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)于五年前由戈登研究会议介绍。GRS是一个为期两天的会议，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。在中枢神经系统中，这一GRS先于相关的大麻素功能GRC。研讨会的形式特别旨在吸引年轻科学家在开放的氛围中讨论他们目前的研究，而不是由知名科学家主导。通过这种方式，这是青年科学家为下一届GRC的热身会议。GRS肩负着强烈的教育使命。理想情况下，GRS的参与者应参加以下GRC。这本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后的病理状态”。内源性大麻素系统(ECS)是大脑中分布广泛的信号系统。它由大麻素受体、其内源性配体(内源性大麻素，是花生四烯酸衍生物)和合成和降解内源性大麻素的机制组成。ECS的功能是多方面的，但其中一个主要功能是帮助机体在受到内部和外部冲击/应激后重新建立动态平衡。在这方面，最近非常重要的发现之一是认识到了对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，这些元件在分子水平上也受到不同的调控。因此，它们的失调也将导致明显的失调。ECS在控制体内平衡方面的调节功能具有治疗意义，并使ECS成为治疗许多不同病理生理过程的有吸引力的药理靶点。然而，最近由于心理副作用，大麻素受体CB1拮抗剂作为抗肥胖药的引入失败表明，仅针对特定细胞亚群的必要工具仍然缺乏。这次研讨会的目标是向该领域的下一代科学领袖灌输这种ECS多样性的概念。来自内源性大麻素研究不同学科的有才华的学生和博士后研究员的讨论应该带来新的想法和合作努力，旨在进一步剖析ECS的解剖学、细胞学和(病理)生理复杂性。戈登研究研讨会的资助可能最终激发分析ECS本身的创新技术，并有助于开发新的治疗方法，以缓解ECS调节失调造成的疾病。 公共卫生意义：戈登研究研讨会(GRS)关于中枢神经系统中大麻类化合物的功能，为大麻类化合物领域有才华的年轻科学家提供了一个跨学科讨论大麻类化合物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系统(ECS)的解剖、细胞和(病理)生理复杂性。戈登研究研讨会预计将有助于开发分析ECS的创新技术，并启发新的治疗方法来缓解其调节失调造成的疾病，但它也具有强大的教育使命，通过促进学生的活动，如组织科学计划，并聘请学生和博士后研究员作为讨论领导者。

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.