Blood/Brain Barrier Physiology:
Neural Boundaries and the Molecular Mechanisms of CNS Protection
December 1 - 4, 2008
Abstract Deadline: September 12, 2008

Organizers:
Ben Barres, Stanford University
Roland J. Bainton, UCSF

We are pleased to announce a new Cold Spring Harbor conference on Blood/Brain Barrier Physiology: Neural Boundaries and the Molecular Mechanisms of CNS Protection which will begin at 7:30 pm on Monday, December 1 and run through lunch on Thursday, December 4, 2008.

The purpose of this Cold Spring Harbor meeting is to explore and encourage new conceptual approaches and to apply novel methods to the neuroprotective physiologies of BBB structures. Our goal is pair genetic model organism biological methods with recent insights in vertebrate BBB physiology and development. We hope to create cross fertilization between fields that rarely see each other and get people thinking about how model systems can help parse the regulatory networks necessary for parsimonious BBB function.

The conference is intended to foster cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas and expertise between engineers, mathematicians and biologists interested in the analysis of diverse biological systems through the application of engineering principles. While a number of speakers have been invited, please note that the majority of oral presentations will be drawn from openly submitted abstracts.

Keynote Speakers:
Tom Reese, National Institutes of Health
Rich Daneman, Stanford University

Topics and Speakers:
Cellular Constituents of the Barrier
Christer Betshotlz, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Christian Klambt, Univ. of Muenster, Germany

Diffusion Barrier Forces
Mikio Furuse, Kyoto University, Japan
Greg Beitel, Northwestern University

Xenobiotic Protection
Julian Dow, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
Balzas Sarkadi, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Regulation OF Barrier Physiology
Ulrike Gaul, The Rockefeller University
Calvin Kuo, Stanford University

Screening Methodologies Targeting Barrier Functions
Ryan Watts, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco
Chenghua Gu, Harvard University

Pathogenesis at the Blood/Brain Barrier
Alexandre Prat, University of Montreal, Canada
Maiken Nedergaard, University of Rochester

Abstracts should contain interesting and exciting material and must be submitted electronically by the abstract deadline. Selection of material for oral and poster presentation will be made by the organizers and individual session chairs. Status (talk/poster) of abstracts will be posted on our web site as soon as decisions have been made by the organizers.

We are eager to have as many young people as possible attend since they are likely to benefit most from this meeting. We have applied for funds from government and industry to partially support graduate students and postdocs. Apply in writing to meetings@cshl.edu stating need for financial support - preference is given to those submitting abstracts.

We look forward to seeing you at Cold Spring Harbor in December.

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Regular packages are all inclusive and cover registration, food, housing, parking, wine-and-cheese party, lobster banquet, etc. No Housing packages include all costs except housing. Full payment is due 4 weeks prior to the meeting.