Axon Guidance, Synaptogenesis and Neural Plasticity

描述（由申请人提供）：拟在冷泉港实验室举行的关于“轴突指导，突触发生和神经可塑性”的会议将聚集该领域的领导者，初级教师，博士后研究员和研究生，讨论该领域的新的前沿发展。该提案寻求对在冷泉港实验室举行的两年一次的系列会议的第5、第6和第7次会议的支持，该会议已成为该领域的首次会议。2006年会议将讨论的议题包括：轴突引导的机制，包括引导信号的分析，它们的接收和它们通过生长锥细胞骨架的调节转化为运动性的变化; ii.视觉和嗅觉系统中地图形成的研究; iii.突触形成的机制，包括识别介导突触特异性的信号; iv.可塑性机制，包括学习和神经元连接之间的关系。不同的实验方法（如生物化学，遗传学和电生理学）和系统（即各种脊椎动物和无脊椎动物）将被突出。随着用于解决神经连接问题的方法和模型生物的多样性，该领域工作人员之间的交流对于促进对调节神经系统布线的基本机制的研究和理解至关重要。口头发言将由会议主席与组织者协商选定。每次会议将由该领域的2位顶尖科学家主持。 选定的演讲者将包括研究生，博士后研究员和初级教师。2个特别讲座将提供必要的背景知识，激发科学家在相关但不同领域的讨论。也将有2海报会议，许多参与者可以介绍他们的工作。会议将是中等规模，我们预计将有300-350人参加。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed meeting to be held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on "Axon Guidance, Synaptogenesis, and Neural Plasticity" will assemble leaders in the field, junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to discuss new, cutting-edge developments in the field. This proposal seeks support for the 5th, 6th, and 7th of a biennial series of meetings held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory that has emerged as the premiere meeting for this field. Topics to be discussed for the 2006 meeting will include: i. Mechanisms of axon guidance, including the analysis of guidance signals, their reception and their translation into changes in motility through modulation of the growth cone cytoskeleton; ii. Studies on map formation in the visual and olfactory systems; iii. Mechanisms of synapse formation, including identification of signals that mediate synapse specificity; iv. Mechanisms of plasticity, including the relationship between learning and neuronal connectivity. Diverse experimental approaches (e.g. biochemistry, genetics, and electrophysiology) and systems (i.e. various vertebrate and invertebrates) will be highlighted. With the multiplicity of approaches and model organisms being used to address issues of neural connectivity, communication between workers in this field is essential to advance research and understanding on fundamental mechanisms that regulate wiring of the nervous system. Oral presentations will be selected by the session chairs in consultation with the organizers. Each session will be chaired by 2 leading scientists in the field. Selected speakers will include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. 2 special lectures will be presented to provide essential background critical to stimulating discussion between scientists working on related but distinct areas. There will also be 2 poster sessions where many participants can present their work. The meeting will be of moderate size and we expect 300-350 people to attend.