Key Interfaces Between the Nervous System and the Rest of the Body in Health and Disease

The Barriers of the CNS GRC has been running since 1999 and brings together a truly unique, multidisciplinary group of scientists and clinicians from around the world. The meeting is focused on the structure, function, and regulation of the specialized barriers that exist between the CNS and the bloodstream, alterations to these barriers that occur with disease and injury, as well as the science of crossing or bypassing these barriers for CNS drug delivery. The goal of the Barriers of the CNS GRC is to bring together international experts, junior investigators, postdoctoral fellows and students working at the forefront of the field in a collegial, supportive environment for the purpose of exchanging new ideas and brainstorming novel solutions to existing challenges. The 2016 meeting will present cutting edge research and provide new perspectives on all aspects of CNS barriers science. Concepts surrounding the neurovascular unit and major barrier systems such as the blood-brain barrier, blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers and blood-retinal barriers will be comprehensively explored in featured talks and daily poster sessions. Specific themes for the meeting will cover the following topics: transport, signaling and junctions at the CNS barriers and beyond; barrier function in stroke, brain trauma, and epilepsy; barrier function in neurodegenerative disease, brain cancer, and drug abuse; immunology of the CNS barriers and related systems; imaging, model systems, and technology; CNS drug delivery and distribution; and new perspectives on the future of the field and academic-industrial partnerships.

The Barriers of the CNS GRC aims to foster interactions between investigators at all career stages and to bring new people and fresh ideas into the field. As such, we are excited to welcome new participants to attend and present their research at the Barriers of the CNS GRC as well as the companion Barriers of CNS GRS that is being organized by Drs. Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke and Holly Johnson. Content from our highly successful GRS, to be held for the fourth time, and selected poster presentations from junior scientists and new GRC attendees will also be featured in short highlight talks at the main conference, facilitating interactions and dialogue across the two related meetings as well as presenting fresh, new perspectives. Please join us at the wonderful and well-equipped Colby-Sawyer College site for a highly enjoyable, interactive, and impactful meeting on the barriers of the CNS and related science.