Past Conferences
This meeting was the continuation of the "Maggot Meeting" series. Containing about 10,000 neurons, the nervous system of the Drosophila larva is complex enough to provide insights into the organizational principles of larger nervous systems, yet the relatively small numbers of cells in larvae provide distinct advantages over adults for linking behavior to underlying neural circuits. There have been rapid advances in EM reconstruction of larval circuits and in the generation of light-level atlases of larval neurons that are linked to specific genetic driver lines. At the same time, recently developed methods enable high resolution and high-throughput characterization of a range of larval behaviors. This high level of anatomical resolution, coupled with a growing set of genetic tools available in Drosophila and fine-detail behavioral analysis, makes the fly larva an excellent model system for moving from neural circuits to behavior. This meeting provided a timely updating of advances in the study of larval behavioral neurogenetics.
Organizers
James Truman, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Marta Zlatic, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Invited Participants
Michael Bate, University of Cambridge
Jimena Berni, University of Cambridge
Albert Cardona, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Barry Condron, University of Virginia
Chris Doe, HHMI/University of Oregon
Bertram Gerber, Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology (LIN)
Raul Godoy-Herrera, Universidad de Chile
Yuh-Nung Jan, HHMI/University of California, San Francisco
Matthias Landgraf, Cambridge University
Matthieu Louis, Center for Genomic Regulation
Liria Masuda-Nakagawa, University of Cambridge
David Morton, Oregon Health & Science University
Akinao Nose, University of Tokyo
Michael Pankratz, University of Bonn
Aravi Samuel, Harvard University
Ping Shen, University of Georgia
Marla Sokolowski, University of Toronto
Simon Sprecher, University of Fribourg
Andreas Thum, University of Konstanz
Dan Tracey, Duke University
Hongyan Wang, Duke NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore
Fengwei Yu, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
The observation that in most neurodegenerative diseases early and quite striking axonal and synaptic degradation occurs, has led to a dramatic increase in interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying loss of axonal integrity. This meeting was meant to bring together leading researchers who are shaping the burgeoning field of axonal and synaptic auto-destruction. We invited a slate of exceptional researchers to speak on neurite degeneration in a variety of settings (e.g. developmental axon and synapse elimination, neuromuscular junction biology, Wallerian degeneration, peripheral neuropathy, and neurodegenerative disease) and model genetic organisms. Presentations focused on addressing central questions including: (1) What are the intrinsic mechanisms that drive axon auto-destruction after injury or in disease? (2) How do changes in axonal transport or RNA metabolism affect axonal maintenance or degeneration? (3) What extrinsic factors influence axon degeneration (e.g. glial-derived)? (4) How do these pathways modulate functional loss after axon injury or in neurodegenerative disease? Discussion sessions allowed a frank assessment of the status of the field, framing of key future goals, and (we hope) initiation of productive collaborations.
Organizers
Robert Burgess, The Jackson Laboratory
Marc Freeman, HHMI/University of Massachusetts Medical School
Erika Holzbaur, University of Pennsylvania
Invited Participants
Susan Ackerman, HHMI/The Jackson Laboratory
Gary Bassell, Emory University School of Medicine
Christine Beattie, Ohio State University
Frank Bradke, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Valeria Cavalli, Washington University in St. Louis
Michael Coleman, The Babraham Institute
Catherine Collins, University of Michigan
Felipe Court, Catholic University of Chile
Graeme Davis, University of California, San Francisco
Valina Dawson, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Michael Fainzilber, Weizmann Institute of Science
Aaron Gitler, Stanford University
Jonathan Glass, Emory University School of Medicine
Michael Granato, University of Pennsylvania
Christopher Henderson, Columbia University
Simon John, HHMI/The Jackson Laboratory
Martin Kerschensteiner, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Virginia Lee, University of Pennsylvania
Mary Logan, Oregon Health & Science University
Jeffrey Milbrandt, Washington University in St. Louis
Thomas Misgeld, Technical University Munich
Klaus-Armin Nave, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine
Guy Rouleau, University of Montreal
Thomas Schwarz, Harvard Medical School
Charlotte Sumner, Johns Hopkins University
Marc Tessier-Lavigne, The Rockefeller University
Identifying the functional organization of neural networks is key to understanding how the brain processes and stores information. This workshop, a follow-up to the first one held in fall 2010, continued to explore advances in the genetic, molecular, optical and computational tools that facilitate neural circuit reconstruction by light microcopy. Topics discussed include: genetic methods, cytochemistry, light-based acquisition strategies and informatics.
