Neuroscience Training in Europe

| NEUROTRAIN |

NEUROTRAIN

Neuroscience Training in Europe

Supported by the European Commission, Research Directorate General,
Marie Curie Conferences and Training Courses,
Contract No. MSCF-CT-2005-029703

Contractor:
Federation of European Neuroscience Societies

Project Coordinator:
Alois Saria, PhD Prof

Project Administration:
Philipp Tsolakis
Experimental Psychiatry Unit, Department of Psychiatry
Medical University Innsbruck
Innrain 66a, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Phone: +43 512 504 23715
Fax: +43 512 504 23716
Email: neurotrain@fens.org

Aims
The aims of the NEUROTRAIN project are to provide a standard platform for neuroscience training in Europe by offering a series of 4 events from 2006 – 2008 to implement a training system standardised coherently in relation to structure, programme frame, patients perspectives, industrial aspects, complementary skills, event management, selection of high-quality scientists, topics and tutors, and evaluation after events to enable continuous improvement.

Training Courses
The project starts with a satellite event of the FENS Forum 2006 in Vienna (up to 150 participants) and is followed by three training courses in Portugal (early summer 2007), Croatia (fall 2007) and Austria (summer 2008) with up to 40 participants each.
All events address brain function and dysfunction linked by neuroplasticity as common key mechanism in adult brain development, e.g. for learning and memory as well as for the recovery of the injured brain.

1 st Training Course:
Advanced Technologies in Brain Functions and Dysfunctions
Vienna, Austria (Austria Center), July 7-11, 2006
(Satellite event to the 5th Forum of European Neuroscience)

This event includes participation at the Plenary Lectures of the Forum, assignment to one of the four technical workshops on July 7 or 8 (assigned by the Project Coordinator), free participation at the satellite symposium “The Psychoanalysis of Love and Hate versus the Neurobiology of Attraction - In Honour of the 150th birthday of Sigmund Freud” and special training in complementary skills, such as grant applications and opportunities, ethical issues and other.

This training course has been completed

>> Programme of TC1
>> Images of TC1 (pdf - 6MB file)

>>TOP

2nd Training Course:

Summer School
Ofir , Portugal , June 20 – 27, 2007
Hotel Ofir

Choosing the right models for research on cognition and its disturbances

Scientific Coordinators
Martine Ammassari-Teule (Rome, Italy) and Roberto Caminiti (Rome, Italy)

Local Organiser:
Jose Castro-Lopes (Portugal)

"Neurotrain" Coordinator:
Alois Saria (Austria)

Email: neurotrain@fens.org

In Europe , 127 millions citizens suffer from a brain disorder. Due to its complexity, the study of the physiological mechanisms underlying brain function, and of their collapse leading to dysfunction, has been so far enigmatic and elusive. This complexity requires sophisticated research tools, and the need for a skilled and interdisciplinary generation of young scientists able to master complex scenarios in both basic and translational neuroscience. Complementary skills related to ethics in neuroscience and to effective research communication are also requested to future researchers of brain sciences. Among the critical topics in contemporary neuroscience one of the most complex and challenging one consists of choosing appropriate models for the study of cognitive functions and of their disorders. Advanced methodological approaches are needed to cope with such a complex issue in a successful manner. This school is defined to offer an overview on the developments of novel techniques for the study of different aspects of cognition at various complexity levels, with the aim of defining the limitations, pros and cons of particular tools and models.

>>TOP

Programme

>>download abstracts of speakers
>>download abstracts of young scientists (poster abstracts)

3rd Training Course:

Autumn School
Dubrovnik , Croatia , October 19 - 24, 2007
Center for Advanced Academic Studies (CAAS)
of the University of Zagreb at Dubrovnik

>>Google map CAAS ( course venue)

>> Google map Hotel Lero (speakers)

Pathophysiology and plasticity of neuroglial interaction

Scientific Coordinators
Dionysia T. Theodosis (Bordeaux, France) and Christian Steinhäuser (Bonn, Germany)

Local Organisers:
Croatian Society for Neuroscience and
Croatian Institute for Brain Research

