Towards Mathematical Modeling of Neurological Disease from Cellular Perspective

May 14- June 15, 2012
Focus Program on
“Towards Mathematical Modeling of Neurological Disease from Cellular Perspectives”
Hosted by the Fields Institute, Toronto

Organizing Committee
Larry Abbott (Columbia Univ.),
Sue Ann Campbell (Univ. Waterloo),
Nancy Kopell (Boston Univ.), Frances
Skinner (TWRI/UHN and Univ Toronto),
David Terman (Ohio State Univ.)

REGISTRATION IS OPEN

See http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/programs/scientific/11-12/neurodisease/ for more details

Parkinson’s Disease Workshop: May 22-23, 2012
Schizophrenia Workshop: May 24-25, 2012
Epilepsy Workshop: May 29-30, 2012
Alzheimer’s Disease/Pharmaceuticals Workshop: May 31-June 1, 2012
Anesthesiology/Sleep Disorders Workshop: Jun 4-5, 2012

Additional Travel Awards available for members of the Organization for Computational Neuroscience (OCNS)

Synopsis

Millions of people suffer from some form of neurological disease, and abnormalities in brain circuits and their activities are recognized as a place to focus in untangling brain disorders. Oscillations and dynamic behaviour produced by neuronal circuits are being examined in the context of several neurological diseases today. While the functional aspect of the observed dynamics is not entirely clear, it is clear that cellular aspects of circuits need to be included in these examinations as specific cell types have been associated with network dysfunction and neurological disease. A mechanistic understanding, as can be brought about by mathematical modeling and analyses, is needed to help advance our understanding of these complex neurological diseases. However, developing and analyzing models of normal and pathological dynamic activities in these complex circuits is highly challenging. This is not only because of the complexity and detail of the systems themselves, but also because of the required multi-disciplinary aspect of the work. How does one include cellular detail in mathematical models to allow linkage to experiment and neurological disease? What techniques and methods can and should be used to analyze the models? These difficult questions need to be brought to the fore to allow us to move forth in our understanding and to provide insights that would be helpful from diagnostic and drug development perspectives.

In a series of workshops we will bring together neuroscientists, mathematicians, clinicians and experimentalists to present and consider these problems from several viewpoints. Speakers in the workshops will present from clinical, experimental, modeling, and mathematical perspectives.Goals for this program include: (i) encouraging trainees in mathematics, physical sciences, life sciences, and interdisciplinary studies, especially new researchers and mathematicians, to get involved in this exciting and challenging field of research, (ii) making neuroscientists more aware of the mathematical tools available to aid with the study of network models, (iii) making mathematicians more aware of the challenges involved in modeling biological networks, and (iv) initiating collaborations.
—
Frances Skinner, PhD
TWRI/UHN and Univ Toronto
http://www.uhnres.utoronto.ca/labs/skinner/