2011 Gordon Research Seminar on Cannabinoid Function in The CNS

描述（由申请人提供）：戈登研究研讨会（GRS）是由戈登研究会议五年前推出的。GRS是一个为期2天的会议，由研究生和博士后在相关戈登研究会议（GRC）的领先科学家的支持下组织。该GRS先于CNS中大麻素功能的相关GRC。研讨会的形式专门设计用于吸引年轻科学家在不受知名科学家主导的开放氛围中讨论他们当前的研究。这样，它是青年科学家为接下来的GRC做的热身会。GRS具有强大的教育使命。理想情况下，GRS的参与者参加以下GRC。这份GRS的标题是“中枢神经系统中的大麻素功能：内源性大麻素系统的失调和随之而来的病理状态”。内源性大麻素系统（ECS）是大脑中广泛分布的信号系统。它由大麻素受体、它们的内源性配体（内源性大麻素，其为花生四烯酸衍生物）和用于内源性大麻素的合成和降解的机制组成。ECS的功能是多方面的，但一个主要功能是帮助在内部和外部冲击/压力后重建生物体的稳态。在这方面，最近的一个非常重要的发现是认识到的ECS的时空调节。不同的组织和细胞类型表达不同水平的ECS元件，其在分子水平上也受到差异调节。因此，它们的失调也会导致不同的疾病。ECS在控制体内平衡中的调节功能具有治疗意义，并且使得ECS成为用于治疗许多不同病理生理过程的有吸引力的药理学靶点。然而，最近由于心理副作用而引入大麻素受体CB 1拮抗剂作为抗肥胖药物的失败表明，仅针对特定细胞亚群所需的工具仍然缺失。本次研讨会的目标是将ECS多样性的概念灌输给该领域的下一代科学领导者。来自内源性大麻素研究不同学科的优秀学生和博士后研究员的讨论应该产生新的想法和合作努力，旨在进一步解剖ECS的解剖，细胞和（病理）生理复杂性。戈登研究研讨会的资助最终可能会激发ECS本身分析的创新技术，并有助于开发新的治疗方法，以减轻ECS失调引起的疾病。 公共卫生相关性：戈登研究研讨会（GRS）在中枢神经系统中的大麻素功能为大麻素领域有才华的年轻科学家提供了一个跨学科讨论大麻素研究最新进展的平台。这些相互作用将导致新的想法和合作努力，以进一步剖析内源性大麻素系统（ECS）的解剖，细胞和（病理）生理复杂性。这个戈登研究研讨会预计将有助于开发用于ECS分析的创新技术，并激发新的治疗方法，以减轻由其失调引起的疾病，但它也有一个强大的教育使命，通过促进学生的活动，如把科学计划放在一起，并聘请学生和博士后研究员作为讨论的领导者。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) was introduced by the Gordon Research Conferences five years ago. The GRS is a 2-day meeting, which is organized by graduate students and post-docs with the support of leading scientists from the associated Gordon Research Conference (GRC). This GRS precedes the associated GRC on Cannabinoid Function in The CNS. The seminar format is especially designed to attract young scientists to discuss their current research in an open atmosphere that is not dominated by well-established scientists. In this way, it is a warm-up meeting for young scientists for the following GRC. The GRS has a strong educational mission. Ideally, participants of the GRS attend the following GRC. This GRS is entitled "Cannabinoid Function in the CNS: Dysregulation of the Endocannabinoid System and Ensuing Pathological States". The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a wide-spread signaling system in the brain. It consists of cannabinoid receptors, their endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids, which are arachidonic acid derivatives) and the machinery for the synthesis and degradation of endocannabinoids. The functions of the ECS are multi-fold, but one major function is to help to re-establish the organism's homeostasis after internal and external impacts/stress. In this context, one of the very important recent discoveries was the recognition of a spatiotemporal regulation of the ECS. Different tissues and cell types express different levels of the elements of the ECS, which are also differentially regulated at the molecular level. Consequently, their dysregulation will also lead to distinct disorders. The regulatory function of the ECS in controlling homeostasis has therapeutic implications and makes the ECS an attractive pharmacological target for treatment of many different pathophysiological processes. However, the recent failure of the introduction of a cannabinoid receptor CB1 antagonist as an anti-obesity drug because of psychological side-effects shows that the tools necessary to target only a specific subgroup of cells are still missing. The goal of this seminar is to instill the notion of this diversity of the ECS into the next generation of scientific leaders of the field. Discussions of talented students and post-doctoral fellows from diverse disciplines of endocannabinoid research should lead to new ideas and collaborative efforts aimed at further dissecting the anatomical, cellular and (patho)physiological complexity of the ECS. Funding of this Gordon Research Seminar may eventually inspire innovative techniques for the analysis of the ECS itself, and contribute to the development of novel therapeutic approaches to alleviate ailments caused by dysregulation of the ECS. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Cannabinoid Function in The CNS offers talented young scientists in the cannabinoid field a platform for interdisciplinary discussion of the latest advances in cannabinoid research. These interactions will lead to new ideas and collaborative efforts to further dissect the anatomical, cellular and (patho)physiological complexity of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This Gordon Research Seminar is expected to contribute to the development of innovative techniques for the analysis of the ECS and to inspire novel therapeutic approaches to alleviate ailments caused by its dysregulation, but it has also a strong educational mission, by promoting students' activities, such as putting together the scientific program, and employing students and post-doctoral fellows as discussion leaders.