ION CHANNELS & SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
June 6 - 26, 2012
Application Deadline: March 15, 2012
Instructors:
Stephan
Brenowitz, NIDCD/National Institutes of Health
Ian
Duguid, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Paul Kammermeier, University
of Rochester Medical Center
The
primary goal of this course is to investigate, through
lectures and laboratory work, the properties of ion channels
that allow neurons to carry out their unique physiological
functions in a variety of neural systems. Areas of particular
interest include channels that (1) are activated by neurotransmitter
at central and peripheral synapses, (2) are activated
by voltage changes in axons and dendrites, (3) respond
to neuromodulators with changes in functional properties,
(4) are developmentally required and regulated, or (5)
are light-gated and engineered to express in specific
neural subtypes. The research interests of guest lecturers
reflect these areas of emphasis.
The laboratory component of the course introduces students
to state-of-the-art electrophysiological approaches for
the study of ion channels in their native environments.
Hands-on exercises include patch-clamp recording of ion
channel activity in acutely isolated or cultured cells
or neurons in brain slice preparations. Different recording
configurations are used (e.g. whole-cell, cell-attached,
dendritic patches, and using voltage- and current-clamp
configurations) to examine macroscopic or single-channel
activity. Similarly, various methods of ligand and drug
application are demonstrated. The advantages and disadvantages
of each method, preparation and recording technique are
considered in relation to the specific scientific questions
being asked. Admissions priority is given to students
and postdocs with a demonstrated interest, specific plans,
and a supportive environment to apply these techniques
to a defined problem.
Guest speakers in 2011
included:
Stephan Brenowitz NIDCD/National
Institutes of Health
David Brown University College, London
Beverley Clark University College London
Henry Colecraft Columbia University
Sascha Du Lac The Salk Institute
Mark Farrant University College London
Lisa Gunaydin Stanford University
Richard Kramer University of California Berkeley
Peter Larsson University of Miami
Jesper Sjostrom University College London
Nelson Spruston Northwestern University
Kenton Swartz NIH
Stephen Traynelis Emory University
Richard Tsien Stanford University Medical
Center
This course is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute
|
|
Scientists
from developing countries accepted into this course may be eligible for
scholarships provided by the International Brain Research Organization
(Click here for details)
|
Cost (including board and lodging):
$4,450
Currency converter
|
