A neural stem cell conference under way in Cairns from today builds on Queensland’s growing reputation as a centre for neuroscience excellence, leading the way particularly in the Asia–Pacific region.
Organised by UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), the conference brings together 90 of the world’s top scientists in neural stem cell and brain development research from 11 different countries.
QBI research has implications for many common mental and neurological disorders such as dementia, psychosis, depression, anxiety, neurotrauma, pain, Motor Neuron Disease, stroke, addiction and brain tumours.
QBI is home to one of the largest groups working in the area of neural stem cells – including Professor Perry Bartlett, Professor Brent Reynolds and Dr Linda Richards – who in 1992 co-discovered that the
adult brain has neural stem cell (precursors) which have the potential to produce new neurons.
“This conference brings together many of the world’s leading researchers in neural stem cells and explores their role in brain function and disease,” Professor Bartlett said.
Speakers at the conference will include distinguished scientists from Oxford, Cambridge and Yale – as well as the famous Max Planck and Pasteur institutes.
“The quest to regulate neural stem cells has become the focus of neuroscientists around the world, and will lead to revolutionary new treatments for mental illness and degenerative diseases,” Professor
Bartlett said.
Established in 2003, the Queensland Brain Institute is a joint initiative of the Queensland Government, The University of Queensland and The Atlantic Philanthropies.
Conference title: Stem Cells, Axon Guidance, and Cell Migration in the Developing and Adult Brain (8–11 July 2007). Venue: Shangri-La Hotel, Marina, Cairns
Media enquiries: Ron Hohenhaus – Tel: 0434 601 066
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