Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying brain disorders

Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying brain disorders is organized by Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) and will be held from Dec 08 - 14, 2019 at University Center Obergurgl, Obergurgl, Tyrol, Austria.

Description:
Brain disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases or fear-related disorders not only have a devastating impact on patients, caregivers, affected families and society as a whole, but also represent a formidable challenge for clinical and preclinical research alike. Over the past decade, it has become increasingly apparent that the risk for such brain disorders is not influenced by genetic predisposition alone, but also by an intricate interplay between genetics and the environment, the latter mediated by epigenetic modifications.

In this FENS-Hertie Winter School, we will discuss the state-of-the art in both genetic and epigenetic research underpinning Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), two of the most prevalent brain disorders world-wide. In particular, we will highlight recent experimental approaches that merge genetic and epigenetic insights into AD and PTSD, which represents an important step forward. Finally, we will also critically cover the existing discrepancies between clinical and preclinical, i.e., animal research, and discuss possible approaches to bridge them.

This course is meant for PhD students and early-career postdocs, preferably with prior knowledge of the subject.

Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.