Local Organising committee:
Svjetlana Kalanj Bognar (Chair)
Ivica Kostovic
Nataša Jovanov Miloševic
Marko Culjat
Ivana Siprak
Željka Pavlovic (Secretary)


"Neurotrain" Coordinator:
Alois Saria (Austria)

Email: neurotrain@fens.org

>>TOP

NEUROTRAIN
Neuroscience Training in Europe
Autumn School
Dubrovnik, Croatia, October 19 - 24, 2007
Center for Advanced Academic Studies (CAAS)
of the University of Zagreb at Dubrovnik
Neuron-glia interactions in health and disease
Scientific Coordinators:
Dionysia T. Theodosis (France) and Christian Steinhäuser (Germany)


Scientific Program Schedule

Friday, October 19 2007
09.00 – 17.00 Arrival, registration and settling in
17.00 – 18.00 Mounting of posters (remain up for duration of the school)
18.00 – 19.00 Opening of school, welcome and introductory remarks
(Dionysia Theodosis, Christian Steinhäuser)
19.00 – 20.00 Opening Lecture: History of glia
(Helmut Kettenmann , Germany)
20.00- Cocktail Party at CAAS

Saturday, October 20 2007 Intrinsic functions of glial cells
09.00 – 10.00 Exocytotic release of neuroactive substances from glia
(Jacopo Meldolesi , Italy)
10.00 – 10.30 Discussion
10.30 – 11.00 Break
11.00 – 12.00 Calcium signaling in glial cells
(Jochen Deitmer , Germany)
12.00 – 12.30 Discussion
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Mechanisms underlying glutamate release from astrocytes
(Vlad Parpura , USA)
15.00 – 15.30 Discussion
15.30 – 16.30 Glial motility and plasticity
(Frank Kirchhoff , Germany)
16.30 – 17.00 Discussion
17.00 – 17.30 Break
17.30 – 18.30 4 short communications + discussions
18.30 – 20.00 Poster session

Sunday, October 21 2007 Neuron – glia signaling in the normal brain
09.00 – 10.00 Glial neurotransmitter uptake and regulation of neuronal excitability
(Niels Christian Danbolt , Norway)
10.00 – 10.30 Discussion
10.30 – 11.00 Break
11.30 – 12.30 Astrocyte networks and neuron-glia interactions
(Christian Giaume , France)
12.30 – 13.00 Discussion
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Dynamic regulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity by glial cells
(Richard Robitaille , Canada)
15.00 – 15.30 Discussion
15.30 – 16.30 Functional consequences of astrocytic plasticity
(Stéphane Oliet , France)
16.30 – 17.00 Discussion
17.00 – 17.30 Break
17.30 – 18.30 4 short communications + discussions
18.30 - 20.00 Poster session


Monday, October 22 2007 Glial regulation of brain metabolism and neurogenesis
08.00 – 09.00 Metabolic neuron-glia cooperation in neural energy metabolism
(Bernd Hamprecht , Germany)
09.00 –09.30 Discussion
09.30 – 10.30 Signalling from glia to blood vessels and the regulation of blood flow
(Eric Newman , USA)
10.30 – 11.00 Discussion
11.00 – 11.30 Break
11.30 – 12.30 Role of glial cells in neurogenesis
(Stephen Noctor , USA)
12.30 – 13.00 Discussion
13.00 – Lunch followed by boat trip to Island of Lokrum and by Dubrovnik sight-seeing


Tuesday, October 23 2007 Glial cells in the diseased nervous system
09.00 – 10.00 Immune-glial interactions in central nervous system injury and disease
( Trevor Owens , Denmark)
10.00 – 10.30 Discussion
10.30 – 11.00: Break
11.00 – 12.00: Interactions between systemic inflammation and brain inflammation: contribution of microglia (Hugh Perry , UK)
12.00 – 12.30 Discussion
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.00 Neuroglia interactions in epileptogenesis: insights from animal and human studies
(Annamaria Vezzani , Italy)
15.00 – 15.30 Discussion
15.30 – 16.00 Grafts of myelinating cells for repair of CNS and PNS lesions
(Rebecca Matsas , Greece)
16.30 – 17.00 Discussion
17.00 – 17.30 Break
17.30 – 18.30 4 short communications + discussion
18.30 - 20.00: Poster session
20:00 - Closing, Farewell Dinner

