MECHANISMS OF NEURAL
DIFFERENTIATION & BRAIN TUMORS
July 30 - August 5, 2008
Application Deadline: April 15, 2008

Instructors:
Abhijit Guha, Toronto Western Research Institute, Canada
Eric Holland, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Sadhan Majumder, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

This one week discussion course will provide a clinical overview of brain tumors and emphasize molecular mechanisms involved in the growth and development of brain tumors with special emphasis on neural differentiation, signaling mechanisms, DNA replication, chromatin modulation, stem cells, mouse models, genomics, imaging techniques, genetically modified mouse techniques, nanotechnology, mechanism-based therapeutic strategies, and biobanks and ethical concerns. Attendees will be able to interact with senior investigators on a one-to-one basis in an informal environment. All non-faculty students will be provided with a generous stipend depending on stated need. Applications are invited from medical and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and clinicians and scientists.

Topics include:
Clinical Overview of Brain Tumors
Neuro-oncology/Surgery/Radiology/Pathology
Nervous System Pre-Disposition Syndromes
Genetic Alterations in Sporadic Brain Tumors
Chromatin Remodeling
DNA Replication
Extracellular Matrix and Migration
Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells
Neuronal, Glial, and Oligodendrocyte Differentiation
Genetically Engineered Mouse System
Detection Methods including Nanotechnology
Mechanism-based Therapeutics
Epidemiology

NCI strategies and funding mechanisms

Speakers at the last course included:
Oliver Bogler, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Melissa Bondy, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Melvin DePamphilis, National Institutes of Health
Charles Eberhart, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Gregory Fuller, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Candece Gladson, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Steven Goldman, University of Rochester
David Gutmann, Washington University School of Medicine
Eric Holland, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Paul Knoepfler, University of California Davis Medical School
Victor Levin, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Guillermina Lozano, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Tak Mak, AMDI OCI University Health Network
Gail Mandel, SUNY at Stony Brook
Christina Meyers, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Judy Mietz, National Cancer Institute
Andras Nagy, Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mt. Sinai Hospital
Roel Nusse, Stanford University/HHMI
Luis Parada, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Mahendra Rao, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Raymond Sawaya, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Evan Snyder, Burnham Institute
Charles Stiles, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Erwin Van Meir, Winship Cancer Institute, Brain Tumor Program
W.K. Alfred Yung, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Miqin Zhang, University of Washington

The course will be held at the Laboratory’s Banbury Conference Center located on the north shore of Long Island. All participants stay within walking distance of the Center, close to tennis court, pool and private beach.

This course is supported with generous funding provided by the American Brain Tumor Association. Applicants interested in being considered for full or partial scholarships are encouraged to enclose a separate letter in their application stating their financial needs.

Cost (including board and lodging): $2,120
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