research development of Luminify, a VR-based psychological support program designed for trauma-affected individuals, service members, and veterans in Ukraine. Dr. Kukharuk also collaborates with international research and professional networks on projects integrating neuroscience, virtual reality, and evidence-based psychotherapeutic frameworks to enhance resilience and recovery.

Dr. Karla L. Sapp, LPC-S, LMHC-S, LCMHC-S, RYT-500, is a licensed psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and registered yoga teacher with over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of mental health, trauma recovery, and criminal justice reform. Her clinical expertise centers on the treatment of developmental trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and their long-term impact on neurodevelopment, emotional regulation, and behavioral health.

Dr. Sapp has served diverse populations, including justice-involved individuals, survivors of complex trauma, and at-risk youth, blending evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches with mindfulness, breathwork, and somatic practices to promote resilience and healing. Her work integrates neuroscience, psychology, and criminology to create trauma-informed frameworks that disrupt cycles of harm and reduce recidivism.

An advocate for systemic change, Dr. Sapp has provided training and consultation for mental health professionals, educators, and justice system stakeholders on implementing neurodevelopmentally informed interventions. Her research and presentations emphasize the ethical and practical applications of neuroscience in policy reform and rehabilitation programs.

In addition to her clinical and consulting work, Dr. Sapp is an active contributor to professional publications and conference proceedings, focusing on the intersection of trauma, neurobiology, and justice. She brings both academic rigor and compassionate insight to her work, fostering dialogue that bridges science and practice.

Ioana Iuga is a clinical psychologist and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, certified by the Romanian Board of Psychologists. She has recently defended her doctoral thesis at the Doctoral School of Evidence-Based Assessment and Psychological Interventions, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca on the topic of emotion regulation, attachment and student burnout. Her work focuses on emotion regulation, school burnout, and the development of evidence-based interventions for adolescents. Ioana has been actively involved in designing, implementing, and evaluating intervention programs that bring scientific findings into practice, with the aim of improving youth mental health and resilience.

Simona Miron is currently a clinical psychologist at the PsyTech University Clinic and a doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Evidence-Based Assessment and Psychological Interventions at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca. She completed her undergraduate program with a specialization in Forensic Psychology at Tilburg University and her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, Psychological Counseling, and Psychotherapy at Babeș-Bolyai University. Her main research interests focus on the development of disruptive behaviors in children and adolescents and their connection to juvenile delinquency, as well as effective therapy for individuals with personality disorders and aggressive behaviors within couple relationships.

Dr. Zoe Wyatt-Potage is a Clinical Social Worker (PhD) and global consultant in trauma and wellbeing. With over a decade of experience across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Australia, her work bridges neuroscience, trauma-informed care, and organisational practice. Her doctoral research focused on trauma and resilience, and she continues to publish and present internationally on vicarious trauma, burnout and the neuroscience of wellbeing.