October 24 2007

Participants depart

  >>TOP

4th Training Course:

Summer School

Neuronal plasticity and neurodegenerative disorders: Dysfunction and treatment

June 1st - 8th, 2008
Innsbruck, Austria
Congresspark Innsbruck - Igls

Scientific Organisers:
M. Bähr & J. Schulz (Germany)

Application
Applications for a grant to attend the4th event of NEUROTRAIN in Innsbruck, Austria have to be sent by email to neurotrain@fens.org.

They must include:
A cv with essential information on: nationality, gender, age, place of work, track of education and research, years working in research (full time) before PhD and after PhD.
A brief description of their research work including an abstract to be presented as poster during the course and a list of publications if any.
A motivation letter and one (or more) letter of recommendation by a senior scientist.

The grant for the training course in Innsbruck, June 2008 consists of:
Coverage of living expenses (accommodation and meals) between June 1 (arrival) and June 8 (departure), 2008
FENS will reimburse to all the eligible participants a contribution to travelling cost based on a real cost basis within a maximum amount, which takes into account, according to European Commission rules the direct distance between the location of origin of the participant and the location of the event .
Travel expenditures will be reimbursed after the event and costs incurred have eventually to be justified with appropriate statements or receipts.
For receiving the grants it is mandatory that the awardees are present throughout the whole course and take part actively in all parts of the scientific programme.

Up to 40 grants are available!

Eligible for NEUROTRAIN grants are:

1. PhD students of any nationality with no more than 3 years full time in research

2. Young scientists of any nationality with a doctorate degree and no more than 10 years full time employment in research

3.Few other scientists from EU or associated countries

Selection of applications will be made by the NEUROTRAIN committee on a competitive basis Preference will be given to applicants eligible in category 1 and 2 (see above).

Please note that participation in the NEUROTRAIN programme does not require a registration fee.

Deadline for application: (December 14, 2007)! extended to January 7, 2008!
The selected awardees will be notified until (January 21, 2008) extended to February 8, 2008!


>>TOP

Preliminary program (further speakers to be announced):

NEUROTRAIN
Neuroscience Training in Europe
Summer School
Innsbruck, Austria June 1 - 8, 2007
Congresspark Innsbruck Igls

Neuronal plasticity and neurodegenerative disorders: Dysfunction and treatment

 Scientific Coordinators:
Jörg B. Schulz and Mathias Bähr(Germany)

 Preliminary Scientific Program Schedule as of December 4th, 2007

Sunday June 1, 2008
9.00 – 17.00      Arrival, registration and settling in
17.00 – 18.00    Mounting of posters (remain up for duration of the school)
18.00 – 19.00    Opening of school, welcome and introductory remarks (Jörg B. Schulz, Mathias Bähr)
19.00 – 20.00    Opening Lecture: Christian Haass, Munich, Germany:
20.00-                Get-together reception

Monday June 2, 2008 Topic: Pathogenesis and treatment of dementias
9.00 – 10.00      Michael T. Heneka, Münster, Germany: Modulation of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer`s disease
10.00 – 10.30    Discussion
10.30 – 11.00    Break
11.00 – 12.00    Mathias Jucker, Tübingen, Germany: Mechanism of cerebral amyloidosis
12.00 – 12.30    Discussion
13.00 – 14.00    Lunch
14.00 – 15.00    Monica DiLuca, Milan, Italy: Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and therapy
15.00 – 15.30    Discussion
15.30 – 16.30    Talk 4, TBA
16.30 – 17.00    Discussion
17.00 – 17.30    Break17.30 – 18.30    4 short communications + discussions
18.30 – 20.00    Poster session

