Neural Degeneration & Regeneration
Vancouver, B.C.  May 24-June 4, 2009

Overview

The Neuroscience Schools Programme of the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) offers advanced neuroscience courses for former graduates (Alumni) and other young investigators from countries with special needs.  Schools are taught by local and foreign neuroscientists who are experts in the field and volunteer their time to make possible this training initiative. Continuous mentorship is a key component of the Schools Programme.  In 2009 the programme, implemented in North America by the IBRO Regional Committee for the US and Canada (IAC-USNC) will make it possible for 12 young promising trainees from Africa, Asia and Latin America  to attend both the 3d Annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting (May 24-27, 2009) and a specialized neuroscience school with a focus on Neural Degeneration and Regeneration (May 29-June 4, 2009). The Annual Meeting is organized by the Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN). Approximately 1000 brain researchers will attend. Students enrolled in the IBRO School are expected to make poster presentations of their own work at the meeting (deadline: March 3, 2009; see http://www.can-acn2009.org). Arrangements can also be made for visits to laboratories in Vancouver and other nearby cities in Canada and the US following the completion of the School.
 


School Description and Outline



The course is structured to emphasize interactive sessions:

• Lectures (mornings)
• Laboratories (afternoons)
• Evenings are reserved for discussions and special presentations.

Travel, meals and housing expenses of the students will be covered by the organizers. Registration fees to the 3d Annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting will be waived by the organizers. Visas and other immigration arrangements are the responsibility of the attendees. Students and faculty will be housed locally in dual-occupancy rooms. Lectures and laboratory demonstrations will take place at various nearby institutional facilities. The venue for the Canadian Neurosciences Annual Meeting is the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, BC  (see http://www.can-acn2009.org).
Learning materials will be made available on the IBRO Educational website in advance of the opening of the School. Upon the completion of the School, the IBRO Alumni organization will facilitate sustained interactions among the school participants.



Educational Objectives

• Improving the understanding of basic mechanisms related to neural neurodegenerative and regenerative processes and   their implications for therapy.
• An opportunity for students to present and discuss their own research.

• Forging new contacts between investigators in Canada, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• Developing skills on trends, requirements and resources in world neuroscience.

Who should apply?

Priority will be given to IBRO alumni living in economically disadvantaged regions of Africa, the Asian Pacific Rim and Latin America. The applicants should be fluent in English (written/spoken), have a degree in basic or clinical sciences and be familiar with the main subject of the school. 


Students will be chosen on the basis of their academic records, publications, letters of reference and their own written description of their specific interest and experience in this specific field of neuroscience.  It is especially important that candidates indicate why their participation in this School will benefit their research career.

Institutional Sponsors (preliminary list)

• International Brain Research Organization (IBRO)
• Society for Neuroscience (SFN)
• CIHR Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA)
• Canadian Association of Neuroscience (CAN)
• Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University
• Life Sciences Institute,  Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia
• VP Research, University of British Columbia
• Centre for Neuroethics, University of British Columbia
• Mental Health Institute, University of British Columbia
• ICORD
• Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
• Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of British Columbia
  

School Organizing Committee

• A. Jane Roskams (University of British Columbia) - School Coordinator.
• Brian MacVicar (University of British Columbia)
• Ellis Cooper (McGill University)
• Jonathan Dostrovsky (University of Toronto)
• Albert J. Aguayo (McGill University)
• Astrid Eberhart (CIHR)
• Ante L. Padjen (McGill University) - Communications

How to apply

Application are only available on-line. There are no hard copies of application forms.
Instructions:
http://schools.ibro.info/Pub/Pub_Main_Display.asp?LC_Docs_ID=2422

On-line applications (opening on January 9, 2009):
http://schools.ibro.info/Pub/Pub_Collections_List.asp

Note that applicants must log into the above site to fill out the application!
If you do not have or remember your password send a request to
password.schools@ibro.info

If you do not have an account please check the requirements here and send an e-mail request to
membership.schools@ibro.info

Closing date for applications: March 2, 2009.