Specialists Present New Insights at Biology of Brain Disorders Workshop

Posted on: 21 July 2016

The Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI) recently hosted an international workshop Biology of Brain Disorders 2016 at which leading researchers from Europe and the USA presented their latest discoveries in disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, autism, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Organized by Dr Daniela Tropea, Assistant Professor in Molecular Psychiatry, School of Medicine, the event was sponsored by Science Foundation Ireland, Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Rett Syndrome Ireland, and Frontiers.

“Today, such meetings are essential for advancing the discoveries in brain pathologies. In fact, the latest advancement in molecular research revealed that molecules and mechanisms are often shared across disorders: factors such as neuroinflammation are involved in disorders like autism and dementia, reorganization of connectivity is dysregulated across several pathologies, and genetic risk factors are common across previously unrelated disorders,” explained Dr Tropea. “These observations set new boundaries for the study of brain function in health and disease and now, more than ever before, specialists from different fields are called to share their expertise to advance research.”

Besides its role in the research of brain disorders, the workshop proposed Ireland as a hub for knowledge exchange and advanced education. The event was attended by over 70 graduate and undergraduate students, clinicians, neuroscientists and non-specialists, and everybody enjoyed the presentations which “inspired passion for science”.