Organizers
Jeff Lichtman, Harvard University
Gene Myers, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Gerald Rubin, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Stephen Smith, Stanford University School of Medicine
Invited Participants
Giorgio Ascoli, George Mason University
Eric Betzig, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Randy Bruno, Columbia University
Ed Callaway, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Albert Cardona, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Hollis Cline, The Scripps Research Institute
Winfried Denk, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research
Barry Dickson, Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna
Michael Hausser, University College London
Josh Huang, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Philipp Keller, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Jason Kerr, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics
Tzumin Lee, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Loren Looger, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Maryann Martone, University of California, San Diego
Kristina Micheva, Stanford University
Partha Mitra, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Aljoscha Nern, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Pavel Osten, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Hanchuan Peng, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Badri Roysam, University of Houston
Joshua Sanes, Harvard University
Stephan Sigrist, Freie Universität Berlin
Charles Stevens, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Karel Svoboda, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
James Truman, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Roger Tsien, HHMI/University of California, San Diego
Rachel Wong, University of Washington
Hongkui Zeng, Allen Institute for Brain Science
Xiaowei Zhuang, HHMI/Harvard University
Larry Zipursky, HHMI/University of California, Los Angeles
A follow-up to the first held in spring 2010, this conference focused not on pure image analysis, but instead stressed the importance of extracting useful and biologically relevant descriptions and knowledge from image contents in a systematic, comprehensive and high-throughput way. We will review the state-of-the-art in the related fields, and promote the development of critical tools to accelerate the discovery of useful knowledge from image contents. Among others, participants discussed topics relevant to how biologists and biomedical researchers are currently annotating 3D images on different scales, and how these methods can be improved, as well as how to manage complex annotations with regard to ontology and database limitations.
Organizers
Erik Meijering, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam
Gene Myers, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics
Hanchuan Peng, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Invited Participants
Manfred Auer, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Chandrajit Bajaj, University of Texas at Austin
Zhirong Bao, Sloan-Kettering Institute
Gaudenz Danuser, Harvard Medical School
James Duncan, Yale University
Kevin Eliceiri, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Michael Hawrylycz, Allen Institute for Brain Science
Tianzi Jiang, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Boudewijn Lelieveldt, Leiden University Medical Center
Stephen Lockett, National Cancer Institute- Frederick
Fuhui Long, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Anant Madabhushi, Rutgers University
B. Manjunath, University of California, Santa Barbara
Dimitris Metaxas, Rutgers University
Anne Plant, National Institute of Standards and Technology
William Ryu, University of Toronto
Jianbo Shi, University of Pennsylvania
Tanveer Syeda-Mahmood, IBM Almaden Research Center
Dimitrios Vavylonis, Lehigh University
Yue Wang, Virginia Tech Research Center - Arlington
Robert Waterston, University of Washington
Yihong Yang, National Institute on Drug Abuse/NIH
Building on discussions from the first two meetings in this series, this conference showcased the development of cutting-edge tools and technology for imaging, from cells to intact animals. Sessions covered the design and discovery of new fluorescent proteins (and intriguing alternatives), and their incorporation into sensors for signaling molecules and cellular states. Innovative imaging modalities making use of such reagents, as well as biological discoveries gleaned from such experiments, will also be presented. It is our hope that the meeting can present a clear picture of how far these tools have come in recent years, and what additional reagents and capabilities are required to continue the advance of the Age of Light.
