Fiche de manifestation scientifique

Neuroarcheology: presymptomatic architecture and signatures of neurological disorders

Théâtre du Golf
La Ciotat, France
22 au 24 Juin 2009

INMED
PARC SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNOLOGIQUE DE LUMINY
13009 MARSEILLE
- téléphone : 04 91 82 81 43
- télécopie : 04 91 82 81 05
neuroarcheology@inmednet.fr

Organisateur: Y Ben-Ari – Directeur de l’Inmed -Inserm U901

THEME
We do not know how genetic mutations lead to neurological disorders and why the delay between genotype and phenotype is so variable. One major reason for this failure is the paucity of information available on the anatomical/electrical properties of neurons and networks that are affected by early genetic mutations or environmental insults. Many mutations linked to neurological disorders alter molecules and processes including cytoskeleton proteins, transmitter or voltage gated channels and synapse related signalling that are essential for the maturation of functional networks and the electrical activity. Their invalidation is unlikely to remain mute and will necessarily affect essential steps of brain maturation. The core of the meeting will be to confront clinicians and basic scientists on early “pre-symptomatic” signs of neurological disorders to come. It is suggested that genetic mutations like environmental insults linked to neurological disorders act in utero or at an early post-natal period by altering developmental programs. This produces subtle clinical malformations, leading to the formation of misplaced networks and mal connected neurons that generate immature patterns, affect the construction of cortical functional units and lead to a susceptibility that will produce a phenotype later.
The meeting of La Ciotat will this year be centred on a critical examination of “Pre-Symptomatic Neuronal Signature (PNS)” generated by neurons that fail to develop and/or contact their programmed targets. We shall discuss the structural /electrical signatures resulting from these insults. I trust that it is essential to refresh the traditional view of these disorders by incorporating the enormous information now available in developmental neurobiology that must be placed at the core of neurological disorders oriented research. In this aim, it is instrumental to both study developmental programs and sequences and determine how they are altered by insults.
I am inviting to the La Ciotat meeting clinicians, developmental biologists and neurobiologists involved in experimental models of brain disease, molecular biologists and experts in neurogenetic. This will be a unique genuinely multi-faceted meeting and we hope to have as usual overt discussions on issues that concern early epilepsies, autism, mental retardation, but also Alzheimer and Huntington disease.
As previous meetings, the present one heavily relies on the enthusiastic efforts of all INMED members, the support of the mayor of La Ciotat as well as the regional government. It is also sponsored by Trends in Neurosciences (TINS) and Cell Press. Poster session is also planned and we usually attract 200 participants.