Bio
Anastasia Bougea, is a Movement Disorder Specialist and researcher focusing on the identification of novel biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and synucleinopathies. Her work, spanning 150 papers often featured in Medicina and other high-impact journals, emphasizes bridging the gap between molecular research and clinical practice. Currently, she serves as an Expert Consultant and Clinical Researcher at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), where she leads investigations into Transcranial Electric Stimulation and novel biomarkers. To further bridge the gap between medicine and technology, Anastasia Bougea is pursuing an Inter-institutional Master’s in Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), specializing in AI in healthcare, neuroengineering, and medical robotics.

Talk
Headache disorders remain among the most common neurological conditions worldwide and continue to contribute significantly to disability, reduced productivity, and impaired quality of life. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition (ICHD-3), has provided an essential framework for standardizing diagnosis in both clinical practice and research. However, in everyday clinical settings, many patients present with overlapping symptoms, mixed phenotypes, or atypical headache patterns that do not fit neatly into existing diagnostic categories. Recent advances in neuroimaging, genetics, biomarker research, and computational neurology are reshaping the understanding of headache disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that headache syndromes may exist along biological and clinical spectra rather than as isolated disease entities. These developments have created growing interest in more flexible, mechanism-based, and personalized approaches to headache classification.

Bio
Dr. Ayush Chandra is a young medical professional and emerging neurology researcher from Nepal with active involvement in headache medicine, neuroimmunology, and global health initiatives. He has contributed to academic collaborations, awareness campaigns, and international scientific programs focused on neurological disorders, particularly migraines and multiple sclerosis. Passionate about advancing neuroscience research and education in Nepal, Dr. Chandra actively engages in leadership, advocacy, and cross-border collaborations to promote better neurological care and awareness.

Research Keywords
Headache classification, ICHD-3, migraine, precision neurology, biomarkers, artificial intelligence, neuroimaging

Talk
Headache disorders, particularly migraine, remain among the leading causes of disability worldwide, affecting millions of individuals and generating a substantial personal, social, and economic burden. Despite significant advances in recent years, the precise pathophysiological mechanisms underlying many headache disorders are still not fully understood, limiting the development of universally effective therapeutic strategies. The emergence of novel molecular insights has transformed the field, highlighting the role of neurovascular dysfunction, neuroinflammation, cortical excitability, and complex signaling pathways involving molecules such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), and other inflammatory and lipid mediators. These discoveries have led to the development of targeted therapies, including monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule antagonists, which have significantly improved treatment options for many patients. Nevertheless, a considerable proportion of individuals continue to experience inadequate responses, adverse effects, or disease progression, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches and the identification of reliable biomarkers. This webinar will provide an overview of current advances in headache research, focusing on emerging pathogenic mechanisms, novel therapeutic targets, and recent developments in precision medicine.

Bio
Dr. Ouro earned his degree in Biochemistry from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) in 2007, and obtained an International PhD (Cum Laude) from the same institution in 2013. He completed postdoctoral research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Yosef Buganim Lab) and at Ben Gurion University of the Negev (Shira Knafo Lab). Dr. Alberto Ouro has focused his research career on the role of bioactive lipids in cancer, inflammation, and neurological diseases. He is currently working as a Miguel Servet researcher in the NeuroAging Group at the Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS). His research line explores the role of sphingolipids and lysophospholipids as theragnostic tools in neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and migraine. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles in international journals ( >90% Q1, more than 30% as first and/or corresponding author) and 4 book chapters, and has presented his work in over 60 international and national conferences. He has participated in more than 30 competitive research projects, serving as Principal Investigator (PI) in several of them, including HeadLPAtx (Miguel Servet Program, ISCIII), HeadAtx (Generation of Knowledge Projects, MICINN), and NeurAlemab (PRIST Program, Xunta de Galicia).