2023 Cerebellum Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

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PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This proposal seeks partial support for the 2023 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) & Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Cerebellum. The GRC will take place over 6 days accommodating up to 200 participants whereas the GRS will take place over 2 days immediately prior to the GRC, it is open only to the trainees and it is run exclusively by students and postdoctoral fellows. The GRS is scheduled for 8/5/23-8/6/23 and the GRC will be right after on 8/6/23-8/11/23 at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, USA, about 140 miles from Boston. This conference brings together a diverse group, from established investigators to trainees from around the world; the GRC is considered the preeminent forum devoted to the cerebellar research. The cerebellum is now thought to control motor as well as cognitive behavior. Accordingly, there is striking evidence that cerebellar dysfunction causes a wide range of movement disorders such as ataxia, dystonia and tremor, but also a growing list of non-motor conditions including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. The centrality of cerebellar function, embedded in dozens of brain pathways, raises exciting questions about its potential as a therapeutic target. At this meeting, we will engage into a transverse dialog across levels of analyses and approaches, incorporating molecular biology, physiology and pathophysiology, development and behavior, from action through cognition, in order to build a novel integrated framework for understanding cerebellar function. Towards this, the scientific motivation of the 2023 Cerebellum GRC is to harness unique concepts and technologies from different disciplines to address challenging questions. With 42 speakers (50% females; 38% junior scientists; 10% minorities; remarkably, all accepted our invitation within 48hrs), we designed each session to tackle an unresolved problem, with experts to discuss neuroanatomy, developmental genetics, electrophysiology, computation, disease mechanisms and therapy development. Ideas from speakers and participants will converge to answer each burning question. This integrated approach to discussing the cerebellum will invite lively and collegial participation from students, postdocs and faculty from all disciplines, in every session. The GRS and GRC will each host a world renown Keynote speaker. In addition to the talks, poster sessions will provide a platform for attendees to present their unpublished work to a broader audience. We will also have a “Power Hour” to continue our efforts in promoting all forms of diversity in cerebellar science and an informal session to educate participants at all career levels on grantsmanship and strategies for writing successful grant applicants, with both sessions serving to strengthen our community. The overall theme of GRC Cerebellum 2023 will exploit the breadth and depth of the field to usher in the next generation of scientists. We are dedicated to fostering the future of women and underrepresented minorities.