nerve regeneration & repair to be highlighted at ANA 129th annual meeting

[Guest guest]

American Neurological Association 129th annual meeting - Toronto October

2 to 6, 2004.

Coaxing nerve fibers and cells to repair injuries in the spinal cord and

brain … translating basic research in brain tumors and Parkinson's

disease from the laboratory to the clinic … tailoring clinical trials to

specific neurologic disorders … exploring the new technology of RNA

interference. These are some of the highlights of the 129th Annual

Meeting of the American Neurological Association in Toronto, October 2

to 6, 2004.

Leading researchers from around the world will present 11 platform talks

and 250 refereed poster presentations at the world's preeminent

neurology meeting. Symposium subjects will include:

Regeneration and Repair--Nerves in the central nervous system--the brain

and spinal cord--don't recover from injury the way peripheral nerves do.

But could they? In recent years, basic scientists have made tremendous

progress in uncovering the mechanisms that inhibit regeneration and

repair of nerves and nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Monday

morning's Presidential Symposium will highlight some of the most

promising advances in these research areas.

From Laboratory Bench to Bedside--Some recent advances in the basic

neurosciences are already being assessed in patients. A special Monday

afternoon symposium on " translational research " will describe the

sometimes bumpy road from successful preclinical successes to safe and

effective treatment of human disease. Experimental treatments for brain

tumors, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral nerves disorders will be in

the spotlight.

Clinical Trials: One Size Does Not Fit All--Parkinson's disease is not

cancer … is not epilepsy. If clinical trials are to prove the value of

different therapies, they must take into account the clinical attributes

of the diseases in question. On Tuesday morning, a panel of clinical

trials experts will illustrate how studies have been designed for

maximum value in Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular

disease and epilepsy.

Excitement in the Laboratory--It's called RNA interference and it is

turning heads throughout biomedical science. Many scientists believe

that interfering with RNA will be safer and simpler than genetic

engineering that targets DNA. The prospects of RNA interference for

treatment of neurological disorders will be discussed at a Wednesday

morning symposium … along with advances in bone marrow transplantation

for autoimmune diseases … deep brain stimulation--the so-called " brain

pacemaker " --for movement disorders … and possible approaches to treating

the devastating prion diseases, most famously " mad cow " disease.

The headquarters hotel for the meeting is the Sheraton Centre Toronto

(800-325-3535). The deadline for requesting housing at the special

convention rates is September 2 or until the ANA's room block is filled.