CSHL 2012 Conference on Axon Guidance, Synapse Formation & Regeneration

描述（由申请人提供）：拟于2012年9月18日至22日在冷泉港实验室举行的关于“轴突指导、突触形成和再生”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。 学生讨论新的，在会议标题中定义的领域的前沿发展。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中的第八次会议的支持，该会议已成为该领域的首次会议。2012年会议将讨论的议题包括：指导的确定和定性 信号及其受体; ii.将受体的活化转化为运动性变化的信号转导机制的剖析; iii.调节突触形成和突触特异性的信号的识别和表征; iv.识别神经元活动塑造突触连接模式的信号传导机制; v.神经元极性和树突模式的机制; vi.介导神经回路和行为发育的机制之间的关系; vii.再生和疾病。不同的实验方法（包括细胞生物学，生物化学，遗传学和电生理学）和系统（包括各种脊椎动物和无脊椎动物模型系统，用于研究神经连接和功能）将被强调。鉴于目前在这一领域采用的各种方法，国际研究人员之间的交流对于促进研究和理解调节神经系统布线的基本机制以及这些机制如何与神经系统疾病的原因和潜在治疗方法相关至关重要。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两位顶尖科学家主持。选定的演讲者主要包括研究生，博士后研究员和初级教师。三个特别讲座将提供必要的背景至关重要，以刺激科学家之间的讨论工作相关，但不同的领域。还将有三个海报会议，大多数与会者可以介绍他们的工作。会议规模适中，预计将有300-350名神经科学家出席。 公共卫生相关性：神经系统的精确布线是大脑功能所有其他方面的基础。神经元布线是在一系列离散的阶段中实现的。首先，神经元变得“极化”，延伸树突，接收来自其他神经元的输入，并将信息传递给其他神经元。接下来，“轴突引导”描述了轴突被引导到适当目标的过程，通常在发育中的大脑中延伸很长的距离。一旦在适当的目标区域，轴突与其他神经元形成专门的连接，这一过程被称为“突触形成”。最后，神经回路是通过精心制作或消除突触， 连接.了解这些连续的过程对人类健康有着深远的影响。受损轴突和神经回路的再生需要对发育有清晰的理解。现在，各种神经系统疾病都与这些过程中的缺陷有关。这次国际科学家会议将讨论这一重要领域的最新研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed meeting to be held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on "Axon Guidance, Synapse Formation, and Regeneration" on September 18 - 22, 2012 will assemble leaders in the field, junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to discuss new, cutting-edge developments in the areas defined in the meeting title. This proposal seeks support for the eighth 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 2012 meeting will include: i. the identification and characterization of guidance signals and their receptors; ii. the dissection of the signal transduction machinery that translate activation of receptors into changes in motility; iii. the identification and characterization of signals that regulate synapse formation and synaptic specificity; iv. the identification of the signaling mechanisms by which neuronal activity sculpts patterns of synaptic connectivity; v. mechanisms of neuronal polarity and dendritic patterning; vi. the relationship between mechanisms that mediate development of neural circuits and behavior; vii. regeneration and disease. Diverse experimental approaches (including cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, and electrophysiology) and systems (including various vertebrate and invertebrate model systems for investigating neural connectivity and function) will be highlighted. Given the diverse approaches currently employed in this field, communication among international researchers is essential to advance research and understanding of fundamental mechanisms that regulate wiring of the nervous system and how these mechanisms may relate to the causes and potential cures for neurological disease. Oral presentations will be selected by the session chairs in consultation with the organizers. Each session will be chaired by two leading scientists in the field. Selected speakers primarily include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. Three 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 three poster sessions where a majority of participants can present their work. The meeting will be of moderate size, and we expect 300-350 neuroscientists in attendance. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The precise wiring of the nervous system is the foundation upon which all other aspects of brain function resides. Neuronal wiring is achieved in a series of discrete stages. First, neurons become 'polarized', extending dendrites that receive input from other neurons and a single axon that conveys information to other neurons. Next, 'axon guidance' describes the process by which the axon is guided to an appropriate target, often extending great distances through the developing brain. Once in the appropriate target region, the axon forms specialized connections with other neurons, a process that is termed 'synapse formation'. Finally, neural circuitry is refined through the elaboration or elimination of synaptic connections. Understanding these sequential processes has profound implications for human health. Regeneration of damaged axons and neural circuitry will require a clear understanding of development. Diverse neurological diseases are now being associated with defects in these processes. This conference of international scientists will meet to discuss the latest research in this important field.