meeting report
Neuroscience 2013 9–13 November 2013
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© 2014 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.
San Diego Convention Center San Diego, CA Attendees: >30,000
The world’s largest meeting of neuroscientists took place in San Diego in November, as more than 30,000 neuroscientists c onvened to share scientific discoveries relating to the brain and nervous system. More than 15,000 scientific presentations, i ncluding poster presentations and lectures, provided new information on advanced techniques and research approaches, brain health, novel treatments for diseases of the brain and insights into brain structure and function. The meeting also offered 34 professional development workshops and networking functions and exhibitions of over 600 companies. A major topic of interest at the meeting was the ‘connectome,’ a mapping of the neural connectivity throughout the brain. While recent advances have been made in mapping the human connectome, such as through the Human Connectome Project, two Presidential Special Lectures demonstrated that progress is being made in animal connectomics as well. Scott Emmons (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY) spoke about the surprising complexity of the Caenorhabditis elegans c onnectome, given that its neural network is comprised of 144 neurons. His team was able to determine the functional strength of each connection, estimated on the basis of the size of each synapse. Jeff Lichtman (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA) discussed his work mapping neural circuits in neonatal mice using his innovative ‘Brainbow’ technique, engineering individual axon projections of transgenic mice to express unique ratios of several different f luorescent p roteins so that they can be traced throughout the brain. Newer versions of this technology allow more selective imaging of particular classes of central neurons, and the team has developed an automated electron microscopy approach in order to image tens of thousands of brain sections at high resolution. A focus of several talks was how animal models are continuing to reveal important information about the human brain and n eurological system. Christopher Emerling (University of California, Riverside) gave a presentation on how the nine- banded armadillo can serve as a new model for research on vision disease in humans because its poor eyesight mimics certain human vision disorders. “The many mutations that have given the armadillo poor eyesight could allow it to serve as an excellent
LAB ANIMAL
model for vision problems that arise in humans,” said Emerling. “Armadillos could give us better insights into which genes and mutations might lead to debilitating vision problems in humans, and could help us understand how this impaired vision develops and how we might treat it.” Many genetic vision disorders are caused by the loss of cones, receptor cells located in the retina that allow us to see color and fine detail. Cone diseases that occur naturally can stem from a number of genes. Since the armadillo has several of these genetic mutations, it allows for more robust research into the potential causes of related eye diseases. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis (MO) are beginning to uncover a relationship between genes and the folding of the brain in baboons, yielding initial information that may tell us how human brains evolved. As humans developed more brain cells through evolution, the genetic controls of the brain-shaping mechanism have remained unknown. To begin to understand this process, the researchers looked to the baboon as a model to e xamine how the folding of the brain is guided by u nderlying genes. Using nearly 1,000 baboon brain scans, they were able to pinpoint a handful of chromosome segments and genes that affect the way the brain is folded. Said Elizabeth Atkinson, “Our study connects the folding of the brain with the underlying genetics and provides unique insight into how the evolution of our genes has driven the shape, and ultimately the function, of our brains.” The results may help to explain the evolutionary mechanisms that confer neurological differences among primates. A panel presentation on Animals in Research provided valuable information for neuroscientists using animal models to make the most of the resources at their institutions. The panelists, including Alessandra Angelucci, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Science at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City); Gene Block, Chancellor of University of California, Los Angeles; Mary Jo Shepherd, Director of the Office of the IACUC at Columbia University (New York, NY); and Stefan Treue, Director of the German Primate Center in Göttingen, Germany, offered a wide range of perspectives on issues related to animal research. The panel offered suggestions for how to be proactive in seeking out help within your own institution most effectively. They also d iscussed how institutions can work to build greater internal awareness of animal research issues.
Volume 43, No. 2 | FEBRUARY 2014 47
Neuroscience 2013 9–13 November 2013
npg
© 2014 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.
San Diego Convention Center San Diego, CA Attendees: >30,000
The world’s largest meeting of neuroscientists took place in San Diego in November, as more than 30,000 neuroscientists c onvened to share scientific discoveries relating to the brain and nervous system. More than 15,000 scientific presentations, i ncluding poster presentations and lectures, provided new information on advanced techniques and research approaches, brain health, novel treatments for diseases of the brain and insights into brain structure and function. The meeting also offered 34 professional development workshops and networking functions and exhibitions of over 600 companies. A major topic of interest at the meeting was the ‘connectome,’ a mapping of the neural connectivity throughout the brain. While recent advances have been made in mapping the human connectome, such as through the Human Connectome Project, two Presidential Special Lectures demonstrated that progress is being made in animal connectomics as well. Scott Emmons (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY) spoke about the surprising complexity of the Caenorhabditis elegans c onnectome, given that its neural network is comprised of 144 neurons. His team was able to determine the functional strength of each connection, estimated on the basis of the size of each synapse. Jeff Lichtman (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA) discussed his work mapping neural circuits in neonatal mice using his innovative ‘Brainbow’ technique, engineering individual axon projections of transgenic mice to express unique ratios of several different f luorescent p roteins so that they can be traced throughout the brain. Newer versions of this technology allow more selective imaging of particular classes of central neurons, and the team has developed an automated electron microscopy approach in order to image tens of thousands of brain sections at high resolution. A focus of several talks was how animal models are continuing to reveal important information about the human brain and n eurological system. Christopher Emerling (University of California, Riverside) gave a presentation on how the nine- banded armadillo can serve as a new model for research on vision disease in humans because its poor eyesight mimics certain human vision disorders. “The many mutations that have given the armadillo poor eyesight could allow it to serve as an excellent
LAB ANIMAL
model for vision problems that arise in humans,” said Emerling. “Armadillos could give us better insights into which genes and mutations might lead to debilitating vision problems in humans, and could help us understand how this impaired vision develops and how we might treat it.” Many genetic vision disorders are caused by the loss of cones, receptor cells located in the retina that allow us to see color and fine detail. Cone diseases that occur naturally can stem from a number of genes. Since the armadillo has several of these genetic mutations, it allows for more robust research into the potential causes of related eye diseases. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis (MO) are beginning to uncover a relationship between genes and the folding of the brain in baboons, yielding initial information that may tell us how human brains evolved. As humans developed more brain cells through evolution, the genetic controls of the brain-shaping mechanism have remained unknown. To begin to understand this process, the researchers looked to the baboon as a model to e xamine how the folding of the brain is guided by u nderlying genes. Using nearly 1,000 baboon brain scans, they were able to pinpoint a handful of chromosome segments and genes that affect the way the brain is folded. Said Elizabeth Atkinson, “Our study connects the folding of the brain with the underlying genetics and provides unique insight into how the evolution of our genes has driven the shape, and ultimately the function, of our brains.” The results may help to explain the evolutionary mechanisms that confer neurological differences among primates. A panel presentation on Animals in Research provided valuable information for neuroscientists using animal models to make the most of the resources at their institutions. The panelists, including Alessandra Angelucci, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Science at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City); Gene Block, Chancellor of University of California, Los Angeles; Mary Jo Shepherd, Director of the Office of the IACUC at Columbia University (New York, NY); and Stefan Treue, Director of the German Primate Center in Göttingen, Germany, offered a wide range of perspectives on issues related to animal research. The panel offered suggestions for how to be proactive in seeking out help within your own institution most effectively. They also d iscussed how institutions can work to build greater internal awareness of animal research issues.
Volume 43, No. 2 | FEBRUARY 2014 47
