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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

This meeting will cover molecular mechanisms controlling circuit assembly including transcriptional and translational control, mechanisms of cell recognition, dendritic patterning, synapse formation, and plasticity.

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.

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.

A joint meeting between HHMI's Janelia Research Campus and the Max Planck Society, Germany, this meeting aims to bring together experts in neural circuit reconstruction at the finest and most complete level possible. A previous meeting, in Sep. 2007 at Janelia, was focused on EM preparation and imaging technology. The 2009 meeting in Berlin will include work in progress in this area but will be more focused on efforts to turn 3D EM or other super-resolution data into neuronal connectivity diagrams. Progress in the development of semi-automated labeling and tracing will be covered as well as attempts to automate completely the analysis using techniques from image processing, computer vision, and machine learning. Also covered will be examples of neural circuits where knowledge of most connections is likely to be essential to understand the neural computation performed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.