Space Health Research Symposium 2026Montréal · Nov 2–4, 2026
WIA-Canada is exhibiting at the 2026 Canadian Space Health Research Symposium, three days on how humans stay healthy in space, hosted by CSHRNet at the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute. This year’s theme is Resilience.
- Dates
- Nov 2–4, 2026Monday to Wednesday
- Format
- SymposiumTalks, posters and a CSA workshop
- Where
- MUHC Research Institute1001 boul. Décarie, Montréal · Block E
- Admission
- Registration requiredOpen to researchers, trainees and industry
Where space health research comes together
The Canadian Space Health Research Symposium is the annual national forum of the Canadian Space Health Research Network (CSHRNet). It brings together leading scientists, trainees, astronauts and industry from Canada and abroad to share research on how spaceflight affects the human body, and what that work means for medicine on Earth.
The 2026 edition runs November 2 to 4 in Montréal, co-hosted with the Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience (BRaIN) Program of the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute and the Montreal Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience. Under the theme Resilience, the program covers biosignal monitoring in extreme environments, brain health and repair, astronaut health and radiation, and a Canadian Space Agency workshop on research after the ISS.
Canada’s national forum on how humans stay healthy in space, and what that research means for medicine on Earth.
Three days in Montréal
The programme mixes invited speakers with talks selected from abstract submissions, plus poster sessions from attendees. Days one and two are at the Cruess Amphitheatre and McConnell Atrium in Block E of the MUHC Research Institute.
Day 1 · Monday, Nov 2
Opening remarks from CSHRNet, the Canadian Space Agency, ESA, Concordia and McGill, with a special keynote from CSHRNet donor Mark Pathy. Sessions on remote biosignal monitoring for human performance and on brain health and repair, two poster sessions, then Italian Space Day: a panel chaired by former astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk, followed by a reception.
Day 1 programme →Day 2 · Tuesday, Nov 3
Astronaut health and radiation, chaired by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, including the first results from wearable radiation protection flown on Artemis I. An open-topic session built from abstracts, two more poster sessions, a lunchtime trainee event on careers in low Earth orbit, and awards and closing remarks at 5:00 PM.
Day 2 programme →Day 3 · Wednesday, Nov 4
The Canadian Space Agency consultation workshop, Health Research in the Post-ISS Era, moderated by Dr. Luchino Cohen. An open discussion with the Canadian space health community on what research in low Earth orbit looks like after the International Space Station.
Day 3 programme →Symposium highlights
Talks, posters and a lot of conversation. Here is what shapes the three days.
Opening keynotes
Monday morning opens with the Canadian Space Agency’s Director of Astronauts, Life Sciences and Space Medicine, ESA’s Human Exploration Science lead, CSHRNet founder Dr. Giuseppe Iaria and leaders from McGill and Concordia, plus a special keynote from Mark Pathy.
See the speakers →Research sessions
Four scientific sessions: remote biosignal monitoring for human performance, advances in brain health and repair, astronaut health and radiation, and an open-topic session selected entirely from abstracts.
Session details →Poster sessions
Four poster sessions across the first two days, with work from trainees and researchers in clinical, basic and applied sciences. Posters sit alongside the coffee breaks, so there is time to talk.
How posters work →Italian Space Day
Monday evening: a panel on human health for Moon and Mars missions, chaired by former Canadian astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk and showcasing Italian excellence in Canada, followed by a reception open to all attendees.
About the panel →Trainee track
A lunchtime session on Tuesday, Launching Careers in LEO, maps funding, research platforms and industry routes into space health for students and early-career investigators. Travel awards are available for Canadian students.
Trainee event →CSA workshop
Wednesday is given to the Canadian Space Agency’s consultation workshop on health research in the post-ISS era, an open discussion on mission duration, participants and facilities in the next chapter of low Earth orbit.
Workshop details →Event information
Get directions →
Hosted by
The symposium is organized by the Canadian Space Health Research Network, co-hosted with the BRaIN Program of the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute and the Montreal Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience.
Ways to work with us
If the symposium is where we meet, here is what can come next. Reach out any time. We’d love to hear from you.
Corporate membership
Bring your organization alongside ours and collaborate on initiatives across the year. Our corporate membership brochure has the full details.
View the brochure →Volunteer with us
Help run events, mentor, or build chapter activity in your city. It is the quickest way to get to know the people doing this work.
Apply to volunteer →Become a member
Join a national network of students and professionals across Canadian aerospace. Learn about member rates and programs on our website.
Join now →See you in Montréal
Three days of space health research, a room full of scientists, trainees and astronauts, and a WIA-Canada booth in the middle of it. If you work on keeping people healthy beyond Earth, come say hello.
Symposium 2026 →