 Tuesday June 3, 2008 Topic Cell death mechanisms
9.00 – 10.00      Ralf Dringen, Bremen, Germany: Glutathione and antioxidative defense
10.00 – 10.30    Discussion10.30 – 11.00    Break
11.30 – 12.30    Marcel Leist, Konstanz, Germany: New pharmacological approaches to prevent cell death in the nervous system
12.30 – 13.00    Discussion
13.00 – 14.00    Lunch
14.00 – 15.00    Mathias Bähr, Göttingen, Germany: Molecular mechanisms of degeneration and regeneration in the adult CNS
15.00 – 15.30    Discussion
15.30 – 16.30    Pierluigi Nicotera, Leicester, UK: TBA
16.30 – 17.00    Discussion

                          Raj Ratan, New York, USA: Twists and turns on the transcriptional road to cell death: evidence that a single pathway can be manipulated to protect and repair the nervous system
17.00 – 17.30    Break
17.30 – 18.30    4 short communications + discussions
18.30 - 20.00     Poster session

 Wednesday June 4, 2008 Topic: Pathogenesis and treatment of Parkinson's disease
9.00 – 10.00      Talk 6, TBA
10.00 – 10.30    Discussion
10.30 – 11.00    Break
11.30 – 12.30    Jörg B. Schulz, Göttingen, Germany: Parkinson's disease – from genes to therapy
13.00 – 14.00    Lunch
14.00 – 15.00    Etienne Hirsch, Paris, France: Neuroinflammatory processes in Parkinson's disease
15.00 – 15.30    Discussion
15.30 – 16.30    Werner Poewe, Innsbruck, Austria: Current challenges in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
16.30 – 17.00    Discussion
17.00 – 17.30    Break
17.30 – 18.30    4 short communications + discussions
18.30 - 20.00     Poster session

 Thursday June 5, 2008 Mechanisms of plasticity
9.00 – 10.00      James Fawcett, Cambridge, UK: Intrinsic and extrinsic controls of axon regeneration and plasticity
10.00 – 10.30    Discussion
10.30 – 11.00    Break
11.30 – 12.30    Ferdinando Rossi, Turin, Italy: Adaptive plasticity in the lesioned cerebellum
12.30 – 13.00    Discussion
13.00 – 14.00    Lunch
14.00 – 15.00    Andreas Luft, Tübingen, Germany: Mechanisms of motor learning
15.00 – 15.30    Discussion
15.30 – 16.30    Olga Garaschuk, Munich, Germany: in vivo calcium imaging of aging and diseased brain
16.30 – 17.00    Discussion
17.00 – 17.30    Break
17.30 – 18.30    4 short communications + discussions
18.30 - 20.00     Poster session

Friday June 6, 2008 Plasticity following injury
9.00 – 10.00      Gereon Fink, Cologne, Germany: Changes in cortical connectivity after stroke assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging: implications for novel therapeutic strategies?
10.00 – 10.30    Discussion
10.30 – 11.00    Break
11.30 – 12.30    Christine Bandtlow, Innsbruck, Austria, Reticulon proteins modulate brain plasticity
12.30 – 13.00    Discussion
13.00 – 14.00    Lunch
14.00 – 15.00    Talk 16, TBA
15.00 – 15.30    Discussion
15.30 – 16.30    Otto W. Witte, Jena, Germany: Perilesional dysfunction and recovery from stroke
16.30 – 17.00    Discussion
17.00 – 17.30    Break
17.30 – 18.30    4 short communications + discussions
18.30 - 20.00     Poster session

 Saturday June 7, 2008 Pathogenesis of Trinucleotide disorder
9.00 – 10.00      Talk 14, TBA
10.00 – 10.30    Discussion
10.30 – 11.00    Break
11.30 – 12.30    Ullrich Wüllner, Bonn, Germany:
12.30 – 13.00    Discussion
13.00 – 14.00    Lunch
14.00 – 15.00    Talk 16, TBA
15.00 – 15.30    Discussion
15.30 – 16.30    Talk 17, TBA
16.30 – 17.00    Discussion
17.00 – 17.30    Break
17.30 – 18.30    4 short communications + discussions
18.30 - 20.00     Poster session

Sunday June 8, 2008: Participants Depart

>>TOP