Satellite Meeting of the FENS Forum 2022 in Paris

About the Conference

The developing brain is not a small adult brain, all ionic currents and patterns are unique to immature cells. Immature patterns help validate developmental processes and the formation of brain networks. Early insults deviate these processes leading to misplaced/misconnected neurons that remain endowed with immature features and are the direct cause of the pathological sequels. This Neuroarcheology concept is illustrated by the GABA polarity shift with depolarizing/excitatory actions in immature neurons and in many neurodevelopmental (Autism, Rett, infantile epilepsies, maternal immune activation etc.) and neurodegenerative disorders like Huntington’s or Parkinson disease. The Neuroarcheology concept also suggests that since neurons that remain “immature” due to the inaugurating insult are the main cause of brain disorders they are also a possible target of therapeutic treatments. This concept raises many key questions: how can a single pathogenic, genetic or environmental event lead to such a diversity of disorders? Are there specific common biological mechanisms? How early is it possible to identify the triggering event and its deviations? Is the initial genetic insult amenable to treatment by genetic manipulations? Discussing these issues is important because of the current lack of suitable treatment to most neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.

This satellite meeting of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) is aimed at bringing together experts that have very different views and perspectives in order to debate how the data available can help us understand the pathogenesis of brain disorders and identify possible clues to develop novel treatments. Basic scientists, clinicians, pharmacists and experts of drug development will discuss these issues providing a fresh look on how should we proceed to better understand brain development and treat brain disorders.

You can find the abstracts of the speakers here : FENS 2022 - Abstracts of the speakers

Organizers

Yehezkel Ben-Ari and Nick Spitzer

Chairs and Scientific Committee

Yehezkel Ben-Ari, Arnold Kriegstein, Nick Spitzer and Melanie Woodin

Speakers

Yehezkel Ben-Ari (Marseille, France)
Frédérique Bonnet-Brilhault (Tours, France)
Charles Bourque (Montreal, Canada)
Hilgo Bruining (Amsterdam, Holland)
György Buzsáki (New York, USA)
Enrico Cherubini (Roma, Italy)
Eric Courchesne (San Diego,USA)
Eric Delpire (Nashville, USA)
Alexandra Durr (Paris, France)
Gord Fishell (Boston, USA)
Sandrine Humbert (Grenoble, France)
Arnold Kriegstein (San Francisco, USA)
Heiko Luhmann (Mainz, Germany)
Marina Sirota (San Francisco, USA)
Harald Sontheimer (Charlottesville, USA)
Nick Spitzer (San Diego, USA)
Melanie Woodin (Toronto, Canada)

Registration and abstract submission

The meeting, coffee breaks and cocktail dinner are free. However, registration is mandatory. Residents and basic science students (undergraduate and doctoral) and researchers (at all levels) are encouraged to participate. PhD students and early-career Postdocs are invited to submit a 1-page summary (Arial, 11) of their research plan and projects. 1 PhD student and 1 Postdoc amongst the proposals will be selected by the scientific committee to present their project during a 10min talk and will receive 2000€ and 3000€ respectively.
Registration and abstract submission: please fill this registration form
Registration deadline: 30 JUNE 2022
Abstract deadline: 30 JUNE 2022

Program

Location

Rive Montparnasse, 44 Boulevard de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris

-> Google Maps link

Sponsor

An international meeting sponsored by IBEN
IBEN is a non-for-profit organization created by Constance Hammond, Yasmina, Tamara and Yehezkel Ben-Ari. It is dedicated to increase our knowledge on developmental brain disorders notably Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), infantile epilepsy and Fragile X Syndrome. It also supports awareness among general public, communication or formation. An ongoing supported project aim at helping parents and families with children/adolescents with ASD by training school life assistant.