2008 Press Releases
Genes and Behaviour - UCC Conference
15.08.2008
How much of our behaviour is influenced by our genes? This is one of the questions to be addressed at an International Conference on Behavioural Genetics and NeuroPsychiatric Disorders taking place at University College Cork (UCC) from August 25th-27th next.
15.08.2008
How much of our behaviour is influenced by our genes? This is one of the questions to be addressed at an International Conference on Behavioural Genetics and NeuroPsychiatric Disorders taking place at University College Cork (UCC) from August 25th-27th next.
The Conference will focus on progress that has been made in understanding the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, drug dependence, cognitive function and communication disorders such as autism.
Currently, there is much debate focused on the nature of the specific biological influences of our genes, the best ways to identify them, and how the environment interacts with genes and their products to cause disease. This international workshop will gather internationally renowned speakers from US, Europe and Ireland to discuss such advances in these areas.
Over the past two decades, efforts to gain a better understanding of fundamental neural processes and the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders have been driven by progress in the fields of human molecular genetics, generation of mutant mouse models and neuroimaging. Indeed, the recent elucidation of the human genome may provide new insights into the aetiology, course and, ultimately, treatment of psychiatric illnesses. Together, these clinical and basic tools hold the potential to identify and examine novel therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric disorders where there is a huge unmet medical need.
The conference will be held under the auspices of the European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (EBPS) http://ebps.org/ which was formed in 1984 to advance the field of behavioural pharmacology. It is now the leading society internationally in its field. This is the Society's first ever event in Ireland and also the first meeting to address behavioural genetics.
The Opening Lecture of the conference will be given by Professor Peter McGuffin of the Institute of Psychiatry in London titled "Genes, Behaviour and Mental Illness: Where are we going?" Over the following two days there will be lectures from a host of internationally renowned speakers from the US and Europe in addition to poster presentations and young scientist lectures.
Visit Conference website: http://www.cork2008.ebps.org/ ; email: cork2008@ebps.org or from the chair of the local organising committee, Dr John F. Cryan j.cryan@ucc.ie
810MMcS
Currently, there is much debate focused on the nature of the specific biological influences of our genes, the best ways to identify them, and how the environment interacts with genes and their products to cause disease. This international workshop will gather internationally renowned speakers from US, Europe and Ireland to discuss such advances in these areas.
Over the past two decades, efforts to gain a better understanding of fundamental neural processes and the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders have been driven by progress in the fields of human molecular genetics, generation of mutant mouse models and neuroimaging. Indeed, the recent elucidation of the human genome may provide new insights into the aetiology, course and, ultimately, treatment of psychiatric illnesses. Together, these clinical and basic tools hold the potential to identify and examine novel therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric disorders where there is a huge unmet medical need.
The conference will be held under the auspices of the European Behavioural Pharmacology Society (EBPS) http://ebps.org/ which was formed in 1984 to advance the field of behavioural pharmacology. It is now the leading society internationally in its field. This is the Society's first ever event in Ireland and also the first meeting to address behavioural genetics.
The Opening Lecture of the conference will be given by Professor Peter McGuffin of the Institute of Psychiatry in London titled "Genes, Behaviour and Mental Illness: Where are we going?" Over the following two days there will be lectures from a host of internationally renowned speakers from the US and Europe in addition to poster presentations and young scientist lectures.
Visit Conference website: http://www.cork2008.ebps.org/ ; email: cork2008@ebps.org or from the chair of the local organising committee, Dr John F. Cryan j.cryan@ucc.ie
810MMcS