2008 Cell Biology of the Neuron

描述(申请人提供)：“神经元细胞生物学”戈登会议将于2008年6月第八次举行，已成为讨论快速发展的细胞神经生物学领域进展的首要国际会议。会议的重点将是神经功能的细胞生物学方面。会议将涵盖一系列不同的跨学科方法，包括了解大脑的遗传学、分子、细胞、生物物理和行为方法。一套不同的模型系统将在会议上代表，从线虫到人类。今年将涵盖以下主题：突触发育、突触前机制、突触后信号、轴突和树突形态发生、皮质连接、成像回路和突触可塑性。选定的发言者是该领域最活跃的发言者之一，也是善于表达的思考者，他们应将自己的工作和想法与其他领域的工作和想法结合起来，进行有益的讨论。这种形式包括20分钟的演讲，然后是10分钟或更长时间的讨论。会议名单上既有即将开始职业生涯的有前途的年轻科学家，也有成熟的科学家。演讲者中有9位是女性，5位来自美国以外。此外，还保留了八个时段，供挑选演讲者就激动人心的最新事态发展进行简短演讲。大多数与会者(演讲者除外)将展示关于其工作的海报，以确保与会者之间最大限度地进行沟通和思想交流。由于其对神经机制的跨学科关注，这次会议对了解情感和行为障碍、大脑发育中的遗传缺陷、心理健康和药物成瘾特别感兴趣。对神经发育和可塑性的重视与儿童健康和发展有关。讲者包括专门研究药物耐受性和成瘾、情感和认知障碍(例如焦虑和自闭症)、大脑发育中的遗传缺陷以及阿尔茨海默氏症、帕金森氏症、S病等老龄化疾病的分子基础的研究人员。NIMH、NINDS、NICHD、NIA、NIDA和NIAAA等机构的代表团应该对这次会议非常感兴趣。这项提案要求基金支持将于2008年6月举行的“神经元细胞生物学”戈登研究会议。这次会议汇集了各式各样的神经生物学家，他们都研究大脑的基本构件、神经元和突触。特别是，这次会议将重点介绍大脑如何发展其复杂的突触连接的最新发现，以及这些连接在发育过程中或在不同疾病状态下如何被修改。因此，这次会议将推动包括NIGMS、NINDS、NIMH、NIDA、NEI和NIAAA在内的几个研究所的使命。。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The "Cell Biology of the Neuron" Gordon Conference, to be held for the eighth time in June 2008, has become the premier international meeting for discussing progress in the rapidly moving field of cellular neurobiology. The focus of the meeting will be on the cell biological aspects of neural function. The meeting will encompass a diverse set of interdisciplinary approaches, including genetic, molecular, cellular, biophysical, and behavioral approaches to understanding the brain. A diverse set of model systems will be represented at the meeting, ranging from C. elegans to humans. This year the following themes will be covered: synapse development, pre-synaptic mechanisms, post-synaptic signaling, axon and dendrite morphogenesis, cortical connectivity, imaging circuits, and synaptic plasticity. The chosen speakers are among the most active in the field and are also articulate thinkers who should generate useful discussion by integrating their work and ideas with those in other fields. The format consists of 20 minute talks followed by a discussion of 10 minutes or more. The meeting roster contains a mixture of promising young scientists near the beginning of their careers and established scientists. Nine of the speakers are women and five are from outside the US. In addition, eight slots are being kept open to select speakers for short talks on exciting, late-breaking developments. Most participants (except speakers) will present posters on their work, ensuring maximum communication and exchange of ideas among participants. With its interdisciplinary focus on neural mechanisms, this conference is of special interest for understanding affective and behavioral disorders, hereditary defects in brain development, mental health and drug addiction. The emphasis on neural development and plasticity has relevance for child health and development. The speakers include investigators who are specifically studying the molecular basis of drug tolerance and addiction, affective and cognitive disorders (e.g. anxiety and autism), hereditary defects in brain development, and diseases of aging such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson,s diseases. The conference should be of great potential interest to the missions of institutes including NIMH, NINDS, NICHD, NIA, NIDA and NIAAA. This proposal requests fund to support the "Cell Biology of the Neuron" Gordon Research Conference, to be held in June 2008. This conference brings together a diverse set of neurobiologists, all of whom study the fundamental building blocks of the brain, neurons and synapses. In particular, this meeting will highlight recent discoveries in how the brain develops its complex set of synaptic connections, and how these connections are modified during development, or in different disease states. Thus, this meeting will further the mission of several institutes, including NIGMS, NINDS, NIMH, NIDA, NEI, and NIAAA. .