Organizers
Loren Looger, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Atsushi Miyawaki, RIKEN Brain Science Institute
Ryohei Yasuda, Duke University Medical Center
Jin Zhang, The Johns Hopkins University
Invited Participants
Eric Betzig, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Sarah Caddick, The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Robert Campbell, University of Alberta
Adam Cohen, Harvard University
Bruce Cohen, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Daniel Evanko, Nature Methods
Oliver Griesbeck, Max Plank Institute of Neurobiology
Fritjof Helmchen, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich
Thomas Hughes, Montana State University
Samie Jaffrey, Cornell University, Weill Medical College
Jason Kerr, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics
Baljit Khakh, University of California, Los Angeles
Jinhyun Kim, Korea Institute of Science and Techology, Seoul
Thomas Knopfel, RIKEN Brain Science Institute
Leon Lagnado, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Michael Lin, Stanford University
Takeharu Nagai, Osaka University
Michael Nitabach, Yale School of Medicine
Masamichi Ohkura, Saitama University Brain Science Institute
Amy Palmer, University of Colorado at Boulder
Vincent Pieribone, The John B. Pierce Laboratory / Yale University
David Piston, Vanderbilt University
Carsten Schultz, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
Hari Shroff, National Institutes of Health
Karel Svoboda, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Lin Tian, University of California, Davis
Vladislav Verkhusha, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Samuel Wang, Princeton University
Jenny Yang, Georgia State University
Gary Yellen, Harvard Medical School
David Yue, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Hongkui Zeng, Allen Institute for Brain Science
Neuronal classification is particularly complex in mammalian nervous systems. Although the extent of neuronal diversity is daunting at the whole-brain scale, the problem can be parceled by leveraging the considerable specificity among different regions. This conference focused on the cerebral cortex with a particular emphasis on the rodent hippocampus. Neurons are commonly phenotyped based on their observed properties, including morphology (axonal-dendritic shape, location, and connectivity), physiology (rhythms, spiking patterns, membrane properties, synaptic plasticity), and molecular identity (neurotransmitter, protein markers, gene expression, enzymatic cascades, transcription factors). The ultimate goal is to integrate neuronal classification with the rich evidence on computational processing in the hippocampus (memory storage and retrieval, spatial exploration and navigation, etc.) and related cortical areas. The foremost worldwide researchers in the field jointly reviewed the status of current knowledge, identify open scientific questions, discuss new directions of research, and germinate consensus towards a systematic organization of available information.
Organizers
Giorgio Ascoli, George Mason University
Thomas Klausberger, Medical University of Vienna
Massimo Scanziani, HHMI/University of California, San Diego
Peter Somogyi, Medical Research Council (MRC)
Invited Participants
Afia Ali, The School of Pharmacy, University of London
Marco Capogna, Medical Research Council (MRC)
Rosa Cossart, Université de la Méditerranée
Norbert Hájos, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungary
Michael Hasselmo, Boston University
Peter Jonas, Institute of Science and Technology Austria
Dimitri Kullmann, University College London
Karri Lamsa, Medical Research Council (MRC)
Albert Lee, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
Ed Lein, Allen Institute for Brain Science
Attila Losonczy, Columbia University
Gianmaria Maccaferri, Northwestern University
Chris McBain, National Institutes of Health
Zoltan Nusser, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungary
Bernardo Rudy, NYU Langone Medical Center
Ivan Soltesz, University of California, Irvine
Nelson Spruston, Janelia Farm Research Campus/HHMI
János Szabadics, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungary
Alex Thomson, UCL School of Pharmacy, University of London
Menno Witter, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
This meeting focused on recent developments in circadian biology, with an emphasis on mechanisms of circadian clock oscillation, coordination between oscillators, and connections between circadian clocks and physiology.
