2007 Neurotrophic Factors Gordon Research Conference

描述(申请人提供)：此申请是为2007神经营养因子戈登研究会议提供部分资助。这次会议每隔一年举行一次，研究神经生长因子、它们的作用机制以及它们在神经系统发育、可塑性和疾病中的作用的顶尖科学家们参加得很好。多年来，该领域的许多重大突破都在这次会议上展示了出来。这次会议在神经科学界发挥了重要作用，聚集了对神经营养因子具有不同兴趣并在分子生物学、细胞生物学、信号转导、突触传递、发育、行为和疾病方面具有专业知识的年轻和成熟的研究人员。2007年会议的目标是：1.交流和传播关于已知和新的营养因子、它们的作用机制以及它们在发育、可塑性和疾病中的作用的新发现。2.加强使用分子、遗传和细胞生物学方法的研究小组与神经病学家以及对将神经营养因子用于治疗目的感兴趣的公司的科学家之间的合作。3.提供讨论新想法的场所，并便利交流试剂和未公布的信息。4.为学生、博士后和新教师提供一个与研究生长因子生物学的资深科学家见面和互动的氛围。神经营养因子是影响神经元和神经胶质细胞增殖、存活、分化、迁移、轴突和树突生长以及突触可塑性的多肽生长因子。神经营养因子在进食、焦虑、抑郁和学习等复杂行为中也发挥着重要作用。神经营养因子戈登研究会议汇集了年轻和成熟的研究人员，他们对神经营养因子具有不同的兴趣，并具有神经发育、行为和神经疾病治疗方面的专业知识。这次会议对公众健康至关重要，因为神经营养因子可能有助于治疗与饮食行为和情绪有关的神经疾病，以及神经退行性疾病，包括阿尔茨海默氏症、帕金森氏病、亨廷顿病以及伴随糖尿病而来的癫痫、中风和衰弱的外周神经疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is for partial support for the 2007 Neurotrophic Factors Gordon Research Conference. This conference, which is held every other year, is very well attended by leading scientists studying neuronal growth factors, their mechanisms of action and their roles in development, plasticity and diseases of the nervous system. Over the years, many of the major breakthroughs in the field have been showcased at this meeting. This Conference has played an essential role in the neuroscience community by bringing together both young and established investigators with diverse interests in neurotrophic factors and with expertise in molecular biology, cell biology, signal transduction, synaptic transmission, development, behavior and disease. The goals of the 2007 Conference are: 1. To communicate and disseminate new findings about known and novel trophic factors, their mechanisms of action, and their roles in development, plasticity and disease. 2. To increase collaborations between research groups using molecular, genetic, cell biological approaches with neurologists as well as scientists at companies interested in the use of neurotrophic factors for therapeutic purpose. 3. To provide a venue for discussion of new ideas and to facilitate the exchange of reagents and unpublished information. 4. To provide an atmosphere for students, postdocs and new faculty to meet and interact with senior scientists studying growth factor biology. Neurotrophic factors are peptide growth factors that influence neuron and glial proliferation, survival, differentiation, migration, axon and dendrite growth, and synaptic plasticity. Neurotrophic factors also play important roles in complex behaviors including feeding, anxiety, depression and learning. The Neurotrophic Factors Gordon Research Conference brings together young and established investigators with diverse interests in neurotrophic factors and with expertise in neural development, behavior and treatment of neurological disease. This Conference is of the utmost importance for the public health because neurotrophic factors may be useful for the treatment of neurological diseases related to eating behavior and mood, as well as neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and epilepsy, stroke, and debilitating peripheral neuropathies that accompany diabetes.