MICROELECTRODE TECHNIQUES FOR CELL PHYSIOLOGY: AN ANNUAL WORKSHOP HELD AT THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION PLYMOUTH

我们所知道的关于细胞如何运作，它们如何交流和处理信息，以及它们如何运输基本元素和分子的大部分知识都来自于电生理学方法的应用。最广为人知的例子是霍奇金和赫胥黎在海洋生物协会(MBA)用鱿鱼的巨大神经纤维开展的开创性工作，这导致了神经细胞如何传递脉冲的发现，并形成了许多现代神经生物学的基础。自从这些开创性的发现以来，电生理学的领域得到了极大的扩展，电生理学方法被应用于研究细胞中的广泛过程，包括越来越多地在分子水平上表征的分子的功能表征。1984年，决定有必要举办一次年度研究讲习班，以提供有关微电极技术各种用途的培训。事实证明，这是对细胞生物学和生物物理学的一项非常有价值的贡献，并对培养新一代细胞生理学家产生了重大影响。MBA被选为这次研讨会的地点，因为它既提供了优良的研讨会设施，也提供了细胞生物学中微电极和相关生物物理方法的持续传统。自那时以来，该研讨会一直没有中断过，现在被全世界公认为该领域领先的高级研究研讨会之一。继续需要培训新一代电生理学家，特别是随着越来越重视膜蛋白的功能特征和广泛的细胞生物学领域。研讨会的申请人数继续超额，20个名额的申请人数每年增加3-4倍。为满足这一持续需求，拟议将目前的讲习班延长5年，将提供有关电生理学的基本原则以及更高级的实践和理论方面的培训。计划在这段时间内采用新的方法。基本研讨会的形式将继续，主要从英国和欧洲的研究实验室招聘教学和演示人员的核心，以及邀请的国际专家进行的一系列密集的演讲和演示。讲习班还受益于28年来与大量商业仪器制造商建立的良好关系，这些关系确保了设备的大量实物捐助，并提供了作为教员的专门知识。

Much of what we know about how cells function, how they communicate and process information and how they transport essential elements and molecules has come from the application of electrophysiological approaches. The most well known example of this is the pioneering work of Hodgkin and Huxley, carried out at the Marine Biological Association (MBA) with the giant nerve fibre of the squid which led to the discovery of how nerve cells transmit impulses and formed the basis of much modern neurobiology. Since these seminal discoveries the field of electrophysiology has expanded dramatically and electrophysiological approaches are applied to study a wide range of processes in cells, including the functional characterization of molecules that are increasingly being characterised at the molecular level. In 1984 it was decided that there was a need for an annual research workshop to provide training in the varied uses of microelectrode techniques. This has proven to be a very valuable contribution to cell biology and biophysics and has had significant impact on the training of new generations of cell physiologists. The MBA was chosen as the venue for this workshop since it provided both excellent workshop facilities and a continuing tradition of microelectrode and associated biophysical approaches in cell biology. The workshop has continued uninterrupted since then and is now recognised worldwide as one of the leading advanced research workshops in this field. The need to train the new generation of electrophysiolgists continues, particularly with the increased emphasis on functional characterisation of membrane proteins and a wide range of cell biological areas. The workshop continues to be over-subscribed with applications 3-4 fold each year for the 20 places available. To meet this continuing need the proposed 5-year extension to the ongoing workshop will provide training in both the basic principles and more advanced practical and theoretical aspects of electrophysiology. New approaches are planned to be incorporated over this period. The basic workshop fomat will continue with a core of teaching and demonstrating staff recruited mainly from research laboratories in the UK and Europe along with an intensive series of talks and demonstrations from invited international experts. The workshop also benefits from the good relations that have been established over 28 years with a large number of commercial instrument manufacturers that ensures significant in-kind contributions of equipment and who also contribute expertise as instructors.