Conference Agenda (pdf)
Organizers
Erin O’Shea, HHMI/Harvard University
Joe Takahashi, HHMI/University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Invited Participants
Joseph Bass, Northwestern University
Deborah Bell-Pedersen, Texas A&M University
Michael Brunner, University of Heidelberg
Michael Do, Harvard Medical Center
Jay Dunlap, Dartmouth Medical Center
Susan Golden, University of California, San Diego
Carla Green, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Michael Hastings, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
Samer Hattar, Johns Hopkins University
John Hogenesch, University of Pennsylvania
Steve Kay, University of California, San Diego
Takao Kondo, Nagoya University
Achim Kramer, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Martha Merrow, University of Groningen
Felix Naef, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Michael Nitabach, Yale School of Medicine
John O'Neill, University of Cambridge
Andrew Oates, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology & Genetics
David Rand, Warwick Systems Biology Centre
Rama Ranganathan, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Michael Rosbash, HHMI/Brandeis University
Ueli Schibler, University of Geneva
Benjamin Tu, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Hiroki Ueda, RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology
David Welsh, University of California, San Diego
Brian Zoltowski, Southern Methodist University
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Over the past few years, an increasing number of laboratories have targeted the central complex and nearby regions of the insect brain for anatomical, physiological and behavioral studies. This meeting brought together a cross-section of such researchers, and others studying related topics in higher sensory processing and sensorimotor integration. The meeting format (short theme-focused talks, chaired panels to end each themed session) was intended to enable focused and specific discussions about the issues of each session, details of which will follow in the weeks to come. We requested that participants whose research touches the central complex try to present their data and ideas in the context of specific, testable hypotheses about the region’s function and attempt to relate their findings to those of others in the field. We believed that this effort, in contrast to the more typical approach of providing a narrative of the lab’s findings, would lead to more productive discussions and help achieve the goal of the meeting, as reflected in its title. Asa Winther, Karolinska Institutet |
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This meeting focused on various aspects of circuit assembly including axon guidance, lamina targeting specificity, synapse formation, dendritogenesis, reaction to injury and signaling (including RNA and cytoskeletal regulation in neurites) and activity-dependent processes. This will be a small meeting with some additional speakers and about an equal number of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. We anticipated that the small size and high quality would encourage discussion.
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The size and complexity of neural circuits, and of the experimental datasets collected for their study, motivate neuroscientists to study and foster advances in machine learning and statistical inference. Neuroscientists need both innovative new tools for large-scale data analysis, and a better formal understanding of learning and inference that could illuminate how neural circuits function. This meeting brought together creative researchers from a broad range of the machine learning and statistical inference community, including many from outside neuroscience, to discuss current research frontiers and perhaps to spark new ideas for applications to problems in neural circuit analysis. |
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This was the third meeting devoted to neural circuit reconstruction at the finest and most complete level possible; previous meetings were held in 2007 at Janelia Farm and in 2009 in Berlin. Because of the highly interdisciplinary nature of the field, this meeting brought together experts in imaging hardware, imaging automation, tissue preparation, image processing, manual tracing, computer vision, and machine learning. Also covered were examples of neural circuits where knowledge of most connections is likely to be essential to understand the neural computation performed.
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This meeting was a follow-up to the first one held in spring 2009. With the development of advanced imaging techniques, the number of biological images acquired in digital form is growing rapidly, resulting in large-scale bioimage databases. The systematic and high-throughput analysis and mining of the information in such bioimage databases are vital to the success of a wide spectrum of studies in molecular biology, from intracellular processes to whole-organ cell-resolution models. The goals of this conference were (1) to bring together interdisciplinary researchers to present the latest advances in image data analysis and informatics methods that are, or might be, relevant to such bioimage analysis problems and (2) to provide a forum for an in-depth discussion of the challenges in this area and their possible solutions. Organizers Invited Participants |
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In this meeting, we discussed neuron type identity across various model systems. We focused on the transcriptional mechanisms that define and maintain a particular neuron type identity. We also explored neuronal lineages and delve into how diverse neuron types are specified during development. Conference Agenda (PDF) Organizers Invited Participants |
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Single molecule biophysics and systems biology are two contemporary disciplines that rely on physical tools and mathematical modeling to understand underpinnings of biological phenomena. New developments in cellular imaging and absolute quantification at the single molecule level are beginning to bridge the two disciplines, with the potential for facilitating a new quantitative understanding of biological processes. The interface between these two areas holds great promise of fertile interaction and new discovery. In this meeting we looked forward to hearing talks on new and innovative tools and technologies, as well as active discussions among field experts. Conference Agenda (PDF) Organizers Invited Participants |
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This meeting brought together experts in the field of motor control and will encompass both vertebrate and invertebrate (and robotic) systems. Talks and discussions focused on the neural processes underlying movement, including the characterization of spinal cord neurons, sensorimotor circuits, muscle synergies, motor learning and brain-machine interfaces. We enjoyed hearing a historic perspective, as well as the current state of the art in these areas. Conference Agenda (PDF) Invited Participants |
