Dear all,

The Neurosciences axis invites you to the conference of Dr. Jay Penney, University of Prince Edward Island, Thursday, June 11 at 11 a.m.

The conference is offered in a hybrid format, in person at the CHUL, amphitheater Fisher and broadcast on zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82539174053).

For researchers who would like a discussion with the speaker please contact me before June 4.

For students, a meeting with free lunch boxes is planned just after the conference if you want to discuss with him. Thank you for answering me as soon as possible to register for this meeting, places are limited to 10 students.

Here is the title and summary of the presentation:

Title : Microglia and genetic risk for neurodegeneration

Abstract : While neurodegenerative diseases are increasing in prevalence as world populations age, effective treatments remain very limited. Large scale genetic studies have greatly expanded our understanding of genetic contributions to disease; however, gaps remain in identifying the cell types and perturbed cellular processes that link such mutations to disease. Our research is using stem cell models and gene editing techniques to understand the effects of disease-linked mutations on human brain cells. Our primary focus is on microglial cells and their interactions with neurons. As the innate immune cells of the brain, microglia play key roles through development, adulthood and aging. Importantly, microglia are capable of exerting both beneficial and detrimental effects on brain and neuron health, effects that can be modulated by genetic and environmental factors. I will discuss our recent and current work examining mutations associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and ALS, as well as evaluating potential treatments for neurodegenerative disease.