Neurodegeneration beyond Amyloid and Tau

Neurodegeneration Postgraduate Course

Organizing unit: A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF)

Hybrid Course Topic: Neurodegeneration beyond Amyloid and Tau

Course description
This course will introduce the participants to emerging research topics in neurodegeneration in multiple disciplines. The course is directed at early career researchers who work or plan to work in the research fields including clinical research, neurobiology, epidemiology, translational research, and public health science. The lectures will be given by a panel of international and local experts on their current research on neurodegeneration, expanding current understanding of neurodegeneration related to amyloid and tau. Topics include defective homeostasis and the involvement of glia, genetic risk factors and biomarker discovery, environmental impact and lifestyle factors, translational research, and public health. The optional lab demonstration will focus on various methodologies of co-cultures in brain cells. If the COVID-19 situation allows, a maximum of 15 participants can attend the lab demonstration. The first 15 registered students that wish to attend the demonstration will be chosen.

Registrations by 20 May, 2021. Link to participation will be sent to all registered by email. Attendance virtually is free for all. External participants that are physically present the fee is € 30. If the COVID-19 situation allows, a maximum of 20 participants can attend at the venue. The first 20 registered participants can come.

Course director: Katja Kanninen

Programme

Day 1 10.6.

8.45-9.00 Registration

9.00-9.15 Opening remarks by Scientific Organizer

Session: Defective homeostasis and the involvement of glia

9.15-9.45 Astrocytes, Julia TCW, MSSM, USA

9.45-10.15 New Human Microglia Models to Accelerate Drug Development for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tony White, QIMR Berghofer, Australia

10.15-10.45 Role of Free Radicals in Autophagy Regulation: Implications for neurodegeneration, Antonio Cuadrado, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain

10.45-11.20 Short break

Session: Genetic risk factors and biomarker discovery

11.20-11.50 Microglia-specific genetic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Mikko Hiltunen, UEF

11.50-12-20 Using biomarkers to optimise health systems for precision medicine, Simcha Jong, UEF, Leiden Uni

12.20-12.50 Early diagnosis of memory disorders today - new biomarkers are warranted, Anne Koivisto, UEF, KUH, UH, HUS

12.50-13.05 Detecting Signs of early MCI with the help of Eye-Tracking, Sami Andberg, UEF School of Computing

13.05-14.00 Break

Session: Environmental impact and lifestyle factors

14.00-14.30 Exposure to air pollution, noise and greenness in association with cognitive health: epidemiological results from the Betula study in Northern Sweden, Anna Oudin, Sweden

14.30-15.00 Diet and Dementia, Alina Solomon, UEF

15-15.30 Mens sana in corpore sano: lifestyle changes modify astrocytes to prolong cognitive longevity, Alexej Verkhratsky, U.K.

15.30-15.45 Inhalation of Ultrafine Particulate Matter Triggers Neuroinflammation in 5xFAD mice, Liudmila Saveleva, UEF A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences

Day 2 11.6.

9.00-9.15 Opening remarks

Session: Translational research in neuroscience

9.15-9.45 Modelling neurodegenerative diseases with human in vitro 2D and 3D systems, Andras Dinnyes, BioTalentum Ltd

9.45-10.15 Changing landscape for CROs delivering future drug development , Antti Nurmi, Charles River Laboratories

10.15-10.50 Short break

Session: Public Health

10.50-11.20 Partnering with the Alzheimer’s community to make dementia a policy and research priority, Jean Georges, Alzheimer Europe

11.20-11.50 Health economic and quality of life impacts of early Alzheimer’s disease, Janne Martikainen, UEF

11.50-12.00 Closing remarks by Scientific organizer

12.00-13.00 Break

13.00-16.00 Lab demonstration

For further information, please contact: Katja Kanninen, katja.kanninen@uef.fi, 
Riikka Lampinen, riikka.lampinen@uef.fi or Sweelin Chew, sweelin.chew@uef.fi.

Students at the University of Eastern Finland
Credit points: 1-2 (1 for attendance at the lectures both days, 2 for attendance at the lectures both days and selected for short talk/pitch talk, or 2 for attendance at the lectures both days and attendance at lab demonstration).