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The study of the neural basis of birdsong has provided insight into a variety of issues central to neurobiology—neural coding, sensorimotor coordination, developmental plasticity, learning, and memory. Recently, interest in the mouse as a model system for vocal communication has been growing. Mice use ultrasonic vocalizations during social encounters, and there have been some suggestions that male mice produce a vocal signal that may be analogous to birdsong. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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This meeting was a follow-up to "New frontiers in mitochondrial science: Integration into cell signaling," held in spring 2008. With the finding that ATP production is merely one part of mitochondrial function, comes the need to investigate their non-ATP related roles. Recent studies show mitochondrial involvement in major cellular metabolic pathways, including nucleic acid biosynthesis, hormone synthesis, and metabolism of cholesterol and neurotransmitters. Moreover, mitochondrial defects have been implicated in a wide spectrum of over 200 diseases, including Parkinson's disease, diabetes, heart disease, and likely many more that have yet to be discovered. This meeting brought together leaders in the field to discuss the most recent findings and best approaches to dissecting the expanding cellular roles of mitochondria. |
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This workshop, a follow-up to the first one held in fall 2008, focused on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of learning and memory in Drosophila and the honeybee. It included discussions of learning that occurs through several different sensory systems along with the anatomy, cell and molecular biology, physiology, and genetics that supports memory formation and persistence. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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This meeting was a follow-up to the first one held in spring of 2009. Through a series of talks, panel discussions and posters we heard the latest updates on the development, structure and function of the cortex. Conference Agenda (PDF)
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| ORGANIZERS: Jennifer Doudna, HHMI/UC Berkeley Bruce Sullenger, Duke University |
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The meeting emphasized two broad themes, including 1) Identifying general principles of neural computation by studying circuits at different levels, and 2) Identifying causal relationships between the biophysical, circuit, and functional characteristics of neurons in vivo. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
| ORGANIZERS: Andrea Hasenstaub, The Salk Institute Vivek Jayaraman, Janelia Farm/HHMI Gabe Murphy, Janelia Farm/HHMI Nicholas Priebe, University of Texas at Austin
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New genetic, molecular, optical and computational tools are transforming light microscopy in ways that offer the promise of neural circuit reconstruction at previously inconceivable levels of detail and completeness. This workshop explored current advances in light-based approaches to high-resolution neural circuit imaging and analysis, including:
We also had a session devoted to some of the high-throughput programs currently underway or in the planning stages. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This conference was a follow-up to the one held in 2008. At the first meeting, we highlighted the recent development of new genetic reagents for the exogenous control of neural circuit activity, including naturally evolved light-gated ion channels and pumps, mutagenized temperature-sensitive synaptic transmission components, rationally designed photo-switches, and "orthogonal" drug/receptor pairs, among others. In this meeting, we brought together leaders in the field to review progress in the design and use of current tools, and, even more importantly, to focus on the development of novel tools and their potential applications. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This conference was a follow-up to the first one, held in 2008. We considered current challenges and recent advances in computer vision and image analysis techniques that may advance neuroscience studies, and vice versa. Topics included: deriving meaningful 3D reconstructions of cellular architecture and wiring diagrams of a brain, medical and biological image analysis methods for studying the brain, developing automatic tracking and behavior analysis algorithms for model animals, and how neuroscience can guide the design of more powerful computer vision and image analysis algorithms, systems, and image mining mechanisms. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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Genes are transcribed within an organized nucleoplasm where their function and three-dimensional environment interact. At the frontier between molecular and cell biology, biophysics and mathematics, this meeting will cover recent advances enabling measurement of transcriptional activity within living cells and providing new insights into transcription mechanisms. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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The goal of this meeting is to bring together people working on structural plasticity in vivo, with a focus on the recent longitudinal imaging approaches and related studies. We hope to identify open problems and develop a consensus on standards for measurement and analysis, as well as to discuss imaging approaches beyond structure that might allow measurement of functional synaptic plasticity in vivo. The format will be a mixture of talks, poster sessions and breakout discussions. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting will bring together groups working on circuitry, behavior and in vivo physiology of the whisker system. In addition to standard presentations, this meeting will offer overview lectures and small workshops addressing various topics, such as the role of vibrissa sensorimotor control in the larger framework of neuroscience, advances in anatomical methods, including possible coordination of efforts in quantitative anatomy, and prospects for delineating the molecular basis and cellular pathways of mechanosensory input from the vibrissa. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting is a follow-up to the first one, held in spring 2008, and will focus on new strategies and methods for imaging biological samples. Advances in resolution, sensitivity, labeling and contrast mechanisms will be reviewed. Optical methods will be deeply covered, but non-optical methods will also be discussed, as well as new contrast mechanisms and “activity imaging." Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This conference will focus not on pure image analysis, but will instead stress the importance of extracting useful and biologically relevant descriptions and knowledge from image contents in a systematic, comprehensive and high-throughput way. It will discuss the state-of-the-art in the related fields, and promote the development of critical tools that will accelerate the discovery of useful knowledge from image contents. Among others, participants will discuss topics relevant to how biologists are currently annotating 3D images on different scales, and how these methods can be improved, as well as how to manage complex annotations with regard to ontology and database limitations. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting will explore progress in our understanding of the sense of smell from diverse viewpoints. Participants will discuss how the olfactory map develops, how it functions as a microcircuit, and how the olfactory system contributes to innate behaviors in the laboratory and in the wild. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This workshop will focus on emerging genetic methods that facilitate the use of the fly for neurobiological research, and on discussion of remaining gaps in technology and how they might be filled. Topics of interest include: (1) strategies for controlling gene expression in time and space; (2) tools to map and manipulate neural circuits; and (3) genetically encoded sensors and modulators of neuronal function. The workshop will be limited to 50 participants and there will be ample opportunity for discussion. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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The focus of this meeting is to discuss recent advances in the neural mechanisms controlling reproductive behaviors. Speakers will be invited to address the implications of these new findings across different model organisms in order to identify shared as well as unique organizational principles, and to initiate a discussion on outstanding technical and conceptual issues in the field. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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Hypothalamic neural circuits are important in physiology and for fundamental behavioral motivations associated with survival, defense, and reproduction. This meeting is planned to help understand the structure and function of these complex neural circuits. A further aim of the meeting is to bring together hypothalamic experts with innovative tool developers to consider the impact of new tools for manipulating and imaging neuron activity. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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Building on discussions from the meeting two years ago, we will showcase the development of cutting-edge tools and technology for in vivo imaging. Sessions will cover the design and discovery of new fluorescent proteins and synthetic dyes, and their incorporation into sensors for signaling molecules and cellular states. Innovative imaging modalities making use of such reagents will also be presented. It is our hope that the meeting can present a clear picture of how far these tools have come in recent years, and what additional reagents and capabilities are required to advance imaging into the twenty-first century. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting continues the discussion during the first one held in the fall of 2007. Our focus will be on recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of protein synthesis at the neuronal synapse. We are interested in your latest work and in understanding how this mechanism contributes to learning and memory. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting will focus on recent experimental and theoretical advances in the behavioral neurobiology of C. elegans. Speakers will be invited to address the questions of how the new findings are likely to shape the ultimate model, and what technical and organizational resources are needed to accelerate this project. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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The focus of this workshop will be the structure, biochemistry, and varied functions of septins. Presentations from many different disciplines will provide an opportunity for the exchange of information between medical researchers and basic scientists working on model organisms such as yeast, nematodes, Drosophila, and mouse. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting will focus on current advances in our understanding of cortical circuitry through presentations from leading labs and open forum discussions. In addition, speakers will be asked to address larger questions such as: Is there a generic cortical circuit? If so, what does this circuit do and how does it do it? Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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The goals of this conference are (1) to bring together interdisciplinary researchers to present the latest advances in image data analysis and informatics methods that are, or might be, relevant to such bioimage analysis problems, and (2) to provide a forum for an in-depth discussion of the challenges in this area and their possible solutions. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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Recent scientific advances in Drosophila and other insects have shown the significance of neuropeptides and other neurmodulators in the function of neural circuits. This meeting will focus on work from leading labs in the field. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting will cover molecular mechanisms controlling circuit assembly including transcriptional and translational control, mechanisms of cell recognition, dendritic patterning, synapse formation, and plasticity. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This small meeting of leading scientists working in the areas of molecular genetics, anatomy of neuronal circuits, and visual behavior will provide a forum for vigorous discussion of novel approaches and insights into visual system function. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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Fish, flies—and even worms—show periods of behavioral quiescence and sensory insensitivity that resemble sleep. These sleep states likely share mechanistic and functional features with human sleep. Extensive genetic tools to identify mutations and brain regions which control sleep are available for these model organisms. This meeting will focus on recent advances and will provide a forum for discussion of current opportunities. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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Participants at this conference will consider current challenges and recent progress in computer vision and image analysis techniques that may advance neuroscience studies. We will explore such topics as deriving meaningful 3D reconstructions of cellular architecture and wiring diagrams of the brain, and how neuroscience can provide insights into the design of more powerful computer vision and image analysis algorithms, image systems, and image-mining mechanisms. