Scientific Programme

Evidence in neurodegenerative diseases (i.e. Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, among others) implicates inflammation as central player in these processes other than a simple consequence of neurodegeneration. It is well established that protein aggregates, often encountered common pathological event in neurodegeneration, trigger neuroinflammation though, inflammation has been reported earlier than protein aggregation. Furthermore, genetic variations in CNS cells or immune cells may lead to neuroinflammation and protein deposition in susceptible population. Several signaling pathways and distinct CNS cells (e.g. astroglia and microglia) are implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration, although our knowledge is far from being satisfactory. This situation is reflected in the limited success of available treatments. Actually, halting or potentiating inflammatory signaling pathways implicated in neurodegeneration appear promising strategies for rationale control of neurodegenerative diseases. The organizers of this monothematic meeting welcome original contributions to the field by young scientists and bring together a group of internationally recognized scientist to guide a live discussion of the several themes proposed.

Scientific Committee

Giacinto Bagetta, Filippo Caraci, M. Tiziana Corasaniti, Luigi A. Morrone, Diana Amantea, Eugenio Donato Di Paola, Laura Rombolà, Rossella Russo, Annagrazia Adornetto, Damiana Scuteri, Ramona Stringhi, Giorgia Gullotta.

Scientific Secretariat

Damiana Scuteri (Catanzaro)

Damiana.scuteri@unicz.it

Giovedì 16 luglio

14:00-15:00 Registration

15:00-15:15 Opening Remarks

Monica di Luca, Fabrizio Gardoni, Maria Rosaria Bucci

15:15-15:30 Congress Presentation

Giacinto Bagetta, Filippo Caraci

15:30-16:30 Opening Lecture - Chair: Giacinto Bagetta

Astrocyte in central nervous system (CNS) physiology and diseases: a potential therapeutic target

Andrea Volterra

Wyss Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering, Campus Biotech, Geneva

16:30-14:45 Coffee Break

16:45-18:15 Oral Communications - Chairs: Luigi A. Morrone, Ramona Stringhi

6 communications of 15 min

18:15 -18:45 Lifetime Achievement Award for Scientific and Academic Merit

Selection Committee: Achille P. Caputi, Giovanni Biggio, Giorgio Racagni

18:45 -20:00 Poster session

20:30 Social Dinner

Venerdì 17 luglio

9:00-10:00 Keynote Lecture - Chair: Giovambattista De Sarro

The contribution of ion channel research to therapeutic innovation in epilepsy

Maurizio Taglialatela

Department of Neuroscience, University Federico II, Naples

10:00-10:30 Invited Lecture - Chair: Walter Balduini

Targeting microglia in epilepsy

Rita Citraro

Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro

10:30-11:30 Oral Communications - Chairs: Diana Amantea, Giorgia Gullotta

4 communications of 15 min

11:30-11:45 Coffee Break

11:45-12:15 Invited Lecture - Chair: Pierluigi Nicotera

Neuropsychiatric challenges in neurodegenerative diseases: NanoBEO first in a class tool in the armamentarium

Damiana Scuteri

Department of Health Science, University of Catanzaro

12:15-13.15 Oral Communications –  Chairs: Rossella Russo, Maria Rosaria Bucci

4 communications of 15 min

13:15-13:45 Invited Lecture - Chair: Eugenio Barone

Neurobiological links between depression and Alzheimer disease: Novel pharmacological targets

Filippo Caraci

Department of Drug and Health Sciences

13:45-14:00 SIF Awards for Best Poster and Oral Communications

14:00-14:30 Light Lunch