1st Annual Conference of The Schizophrenia International Research Society

描述（由申请人提供）：精神分裂症是一种异质性严重疾病，具有潜在的遗传基础和大脑结构和功能缺陷的证据。然而，其潜在的病因是未知的，在过去十年中已经可用的新治疗仍然不能预防或治愈这种疾病。通过调查人员在国际论坛上分享知识，可以取得进一步的研究进展。最近成立了一个国际性的社会（精神分裂症国际研究学会），并以此作为其目标之一。因此，第一届精神分裂症国际研究学会会议将于2007年6月21日至25日在意大利威尼斯附近的会议设施举行。本次会议旨在由该研究领域的高级领导人就4个主要主题进行广泛讨论：治疗、遗传学、脑成像和解构临床诊断。将对这些专题中的关键问题进行辩论，会后将发表这些讨论的摘要报告。每天的一部分时间将用于培训年轻的研究人员，使他们掌握与每个专题相对应的研究方法。会议对所有感兴趣的人开放。该提案要求提供资金，以支持初级研究人员和学生的差旅费，使他们能够参与并获得可能影响其未来研究方向的新知识。精神分裂症是一种破坏性的精神疾病，扰乱了大约1%的普通人群的生活，通常需要终身治疗和频繁的公共住院治疗。在了解疾病方面取得进展，从而开发新的治疗方法的一种方法是，高级研究人员在国际论坛上分享他们的知识，并将这些知识传授给新进入该领域的初级研究人员和学生。因此，第一届精神分裂症国际研究学会会议将于2007年6月21日至25日在意大利威尼斯附近的会议设施举行，本提案将为初级研究人员提供参加会议的旅费。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous serious disorder that has an underlying genetic basis and evidence of brain structural and functional deficits. However, its underlying etiology is unknown and new treatments that have become available over the last decade still do not prevent or cure the illness. Further research progress can be made by the sharing of knowledge among investigators in international forums. Recently an international society (The Schizophrenia International Research Society) was formed with this as one of its goals. Thus, the First Schizophrenia International Research Society Conference will be held in conference facilities near Venice, Italy June 21 to 25, 2007. This conference is designed to have extensive discussion by senior leaders in this field of research on 4 main topics: Treatment, Genetics, Brain Imaging and Deconstructing the Clinical Diagnosis. Key questions within these topics will be debated and subsequent to the meeting, summary reports of these discussions will be published. A portion of each day will be allocated to the training of young investigators in the methods for research pursuit corresponding to each topic. The conference is open to all interested individuals. This proposal is a request for funding to support the travel expenses of junior investigators and students so that they may participate and acquire new knowledge that may influence their future research direction. Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness that disrupts the lives of approximately 1% of the general population, and often requires lifetime treatment and frequent public hospitalizations. One way to make progress in understanding the illness and thus developing new curative treatments is for senior investigators to share their knowledge in international forums and to transmit this knowledge to junior new investigators and students entering the field. Thus, the First Schizophrenia International Research Society Conference will be held in conference facilities near Venice, Italy June 21 to 25, 2007 and this proposal will provide travel fellowships to the conference for junior researchers.