Neurological disorders: from molecules to medicine - Incorporating the Promega UK Young Life Scientist Awards

The Council House, Bristol, UK

14 May 2009

Science Programme

Early registration deadline: 14 April 2009
Registration is now closed for this event. If you have any enquiries, please email yls-09-bristol@bristol.ac.uk
Abstract submission deadline: extended to 20 March 2009
Abstract submission is closed.

A one-day conference for up and coming young neuroscientists to present and discuss their research, incorporating the Promega UK Young Life Scientist Awards.

Supported by the Biochemical Society, the British Pharmacological Society, the Genetics Society and The Physiological Society.

Young Life Scientist 2009 aims to give scientists at the beginning of their careers the chance to present their work, discuss their research and meet others from a variety of disciplines within the field of neuroscience. We are inviting everyone to come and talk about their part in the advancement of treating these neurological diseases, from basic biochemistry and genetics, to animal models of disease and clinical research in patients and healthy volunteers.

Hot topics will be centred around the theme: from molecules to medicine. The day will include career talks on the types of jobs you can do with a scientific background, plus plenty of poster prizes to be won!

This event is FREE to all young scientists so sign up now before all places are taken!

Abstract and Competition now closed for more details please visit the Promega website.

Hot Topic One: from neurodegeneration to neuroprotection Chair(s) Jon Hanley (University of Bristol, UK)

08:00-09:00 Registration Chair(s) Jon Hanley (University of Bristol, UK) Speakers 09:00-09:10 Introduction to YLS 2009 09:10-09:40 Giles Hardingham (University of Edinburgh, UK) Neuroprotective mechanisms involving NMDA receptors which may play a role in the prevention of neurological disorders 09:40-09:55 Selected oral communication - Elizabeth Nicholson (University of Bristol, UK) CD200 depresses basal transmission by an NMDA-receptor dependent mechanism 09:55-10:10 Selected oral communication - Michelle L. Pierce (Newcastle University, UK) Transient cortical gamma oscillations: a role for GluK1-containing kainate receptors 10:10-10:25 Selected oral communication - Nadia Luheshi (University of Manchester, UK) Nuclear retention of IL-1á: dampening cell death-induced inflammation in the brain 10:25-10:40 Selected oral communication - Robert Nunan Role of immune cells on hippocampal neurogenesis in a postnatal culture system 10:40-10:55 Selected oral communication - Ben Pearson (University of Cambridge, UK) Using saccadic latency to assess traumatic brain injury 11:00-11:30 Coffee/tea break with poster viewing

Hot Topic Two: Promega Awards Chair(s) Andrew Randall 11:30-11:45 Leila Mohamed Luheshi (University of Cambridge, UK) Inhibiting the aggregation and toxicity of amyloid beta in vivo using an engineered amyloid beta binding protein 11:45-12:00 Kim Van der Heiden (Imperial College London, UK) Activation of Nrf2 by the dietary antioxidant sulforaphane protects endothelial cells at atherosusceptible sites from exhibiting a pro-inflammatory state 12:00-12:15 Carlos Filipe Pereira (MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, UK) Chromatin events underlying somatic cell reprogramming 12:15-12:30 Gavin Jell (Imperial College London, UK) “Self-heal” activating materials for tissue regeneration 12:30-12:45 Dafni Moschidou (Imperial College London, UK) A population of c-Kit+ CXCR4+ embryonic-like fetal stem cells found in 1st trimester amniotic fluid is capable of embryoid body formation 12:45-13:00 Kerstin Voelz (University of Birmingham, UK) Cytokine signaling regulates the outcome of intracellular macrophage parasitism by the fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans

Poster sessions with lunch 13:00 Start lunch 13:10-13:40 Poster session one 13:40-14:10 Poster session two

Science in the world of work: things you can do with science! 14:10-14:45 Matt Jones - room one (University of Bristol, UK) Passion, people, places, pounds and ponies 14:10-14:45 Laurie Smith - room three (The Academy of Medical Sciences, UK) Science policy as a career 14:10-14:45 Andrew Impey - room two Life after the lab - do transferable skills really exist? 14:45-15:15 Coffee/tea break with poster viewing

Hot Topic Three: Neurological disorders Chair(s) Matt Jones (University of Bristol, UK) 15:15-15:30 Selected oral communication - Nora Vyas (Kings College London, UK) The effect of COMT Val158Met polymorphism on cognition in adolescents with psychosis: A family-based study 15:30-15:45 Selected oral communication - Rabiah Chaudhry (Imperial college London, UK) Study into specific cortical thickness changes in frontal and temporal lobes in schizophrenia and depression 15:45-16:00 Selected oral communication - Wei-Chih Chang (University of Birmingham, UK) Neuronal activity preceding the epileptic seizures 16:00-16:15 Selected oral communication - Heather Martin (University of Aberdeen, UK) Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in parkinson’s disease 16:15-16:30 Selected oral communication - Dayne Beccano-Kelly (University of Leeds, UK) Voltage gated potassium channel Kv4.3 is modulated by hypoxia and the AD related peptide Aâ in rat and human tissue 16:30-17:00 Peter Reinhart (Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, USA) To be confirmed 17:00-17:25 Promega UK Young Life Scientists' Awards and prize giving with Professor Clive Orchard 17:25-17:30 Meeting close - concluding remarks and award of poster prizes 17:30-18:00 Drinks reception with poster viewing - open to all attendees 18:30 Conference Dinner at Sypglass restaurant