For this year’s Erwin L. Hahn Lecture & Workshop on October 8, 2026, the Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI (ELH) invited researchers and experts from academia, clinical practice, and industry once again to the UNESCO World Heritage site Zollverein. Around 70 participants attended in person at the OKTOGON, while over 200 viewers joined online from around the world.

Throughout the day, the focus was on advancing our understanding of the human brain using magnetic resonance imaging: Hidden Layers – A 7T View of Human Brain Function. Talks on brain mapping, methods in cognitive neuroscience, and insights into pain processing formed a diverse and engaging program, culminating in the keynote lecture “Chemistry of the Adaptive Mind: Lessons from Dopamine” by Prof. Roshan Cools from the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging. The session was enriched by numerous thought-provoking questions from the audience.

The Data-Blitz Session, offering early-career researchers the opportunity to present their findings in five-minute talks and posters, was also a great success.

Thank you to all participants, speakers, and partners – we look forward to seeing you again at the Erwin L. Hahn Lecture & Workshop 2027!