Novel Insights into Glia Function & Dysfunction
Suzhou, China
June 22-26, 2015
Abstract Deadline extended to: May 1, 2015

Download Flyer

Organized by:

Shumin Duan, Zhejiang University, China

Kazuhide Inoue, Kyushu University, Japan

Mengsheng Qiu, University of Louisville, USA

                                                 Bruce R. Ransom, University of Washington, USA

We are pleased to announce Cold Spring Harbor Asia conference on The Glia: Novel Insights about Their Functions and Dysfunctions which will be held in Suzhou, China, located approximately 60 miles west of Shanghai. The conference will begin at 7:00pm on the evening of Monday June 22, and will conclude after lunch on June 26, 2015.

The conference will include eight oral sessions and one poster session covering the latest findings across many topics. Many talks will be selected from the openly submitted abstracts on the basis of scientific merit and relevance. Social events throughout the conference provide ample opportunity for informal interactions.

Glia including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia are traditionally considered as the passive supporting cells of nerve tissue. However, emerging evidence has indicated that glia play a variety of active roles in the development and functioning of nervous system including synapse formation, synaptic efficacy modulation, neural inflammation and tissue repair among others. The 2015 Cold Spring Harbor Asia Conference on the Glia: Novel Insights about Their Functions and Dysfunctions, will attempt to reflect the rapid development of the field by bringing together an outstanding and diverse group of basic and translational scientists who are at the cutting edge of glial research to discuss the latest and most significant progress in the field. The emphasis of this conference will be on the development, function and regeneration of glia under normal and pathophysiological conditions, with a highlight of basic cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Major Topics:
1. Astrocytes and brain function
2.Roles of microglia in CNS function and disorder
3.Oligodendroglia differentiation, myelination, and demyelinating disease
4.Glia and synapse
5.Glia metabolism
6.Glial cells and CNS disease

Keynote Speakers:
Brian MacVicar, The University of British Columbia, Canada
Abstract title: Synaptic Sensing and Modulation by Microglia
Pierre Magistretti, University of Lausanne, SWITZERLAND
Abstract title:Neuron-glia metabolic coupling : relevance for neuronal plasticity and functional brain imaging
William Richardson, University College London, UNITED KINGDOM
Abstract title:Adult myelination, myelin remodelling and motor skill learning

Invited Speakers:
Benjamin Deneen, Bayor College of Medicine, USA
Abstract title:Decoding Cellular and Functional Heterogeneity of Astrocytes
Shumin Duan, Zhejiang University School of medicine, CHINA
Abstract title: Astrocyte-derived ATP differentially modulates the excitability of different subtypes of hippocampal neurons
Tian-ming Gao, Southern Medical University, CHINA
Abstract title:Glial ATP, a key player in depression and epilepsy co-morbidity
Woo-Ping Ge, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, USA
Abstract title:Local generation of astrocytes in the postnatal brain
Cheng He, Second Military Medical University, CHINA
Abstract title:The MSX3 transcription factor drives microglia polarization and protects from inflammation-induced demyelination
Masamitsu Iino, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN
Abstract title:Glial Ca²⁺ dynamics imaged in vivo using an ultrasensitive Ca²⁺ indicator
Hiroshi Kiyama, Nagoya University, Graduate School of Medicine, JAPAN
Abstract title:Microglia as a determinant of injured neuron fate
Schuichi Koizumi, University of Yamanashi, JAPAN
Abstract title:Glial cells-triggered ischemic tolerance
C. Justin Lee, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, SOUTH KOREA
Abstract title:Emerging roles of gliotransmitters in neurological disorders
Qing Richard Lu, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, USA
Abstract title:Chromatin remodeling control of oligodendrocyte development
Wendy Macklin, University of Colorado School of Medicine, USA
Abstract title:Interactions of neurons and oligodendrocytes in brain development
Robert Miller, George Washington University, USA
Abstract title:Defining cellular interactions modulating myelination and remyelination
Hiroshi Nakanishi, Kyushu University, JAPAN
Abstract title:Modulator Actions of Microglial Cathepsins in Brain Diseases
Shigeo Okabe, The University of Tokyo, JAPAN
Abstract title:Imaging microglia and synapses with an optical clearing technique
Marco Prinz, University Hospital of Freiburg, GERMANY
Abstract title:Microglia: the myeloid side of the brain
Mengsheng Qiu, University of Louisville, USA
Abstract title:Regulation of gliogenesis by Wnt/ß-catenin signaling
Bruce Ransom, University of Washington, USA
Abstract title: During activity, CNS axons communicate energy substrate need, specifically for lactate-, via extracellular K+ accumulation and astrocyte depolarization.
Makoto Tsuda, Kyushu University, JAPAN
Abstract title:Spinal glial cells and chronic pain
Wei Wang, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Abstract title:Astrocytic gap junctional communication and Ischemic Neuronal Damage
Long-Jun Wu, Rutgers University, USA
Abstract title:Microglia-neuron communication in epilepsy
Albert Cheung-Hoi Yu, Peking University, Neuroscience Research, CHINA
Abstract title:New specializations in astrocytes involved in neurocommunication functions
Jiawei Zhou, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS, CHINA
Abstract title:The Role of Dopamine D2 Receptor in neuroinflammation: Implication for Parkinson’s disease

We encourage abstracts to contain new and unpublished materials. The abstracts must be submitted electronically by the abstract deadline. Selection of material for oral and poster presentation will be made by the organizers. Status (fellow's talk/poster) of abstracts will be posted on our web site as soon as decisions have been made by the organizers. 

Fellowship: 
We are eager to have as many young people as possible attend since they are likely to benefit most from this meeting. A certain number of presentations by graduate students and postdocs in this conference will be selected as fellowship (USD $100-$500) awards. For more details, please visit Stipends

We look forward to seeing you at Suzhou in June, 2015. 

Package Content:

Please kindly note:

1. Registration includes food, but does NOT include Housing. Due to requests from participants to provide more housing at lower prices, we have expanded our housing options to include some lower priced nearby hotels. After completing the online registration, you will receive a link to the full list of housing options.
*Reference Room Rate:
CNY 500 per standard room per night in the Conference Hotel (Worldhotel Grand Dushulake Suzhou)
Up from CNY 200 per standard room per night in nearby budget hotels (within 5 km)
CNY 400-700 per standard room per night in nearby 4-5 star hotels

2. The meeting registration is an integral package. We encourage all our participants to stay for the full meeting period and communicate with each other. No refund/discount or day pass is available for partial participation.

3. The early price will be available if the full payment is finished before the exact due date.
For USD participants, we will automatically change your package price to the update one if we could not successfully charge the payment from your registered credit card before the deadline.
For CNY participants, we will automatically change your package price to the update one if our bank account could not receive your full payment by wire transfer before the deadline.

4. For late registrations, your registration materials may not be guaranteed since the order is usually made in advance.

5. Please inform us your special request on food (vegetarian, kosher…etc.) or other things during the online registration or email us as early as possible so that we could make relevant arrangement accordingly.

6. Student package is exclusively designed for all the graduate, undergraduate and doctor students who have not received the doctor degree. (Student ID will be required upon arrival).

Currency converter