Aberrant Circuits to Impaired Function in Epilepsy

The main goal of the study of seizures is to identify the mechanisms underlying synchronous electrical discharges in neuronal networks – in order to develop more effective treatments and cures for epilepsy. A unique, intellectually challenging aspect of epilepsy is that it encompasses virtually all major levels of biological organization, from genes and ion channels to circuits and behavior. The major purpose of this Gordon Research Conference is to bring together geneticists, molecular biologists, developmental neuroscientists, translational researchers/clinicians, neuroanatomists, electrophysiologists and computational neuroscientists working on basic mechanisms related either directly or indirectly to the generation of synchronous activity, including seizures. In particular, the conference will feature novel and transformative approaches and tools that are highly relevant to dissecting the functional anatomy of neuronal circuits in intact animals. We believe that discussing these novel approaches in the context of neuronal synchronization and epilepsy is timely, and will set the stage for future discoveries.

The program's theme is "Aberrant Circuits to Impaired Function in Epilepsy". The focus will be on examining the disruptive effects epilepsy has on brain development and function. Sessions are organized in a bottom-up fashion, with early sessions focusing on changes at the cellular and microcircuit levels while later sessions focus on higher order cognitive functions and comorbidities. The final session will focus on strategies to prevent and repair epileptogenic brain changes.

Our goals are to disseminate the latest scientific advances, to foster productive new insights and collaborations, to stimulate an interest in epilepsy research among young investigators and to set the stage for new translational studies that will bring the latest discoveries to the treatment of epilepsy in the shortest possible time.