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting will promote understanding of the role of chromatin regulatory mechanisms in pluripotency and will help resolve controversy surrounding the role of specific genes and processes. Current evidence suggests that stem cells have a specific chromatin state essential to their self-renewal and ability to give rise to multiple lineages. A number of genes have been implicated in establishing this pluripotent state, and some of these are also likely to be involved in reprogramming somatic nuclei to a pluripotent state. A clear understanding of these mechanisms could pave the way to the production of cell types and organs for regenerative medicine. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This meeting focuses on Drosophila larval neuroanatomy, behavior, and development. The types of larval behavior and physiological responses under investigation have been steadily increasing. These include different forms of movement (peristalsis, crawling, digging), feeding behavior and growth, ecdysis behavior, social behaviors (aggregation, selection of pupation sites), escape responses, reaction to sensory stimuli of diverse modalities, and learning and memory. Because of their relatively simplified nervous system, fly larvae provide distinct advantages over adults for linking behavior to underlying neural circuits. The projections of most classes of sensory and motor neurons have been described, which greatly facilitates identification of interneuronal components of distinct behavioral circuits. Electrophysiological studies of larval motor and sensory neurons are possible, and tools are becoming available for automated tracking of behavior of entire populations of larvae. Therefore, a great opportunity exists for attributing specific behaviors to clearly identifiable circuits and for altering and monitoring the activity of circuits at a fine cellular resolution. In addition, the larval nervous system provides unique insights into how hormones influence circuit growth and remodeling, and how identified stem cells relate to defined circuit components. Coupled with the powerful genetic tools available in Drosophila this is an excellent model system for investigating the way in which genes act in defined neuronal circuits to specify behavior. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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In recent years, a number of genetic reagents have been developed for the exogenous control of neural circuit activity. Naturally evolved light-gated ion channels and pumps, mutagenized temperature-sensitive synaptic transmission components, rationally designed photo-switches, and "orthogonal" drug—receptor pairs are only a few of the novel technologies unveiled. This meeting will bring together leaders in the field to highlight recent progress in tool development and applications. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This workshop will focus on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of learning and memory in Drosophila and the honeybee. It will include discussions of learning that occurs through several different sensory systems along with the anatomy, cell and molecular biology, physiology, and genetics that supports memory formation and persistence. Conference Agenda (pdf) |
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This conference brought together leading scientists in both traditional and emerging areas of mitochondrial biology. It is becoming increasingly obvious that although cellular energy production remains a critical feature of mitochondrial function, there are now exciting implications for the mitochondrial network in diverse cellular signaling pathways. This occasion provided a forum to assess our current understanding of the new opportunities in mitochondrial research. |
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New optical imaging methods were discussed, including super resolution techniques, adaptive optics, and coherent control. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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This meeting covered the post-synaptic mechanisms of memory formation in dendrites, with both developmental and functional foci. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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The meeting focused on novel approaches to the study of attention and decision-making. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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Recent technical innovations have made identified neurons accessible to in vivo electrophysiology and imaging in Drosophila, zebrafish and C. elegans. In addition, ongoing miniaturization is allowing the mouse to be used in place of the rat in many studies. This meeting brought together scientists who use physiology and genetic tools in these organisms to understand neural circuit function. The focus of the meeting was on the design and interpretation of experiments rather than on technique development. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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A fundamental challenge in biology is to understand the reproducibility of developmental programs between individuals of the same species. This developmental precision reflects the integration of spatial and sexual patterning cues with temporal control mechanisms so that important developmental transitions occur at the appropriate time. Both intrinsic gene expression programs and extrinsic cues, such as nutrition, temperature and light cycles can affect timing events. This meeting focused on discussing the molecular mechanisms that control developmental timing in a wide range of species including, but not limited to, C. elegans, Drosophila, plants, and man. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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This meeting follows from the twin meetings held here last spring: Neuroanatomy and Stereotypy of the Adult Drosophila Nervous System and Insect Behavior: Small Brains, Big Functions. These two meetings were well received and we are following them with this fused conference for next year. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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Recent structural data has shed new light on the mechanism of action of mechanically gated channels in prokaryotes. Genetics of simple animals like worms and flies has revealed good candidates for mechanically gated channels that mediate touch sensation in eukaryotes. Still unclear are what channels underlie senses like hearing and touch in mammals, and how any of the eukaryotic channels gate in response to mechanical force. This meeting brought together structural and sensory biologists working at all different levels of mechanosensation, to focus on the mechanisms of mechanical sensing by ion channels.
