GFC Awards Gala 2026

Get ready for the glitz, glamour, and excitement of the GFC Awards Gala, a night of celebration and recognition happening on

The World Brain Mapping Foundation’s Annual “Gathering for Cure” Black Tie Gala is designed to recognize pioneers in brain mapping, neurotech, health policy, neuroscience, and mental health philanthropy, amongst others, while connecting to our mission and bringing our message of neurotech innovation and innovation to the masses.

🏆 GFC AWARDS GALA 2026 — HONOREES

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🔬 PIONEER IN MEDICINE AWARD

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Thomas C. Südhof, MD

Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine

Avram Goldstein Professor · Stanford University School of Medicine, USA

Denis Fedorenko, MD, PhD

Stem Cell Scientist and Regenerative Medicine Specialist

Russia

Richard K. Burt, MD

Professor of Medicine — Immunotherapy and Autoimmune Diseases

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA

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⚙️ PIONEER IN TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AWARD

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Marcus Gerhardt

Chief Executive Officer

Blackrock Neurotech, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Florian Solzbacher, PhD

Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer

Blackrock Neurotech, USA

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🪙 GOLDEN AXON LEADERSHIP AWARD

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Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD

Saunders Family Chair and Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, and Geriatrics

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA

Namath Hussain, MD, MBA

23rd President of SBMT

Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics, USA

Shiva Rampersad, MBBS, MSc, MRCS

Chief Operating Officer · VP, Membership and Partnership

Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics, Los Angeles, USA

Stephan Themis

Chair, IT Subcommittee · Chief Data Officer

Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics, Los Angeles, USA

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🤝 HUMANITARIAN AWARD

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Adam Hamawy, MD, FACS

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon · U.S. Army Veteran

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, USA

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🏛️ PIONEER IN HEALTHCARE POLICY AWARD

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The Honorable Eric Swalwell (TBD)

United States Representative (CA-14)

U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC

The Honorable Gavin Newsom (TBD)

Governor of California

State of California, Sacramento, USA

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🕯️ BEACON OF COURAGE AND DEDICATION AWARD

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Scott Imbrie

Brain–Computer Interface Research Participant

University of Chicago Medicine / Blackrock Neurotech, Chicago, USA

Adriana Mocan

Patient Advocate and Regenerative Medicine Participant

Stem Cell Therapy Program, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

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🎓 STUDENT OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP & SERVICE AWARD

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Yushun Zeng

Program Coordinator

Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics, Los Angeles, USA

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🌐 View full honoree profiles and Gala program:

worldbrainmapping.org/gala-2026/