April 23, 2004
Immune and Inflammatory Responses in the Central Nervous System
Welcome
The contribution of inflammation-related processes to neurological diseases has been increasingly recognized in recent years. Studies of primary neuroimmunological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis as well as neurodegenerative disorders with an inflammatory component, including Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease, have received particular attention in basic research and clinical arenas. Inflammatory aspects of CNS trauma, toxin exposure and psychological disorders are also currently under investigation. Furthermore, the immunological/inflammatory consequence of gene therapy in the CNS is a timely and important issue.
This Symposium addressed the roles of innate and adaptive immunity in response to CNS insults and various disease processes. Specific topics included the immune functions of glial cells, factors controlling blood brain barrier integrity, leukocyte trafficking to the CNS, CNS cytokine/chemokine production, animal models of neuroinflammatory/ neuroimmunological diseases and clinical application of basic research findings.
Speakers
Intravascular Alzheimer’s amyloid-B Linked to AB Deposition in the Brain
Dr. Berislav Zlokovic is Professor and Associate Chair of Neurosurgery; Director of Frank P. Smith Laboratories for Neurosurgical Research and Neuroscience
Communication between Immune System and the CNS via Cytokine/Chemokine Networks
Dr. Etty Benveniste is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy; and Professor in the Departments of Neurobiology and Physiology and Biophysics
Initiation of Inflammation in the CNS and Regulation of Blood Brain Barrier Integrity
Dr. William Hickey is Chairman of Pathology Department at Dartmouth Medical School
Involvement of Chemokines and Their Receptors in Leukocyte Invasion, Differentiation, Activation, Tissue Destruction, and Repair in the CNS
Dr. Richard Ransohoff is Director of Neuroinflammation Research Center in Lerner Research Institute
Models of Multiple Sclerosis, Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis, Mediated by CD4+ T Cells Specific for Myelin Peptides
Dr. Benjamin Segal is Assistant Professor of Neurology and NeuroImmunology
Mechanisms of Tolerance and Autoimmunity, Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis
Dr. Joan Goverman is Associate Professor of Immunology
Coverage of the Event
Neuroscience Graduate Student Irah King (right) opened the 2004 Schmitt Symposium by welcoming the speakers and the audience. Irah did a great job all day, as he introduced each speaker and shuttled Symposium participants from discussions to lunch to panels to dinner.
Etty Benveniste and William Hickey presenting
People chatting after a talk (left) and a group getting ready for the symposium talk (right).
Documents
Symposium Program
