role in cognitive disorders
Leading researchers will gather at Yale on Sunday-Tuesday, April 13-15, to present the latest findings about the role of glutamate -- a major neurotransmitter in the brain -- in a wide range of psychiatric disorders.
The conference is sponsored by the New York Academy of Sciences and chaired by Bita Moghaddam, professor of psychiatry at Yale, and Marina Wolf, professor and chair of neuroscience at the Chicago Medical School.
Glutamate is the major excitatory transmitter in the brain, which means it causes neurons in the brain to fire. Any disruption of glutamate in the brain can have profound effects on behavior and other aspects of brain function. Abnormal glutamate function has been implicated in all major psychiatric disorders.
"The objective of this conference is to bring together diverse groups of basic and clinical researchers who study the role of glutamate in cognitive disorders such as schizophrenia, and disorders relating to motivation and affect, such as depression and addiction," says Moghaddam. "This meeting, by providing a venue for presentation of cutting-edge research in both basic and clinical fields, will facilitate interactions between basic scientists and clinicians."
She says the exchange of information also may accelerate the rate at which advances in knowledge of basic mechanisms can be translated into the development of new pharmacotherapies. "Conversely, it will enable basic scientists to design experiments with greater clinical relevance," Moghaddam says. In fact, a major goal of the meeting is to highlight novel therapeutic approaches based on the role of glutamate.
Among the researchers from throughout the country who will make presentations at the meeting will be Paul Greengard, a professor of molecular and cellular neuroscience at Rockefeller University. He won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work on signaling mechanisms that enable neurotransmitters to regulate brain function. In addition to Moghaddam, the Yale presenters will include Patricia Goldman-Rakic, Dr. John Krystal and Dr. Gerard Sanacora.
The conference, which will be held at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale, will also include poster sessions. The National Institute of Mental Health and Eli Lilly and Co. are the major sponsors.
Those interested in attending can register by sending an e-mail to conference@nyas.org; a fax to (212) 838-5640; or a letter to the Science and Technology Meetings Department, New York Academy of Sciences, 2 East 63rd Street, New York, New York, 10021.
For further information, contact Sheryl Usmani at susmani@nyas.org.
T H I S
W E E K ' SS T O R I E S
Designer Lee wins National Medal of Arts
Keil wins NIH MERIT Award
A new kind of coffee break: Dining Halls to serve only . . .
Geochemist Karl Turekian named to Sterling Professorship
Accounting expert Rick Antle appointed Beinecke Professor
In Focus: Yale Cancer Center
Service provides information about cancer and its treatment
'Jeopardy!' tests contestants' knowledge of drama alumni
Roof of Yale Field to undergo repairs
SCHOOL OF NURSING NEWSCenter promotes study of health disparities
Program will prepare nurses to investigate . . .
YSN hosting ENRS conference
Melkus honored for diabetes research
Ament wins fellowship to study health care policy
A fair to remember
Scholar discusses 'worldliness' of DuBois' views on racial divide
Center for the Study of Globalization to host talks . . .
'Bitter Bierce' looks at life and times of author of 'The Devil's Dictionary'
Undergraduate group staging Handel's opera . . .
Yale Rep symposium to look at international theatrical collaborations
Advances in treatment of mental illness is topic of . . .
Event focuses on legal scholarship of Owen Fiss
Chapel sponsoring conference on issues in the Catholic Church
Event to explore neurotransmitter's role in cognitive disorders
Yale projects featured in AIA exhibit
OBITUARIESHeart surgeon Dr. William Glenn, creator of early pacemaker
Former dean Judith Brandenburg, launched women's studies
Dr. Arnold Welch, pioneer in biochemical pharmacology
Memorial service for Georges May
Campus Notes
Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus|Calendar of Events|In the News
Bulletin Board|Yale Scoreboard|Classified Ads|Search Archives|Deadlines
Bulletin Staff|Public Affairs Home|News Releases|
E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page