ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN
MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
June 27– July 13, 2008
Application Deadline: March 15, 2008

This newly revised laboratory and lecture course is designed to provide neuroscientists at all levels with a conceptual and practical understanding of several of the most advanced techniques in molecular neuroscience. The course curriculum is divided into three sections: an extensive and up-to-date set of laboratory exercises, daily lectures covering the theoretical and practical aspects of the various methods used in the laboratory, and a series of evening research seminars. The informal and interactive evening lectures will be given by leading molecular neuroscientists and will serve to illustrate the ways in which the various experimental approaches have been used to advance specific areas of neurobiology. In this year's course, the laboratory portion will include topics such as: an introduction to the design and use of animal virus vectors in neurobiology; the use of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) for regulating the expression of specific genes in neurons; practical exercises in gene delivery systems including mammalian cell transfection protocols and single cell electroporation techniques for targeted gene transfer in vivo; an introduction to overall strategies, use and design of BAC transgenic vectors; multiplex and whole genome expression analyses using the most recent DNA microarray technologies (including labeled probe preparation, data analyses, mining, and interpretation); quantitative real time RT-PCR analyses from small numbers of cells (RNA purification, PCR optimization, interpretation of results); single cell PCR and cDNA library construction; methods and application of RNA amplification (aRNA). Each laboratory module will be followed by comprehensive data analyses and interpretation, protocol troubleshooting, and suggestions for ways to improve or modify the existing technique. Finally, course participants will be introduced to bioinformatics and a wide range of internet resources which are available to molecular neuroscientists.

Speakers in the 2007 course included:
Robert Darnell, HHMI/The Rockefeller University
Beverly Davidson, University of Iowa College of Medicine
Peter Hotez, George Washington University
Kenneth Kosik, Neuroscience Reseach Institute
Jeff Lichtman, Harvard University
Pierre-Marie Lledo, Pasteur Institute, France
Donald Lo, Duke Center for Drug Discovery
Ardem Patapoutian, The Scripps Research Institute
Peter Reinhart, Wyeth Research
Karel Svoboda, HHMI Janelia Farm Reserach Campus,
George Yancopoulos, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Cost (including board and lodging): $3,555
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