SUMMARY OF PRESS RELEASES
For full copies of press releases, press conference and Neurotalk schedules, please contact:
Elaine Snell
FENS 2020 Press Officer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7738 0424
Mobile: +44(0)7973 953794
Email: elaine@snell-communications.net
11 July 2020
VISION RESTORATION INSPIRED BY SOLAR CELLS, LIZARDS AND ALGAE
New ways to treat age-related blindness are being developed using polymers and graphene, cell reprogramming or optogenetic therapy. Neuroscientists hope these approaches will help to restore vision in people with conditions such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma.
Fabio Benfenati Italian Institute of Technology, Genova
Maria Pia Cosma at the Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona
Serge Picaud, Vision Institute, Paris
Symposium S03
WOMEN ARE UNDER-REPRESENTED IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, SAY NEUROSCIENTISTS
Basic research into psychiatric disorders must include females. Women suffer twice as much from depression, anxiety and PTSD and still the vast majority of preclinical testing of drugs is conducted in male animals.
Christina Dalla, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Debra Bangasser, Temple University, Philadelphia
Mohammed Milad, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Symposium S12
MANIPULATING MEMORIES TO OVERCOME ANXIETY
Scientists in Argentina have been investigating how memories are formed based on cues that a human or animal predicts to be a threat. They found that when the threatening memory was manipulated, the fear diminished. This could help in the treatment to overcome the anxiety that follows a traumatic event.
Maria Pedreira, University of Buenos Aires
Symposium S11
WEAKENING MEMORIES TO OVERCOME POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
Fearful and emotional memories for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the intensity of the flashbacks are psychologically damaging. A harmless virus to plus a drug to block memories could help to erase the memory.
Jonathan Ploski, the University of Texas
Symposium S11
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE COULD HELP TREAT DRUG ADDICTION
Research with rats suggests that a medicine used to treat high blood pressure interrupts the memory of situations that trigger the craving for drugs. This could offer a new approach to treating drug addiction.
Amy Milton, University of Cambridge
Symposium S32
THE STRESSFUL EFFECTS OF COVID AND URBAN LIVING ON THE BRAIN
The disruption caused by COVID19 has necessitated physical and social distancing strategies with profound impact on mental health and loneliness. The stress of living in a city could cause lasting alterations in brain circuits involved with the regulation of emotion.
Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
Plenary lecture PL05
HOW GENES AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE HELP PROTECT AGAINST BRAIN DEGENERATION
The interaction between genes and lifestyle is a crucial factor in diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. Neuroscientists describe how exercise and a healthy diet can help protect against neurodegeneration in later life, whereas stress and inflammation can damage brain cells.
Anthony Hannan, Florey Institute, University of Melbourne
Tara Spires-Jones and Anna Stevenson, University of Edinburgh
Symposium S56
For full copies of press releases contact Elaine Snell, FENS 2020 Press Officer
BACKGROUND PAPERS
As well as press releases, background papers for journalists are available for the following speakers:
SUNDAY 12 JULY
Carmen Sandi, President of FENS – Overview of FENS
Trevor Bushell, British Neuroscience Association – the virtual Forum
Anne Cooke, British Neuroscience Association – Summary of survey into the future of research after COVID-19
MONDAY 13 JULY
Trevor Robbins, University of Cambridge – How the brain processes swift and impulsive decisions
MONDAY 13 JULY
William Wisden, Imperial College London – understanding the link between body temperature, sleep and energy balance
TUESDAY 14 JULY
Jan Born, University of Tübingen, Germany – Sleep’s role in memory consolidation
Anita Lüthi, University of Lausanne, Switzerland – Mammalian sleep, varying in space and time
TUESDAY 14 JULY 2020
Diego Bohórquez, Duke University, North Carolina, USA – A gut choice
Akhila Rajan, Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, Seattle, USA – Regulating energy balance
WEDNESDAY 15 JULY
Seth Grant, University of Edinburgh – The synaptome: an epic journey in space and time
These speakers will be taking part in Neurotalks, informal discussions with journalists on topics and issues of general interest.
CONTACT
Please address any queries to Louise Aupetit, FENS Communications and Outreach Manager: office@fens.org
