Some of the world’s leading experts in brain research will discuss new directions in neuroscience, and how this research is expected to lead to better treatments for brain disease or injury, on Tuesday, October 23.
“Neurogenesis” – a natural process that results in creation of new nerve cells – is being heralded as one of the most important research areas in medical research.
Speakers from the Queensland Brain Institute will include Director Professor Perry Bartlett, Professor Brent Reynolds and Dr Rod Rietze. In addition, the seminar welcomes special guests Professor Richard Faull and Dr Bronwen Connor from the University of Auckland.
WHEN: Tuesday, 23 October 2007 (2pm – 4pm)
WHERE: The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland,
Building 79, St Lucia Campus
WHO:
• Professor Perry F. Bartlett, Director of the Queensland Brain Institute, will discuss how neural stem cells regulate brain development and function.
He will also discuss the mechanisms by which endogenous stem cell population
can be used to produce new neurons to replace those lost following disease
or damage in the adult brain.
• Professor Richard Faull heads a broadly based, multidisciplinary research
program on "Neurodegenerative Diseases of the Human Brain and Spinal Cord"
at the University of Auchland's Department of Anatomy with Radiology. The
program studies donated human tissue using the molecular, cellular
biological and imaging resources.
• Dr Bronwen Connor, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology and head of the Neural
Repair and Neurogenesis laboratory at the University of Auckland, will
discuss research into the potential use of stem cell therapy and gene
transfer techniques for treating brain injury and disease.
• Professor Brent Reynolds heads a Queensland Brain Institute team
specialising in developing adult neural stem cell assays, which can provide
an accurate and meaningful read-out of stem and progenitor cell number. The
assays are also being used in drug screening to identify compounds that
increase neurogenesis in the brain.
• Dr Rod Rietze heads a neural stem cell lab laboratory at the Queensland
Brain Institute whose overall aim is to understand, at a molecular and
cellular level, how endogenous mammalian neural stem cells are generated
during development, and how their actions are regulated in the adult CNS,
both under normal conditions and following disease or degeneration.
Media: For further information or to attend, please contact:
Ron Hohenhaus 3346 7543 or 0434 601 066
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