Building and Mining Brain Cell Atlases and Connectomes
Suzhou, China
June 3-19,2019
Application Deadline: April 1, 2019
Organized by:
Z.Josh Huang, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA
Qingming Luo, Hainan University, China
Hui Gong, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China
Tianyi Mao, Vollum Institute/Oregon Health Science Univeristy, USA
Giorgio Ascoli, George Mason University, USA
Partha Mitra, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA
An essential step in exploring brain function is to build a cellular resolution structural framework upon which information spanning molecules, cells, circuits and systems can be registered, integrated and mined. Challenges in mesoscale neuroanatomy and connectomics include cell labeling, sub-micron whole brain imaging, atlas registration and reconstruction, big data management and display, and computational analysis. Recent technological advances on multiple fronts are addressing these challenges.
This intensive lecture and laboratory course aims to train a new generation of scientists to be equipped with multidisciplinary knowledge and state-of-the-art tools in structural neurobiology. The primary emphasis of the course will be on cell type specific, single-cell resolution brain-wide light microscopy and associated data analysis and circuit reconstruction in vertebrates. Students will learn the principles and practice of 1) genetic viral labeling of cell types and tissue clearing; 2) high throughput, high resolution light microscopy (including serial 2-photon tomography, light sheet microscopy, fluorescence micro-sectioning tomography, laser speckle imaging, etc); 3) image processing, atlas registration, neuron skeletonization and computational analysis using modern machine learning/AI tools 4) data management, interactive visualization and web dissemination. The course will span multiple taxa including rodent, primates and zebrafish. The course will operate in the newly established Suzhou Institute of Brainsmatics and Cold Spring Harbor Asia teaching facility, located by Dushu Lake at the outskirt of the city of Suzhou, which is about one hour from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and two hours from PuDong International Airport.
Applicants should have a strong background in neuroscience or imaging/computation. In their personal statements, applicants should specify: 1) their experience with optical techniques, 2) how they will apply optical methods and mesoscale circuit anatomy in their current projects, 3) their long-term goals in learning more about brain connectomics.
2019 Invited lecturers include (Lecturer, Affiliation, Country/Region）:
Kwanghun Chung, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
Hermann Cuntz, Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, GERMANY
Hongwei Dong, University of Southern California, USA
Michael Economo, Janelia/Howard Hughes Medical Institute, USA
Mike Hawrylycz, Allen Institute, USA
David Kleinfeld, University of California San Diego, USA
Michael Kunst, The Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, Martinsried, GERMANY
Yulong Li, Peking University, CHINA
Minmin Luo, National Institute of Biological Science, CHINA
Michael Miller, Johns Hopkins University, USA
Pavel Osten, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA
Hanchuan Peng, Allen Institute, USA
Marcello Rosa, Monash University, AUSTRALIA
Xiaoqin Wang, Johns Hopkins University, USA
Hongkui Zeng, Allen Institute for Brain Science, USA
Haining Zhong, Vollum Institute , USA
REGULAR PRICING (INCLUDING TUITION, BOARD AND LODGING): 1650 USD
Please note stipends are available to offset tuition costs.
No payment is due until the selection decisions are made but any applicant requiring support should request this in writing during the online application.
The admissions process is need-blind, your financial situation will not be considered before admission decisions are made.