A Biochemical Society Focused Meeting
Proceedings (invited speakers) will be published in Biochemical Society Transactions
Oral communication slots are available at this meeting. All attendees, particularly researchers in the early stages of their career, are invited to submit a poster abstract for consideration as an oral communication.
Student Travel Grants are available for this meeting.
Abstract submission deadline extended: 28 May 2009
Abstract submission is now closed. If you wish to submit an abstract please contact the Conference Office.
Earlybird registration deadline: 19 June 2009
Registration is now open. Please note that a late fee of £50 has now been added to the registration fees.
ASN Neuro Poster Prize
ASN Neuro sponsored a poster prize for the best three posters displayed at the meeting. The first prize was awarded to Andrew Clarkson at the University of California, USA. A joint second prize was awarded to Ann Swijsen at Hasselt University, Belgium and Alastair Hosie at Imperial College London, UK.
Meeting Background
This meeting will include a discussion of the major excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABAA) ionotropic receptors in the brain. This will bring together experts from both fields to permit a discussion of how these receptor systems interact to control behaviour, learning/memory and disease. It is clear that the modulation of receptor function (Sigel, Wyllie, Czajkowski) alone does not explain the full repertoire of effects of neuronal plasticity. Receptor function is also influenced by auxiliary protein interactions and its location (Smart, Moss, Collingridge, Harvey). Indeed, receptor localization is highly plastic, being manipulated by neuronal activity (Collingridge, Smart, Malenka, Smith) and hormones (Harvey, Smith). These molecular changes occurring at the subcellular level are reflected in changes in cognition and behaviour (Mohler, Bannerman, Orser, Smith). Remarkably, individual receptor subtypes appear to play specific roles in behaviour and the clinical responses to therapeutic drugs (Mohler, Orser). Moreover, gross alterations in the balance of neuronal activity may lead to cognitive impairment (Bannerman, Mohler, Malenka) and disease states such as epilepsy (Walker).
The use of cell model systems have permitted a physiological and molecular characterization of neuronal excitotoxicity. Distinct NMDA receptor subtypes play opposing roles in the activation of distinct calcium signalling pathways (Hardingham), leading to changes in neuronal morphology (Connolly) and mitochondrial dysfunction (Nicholls).
Beyond the immediate consequences of altered neuronal morphology and physiology are the long-term changes in gene expression, following normal (Grant, Morris) and pathological (Zukin) activity. Insights into the significance of these changes are highlighted by the altered expression of either the receptors themselves (Smith), or of molecular chaperone (Morris) or scaffold (Grant) proteins.
Note to Golf fans
The 138th British Open Golf Tournament will take place on 16 July-19 July 2009 in Turnberry, Scotland. The practice days will be on 12-15 July. For further information, please visit The British Open website
View St Andrews Golf Guide
If you would like to meet up with other delegates for a round of golf, please email the Meetings Office.