GoingToMeet

The goal of the proposed conference is to assemble a group of scientists who will discuss the molecular basis and pathophysiological consequences of brain disorders, especially neurodegenerative diseases, and who will interpret the disease processes in the context of the rapid advances in fundamental neuroscience that are currently being made. In this fashion, the conference is meant to provide a platform for an international interdisciplinary discussion that unites scientists who work on basic molecular and physiological mechanisms of brain function with researchers who study specific disease processes and/or are interested in translational approaches. Specifically, the conference has the following goals:

* To identify commonalities and differences between diverse pathogenetic processes
* To discuss the molecular and physiological components of neural circuits, and to examine changes in the circuits involved in specific brain diseases
* To assess approaches to investigate, understand, and possibly treat neurodegenerative and other neurological and psychiatric diseases

The overall format of the conference will be to interweave presentations of basic neuroscience and of specific diseases in order to foster discussion between these two approaches. This format is prompted by our concern that one of the major current limitations in the overall field of brain disease research is its relative isolation from basic neuroscience. For example, to our knowledge there is no ongoing conference series that provides a venue connecting neurodegenerative disease research to basic neuroscience. Thus we feel that there is a real need for such a meeting.