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This meeting focused mainly on gene regulation at the transcriptional level. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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The goal of this meeting was to discuss the challenges facing the reconstruction of complete circuit diagrams of neuronal processing units, such as vertebrate cortical columns and hippocampal circuits as well as entire invertebrate nervous systems. This meeting discussed, in multiple formats, these problems along with strategies to solve them rather than formal presentation of past research results.
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This meeting focused on new genetic methods that are needed to facilitate modern fly research and how these methods might be developed, including:
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The meeting focused on recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of protein synthesis at the neuronal synapse. We are interested in your latest work and in understanding how this mechanism contributes to learning and memory. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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This meeting showcased the development of cutting-edge tools and technology for in vivo imaging. Sessions covered the design and discovery of new fluorescent proteins and synthetic dyes, and their incorporation into sensors for signaling molecules and cellular states. Innovative imaging modalities making use of such reagents were presented. It is our hope that the meeting presented a clear picture of how far these tools have come in recent years, and what additional reagents and capabilities are required to advance imaging into the twenty-first century. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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The focus was on recent advances in phosphoinositide and inositol phosphate signaling networks. In the past decade the field has been reshaped by the identification and imaging of many new inositide messenger pathways. The goal of this meeting was to present the latest discoveries and to provide a forum for critically assessing outstanding questions and future directions as they pertain to understanding signaling specificity. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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The focus of this small meeting was to discuss the intrinsic and extrinsic factors and influences which determine the specific identities of neural cells. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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This meeting focused on standardizing the nomenclature and the basis for defining the borders of brain regions, their subdivisions as computational entities, the definition of tracts and other pathways in the adult Drosophila brain and thoracic ganglia, drawing on a wide range of anatomical imaging techniques, functional approaches, and developmental studies. Comparisons with other insect central nervous systems will suggest how some of the limitations of what can be addressed in the fly might be resolved. Discussion included the extent of stereotypy at the level of circuits, neurons, axons, and synapses. We hope to establish ways to archive and share images between labs and expand the reference resources available to orient new people to what is known about insect brain anatomy with reference to Drosophila melanogaster.
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This meeting focused on central brain and ventral ganglion functions of insects in bringing about adaptive behavior. It included methods and tools needed from neurogenetics to the simulation of circuits to assess behavior quantitatively and to unravel the underlying neuronal circuits. The meeting omitted many aspects of peripheral visual and olfactory processing, countless important molecules, and olfactory learning and memory—all topics that can fill specialized meetings by themselves. Conference Agenda (PDF) |
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Topics for this meeting included new and emerging genetic techniques and approaches for studying the nervous system in the mouse.
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The main foci for this conference were the anatomical and functional components that form the neural circuits connecting sensory input with behavioral output in the worm.
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There is a wealth of information on the functional anatomy of insect visual systems which can provide deep insights into visual behavior. This meeting brought people with this expertise into contact with molecular geneticists who think about the anatomy of the brain circuits underlying vision, more specifically how the visual system works for motion detection, color vision or polarized light detection.
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