Axon Guidance, Synaptogenesis and Neural Plasticity

描述（由申请人提供）：拟在冷泉港实验室举行的“轴突引导、突触发生和神经可塑性”会议将聚集该领域的领导者、初级教师、博士后和研究生，讨论该领域的最新前沿发展。本提案为在冷泉港实验室举行的两年一次的系列会议的第5、第6和第7次会议寻求支持，该会议已成为该领域的首次会议。2006年会议将讨论的主题包括：1 .轴突引导的机制，包括引导信号的分析，它们的接收和通过调节生长锥细胞骨架转化为运动的变化；2。视觉和嗅觉系统中地图形成的研究3。突触形成的机制，包括介导突触特异性的信号的识别；可塑性的机制，包括学习和神经元连接之间的关系。不同的实验方法（如生物化学，遗传学和电生理学）和系统（即各种脊椎动物和无脊椎动物）将被强调。随着多种方法和模式生物被用于解决神经连通性问题，该领域工作者之间的交流对于推进研究和理解调节神经系统布线的基本机制至关重要。口头报告将由会议主席与组织者协商后选择。每届会议将由该领域的两位顶尖科学家主持。被选中的演讲者将包括研究生、博士后研究员和初级教师。将举行2场特别讲座，提供必要的背景知识，以促进在相关但不同领域工作的科学家之间的讨论。还有2个海报环节，参加者可以展示他们的作品。会议规模适中，预计有300-350人参加。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed meeting to be held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on "Axon Guidance, Synaptogenesis, and Neural Plasticity" will assemble leaders in the field, junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to discuss new, cutting-edge developments in the field. This proposal seeks support for the 5th, 6th, and 7th 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 2006 meeting will include: i. Mechanisms of axon guidance, including the analysis of guidance signals, their reception and their translation into changes in motility through modulation of the growth cone cytoskeleton; ii. Studies on map formation in the visual and olfactory systems; iii. Mechanisms of synapse formation, including identification of signals that mediate synapse specificity; iv. Mechanisms of plasticity, including the relationship between learning and neuronal connectivity. Diverse experimental approaches (e.g. biochemistry, genetics, and electrophysiology) and systems (i.e. various vertebrate and invertebrates) will be highlighted. With the multiplicity of approaches and model organisms being used to address issues of neural connectivity, communication between workers in this field is essential to advance research and understanding on fundamental mechanisms that regulate wiring of the nervous system. Oral presentations will be selected by the session chairs in consultation with the organizers. Each session will be chaired by 2 leading scientists in the field. Selected speakers will include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty. 2 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 2 poster sessions where many participants can present their work. The meeting will be of moderate size and we expect 300-350 people to attend.