Glial Cell Development, Migration, and Pathophysiology
Symposium — Wednesday, April 26, 2024 — 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM — , Room W192B
Cell and Molecular Physiology Section — Chair: Kenneth Gagnon — Co-Chair: Harald Sontheimer
Glial cells are the most abundant and diverse cell type in the vertebrate nervous system with many essential functions ranging from formation of insulating myelin to nervous system development to serving as the immune defense system of the brain. We have selected four speakers that represent different aspects of glial cell biology: (1) mechanisms underpinning the function of glial cell receptors and ion channels in cancer; (2) roles of glial-glial interactions during nervous system development; (3) prolonged or inappropriate activation of microglia leading to damage of healthy brain cells; and (4) axonal regeneration across and beyond the area of injury through cellular bridges of peripheral nervous system Schwann cells. We believe that recent progress in the field of glial cell biology warrants a symposium on the multi-faceted role of different glial cell populations to these different areas. We expect this symposium to attract scientists from a wide array of fields including ion and channel transport physiology, blood-brain barrier pathology, spinal cord development, spinal cord injury, and glioblastoma pathophysiology. One of the principle goals of this symposia is to stimulate cross-disciplinary interactions regarding glial cell biology and describing the most recent advances in the field.
Speakers
- Inhibiting glial tumor release of glutamate prevents brain tumor malignancy
Harald Sontheimer — Carilion Research Institute, Virginia Tech
- Glial Migration Across Transition Zones
Sarah Kucenas — Biology, University of Virginia
- Genetic analysis of glial development and function in zebrafish
William Talbot — Developmental Biology, Stanford University
- Mechanisms underlying spinal cord injury and repair
Xiao-Ming Xu — Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University