Guest lecture by Lars Juhl Jensen
[Announced 20 October 2006]

Dr. Lars Juhl Jensen, staff scientist at EMBL in Heidelberg, will give a guest lecture on Wednesday 25 October 2006 at 1530 in Green Auditorium 1 at Rikshospitalet.

Cross-species data integration

To understand a biological system, both its constituents and their interactions must be known. From a functional perspective, “interaction" can mean anything from direct physical binding to indirect functional association such as participation in the same metabolic pathway or cellular process. Such interactions can be inferred from a wide variety of large-scale data types, which are unfortunately currently scattered over numerous resources and model organisms.

In this talk, I will describe a web-based tool, STRING, which aims to simplify the access to this information by providing a comprehensive, quality-controlled collection of both known and predicted protein interactions for a large number of organisms. Interactions are derived by re-analyzing high- and low-throughput experimental data, by mining biological databases and literature, and by genomic context analysis of 373 fully sequenced genomes. STRING assigns quality scores to each of these interactions, which allow the very different evidence types to be combined, and automatically transfers interactions to orthologous protein pairs in other organisms. This consistent cross-species integration of diverse data types enables the extraction of high-confidence protein interaction networks for many biological processes in various model organisms.

STRING is available via a web interface at http://string.embl.de/

About Lars Juhl Jensen

Dr. Lars Juhl Jensen is staff scientist in Peer Bork's bioinformatics research group at EMBL in Heidelberg, Germany. He defended his PhD thesis at the Center for Biological Sequence Analysis (CBS) at the Technical University of Denmark in 2002. Lars has been working on many different problems in bioinformatics, with gene function prediction as a common theme. He is an excellent speaker and is co-author on more than 40 papers.

The lecture is supported by FUGE East.

First Norwegian Microbiology Meeting for junior scientists (NoMi06) - 22-24 October 2006
[Announced 14 August 2006]

The First Norwegian Microbiology Meeting for junior scientists will be arranged at Geilo on 22-24 October 2006. Please see the meeting website for further information.

CMBN workshop on comparative microbial genomics 16-20 October
[Announced 25 September 2006]

A Comparative Microbial Genomics Workshop will be organized in Oslo on 16-20 October 2006 by associate professor David W Ussery from the Centre for Biological Sequence Analysis (CBS) at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), and others.

Due to the massive availability of sequences of genomes of microbes and other organisms, comparative genomics has gained recognition as a powerful tool for deciphering biological processes both through sequence comparisons and comparative regulation. It helps us understand the genetic basis of diversity and evolutions in organisms, leading to the insight understanding into how living things evolved through stressed environments to the pathogenesis of pathogens, including identification novel drug targets and development of novel drug candidates. Moreover, it presents promising opportunities to identify new genes that are difficult to elucidate by classic experimental methods, thereby offering potential genetic resources for basic research and also for medical and biotechnological uses.

The workshop is designed to enable participants to use comparative genomic tools through lectures and hands-on practical to extract biological meanings and discover novel genes from the vast amount of genomic data and solving problems of their research interest. The workshop will also serve as a platform for participants to establish multidisciplinary collaborations in comparative genomics research among various groups of scientists and researchers at national and international level.

The workshop is now open for registration. Application deadline: 8 October 2006.

Further information.

Guest lectures by Fan Meng
[Announced 24 September 2006]

Assistant Research Professor Fan Meng PhD, Microrarray Laboratory, Psychiatry Department and Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, will give two guest lectures on Thursday 28 September 2006 at 1200 in the Green auditorium 1 at Rikshospitalet.

Knowledge-based analysis of genome-wide SNP scanning data

Many genome-wide association (GWA) studies are currently underway for identifying genetic elements involved in complex disorders. However, prevailing GWA data analysis methods are focusing on the association of individual SNP alleles with a complex disease, although multiple alleles are involved by definition. Available data suggest few SNP alleles can pass the genome-wide multiple testing criteria and the false positive rate is very high. Inspired by the knowledge-based analysis methods developed for gene expression data analysis, we implemented methods for examining functionally-related SNPs as a group. Applying our method to the public domain Parkinson's disease data set leads to a significant increase in finding candidate genes known to be associated with the Parkinson's disease. We believe such knowledge-based methods are likely to be more suitable for the study of complex disorders.

GeneChip data analysis: the trick is in the probe sets

Affymetrix GeneChips are probably the most widely used platform for gene expression analysis. Extensive effort has been devoted to improving the accuracy and sensitivity of statistical algorithms used to estimate gene expression levels and to detect differential expression in GeneChip-based expression analyses. However, sophisticated algorithms are often combined with Affymetrix probe set definitions derived from obsolete genome and transcriptome information. Such a practice may greatly reduce the accuracy of results, especially under conditions where expression changes are not dramatic. Our solution significantly increases the reliability of probe sets and also provides the opportunity for examining results based on different gene/transcript/exon definitions.

CMBN guest lectures by Keiko Shimamoto
[Announced 11 September 2006]

Keiko Shimamoto, Suntory Institute for Bioorganic Research, Osaka, Japan, will give a guest lecture on Tuesday 12 September 2006 at 1200 in the lunch room (1330), Department of Anatomy, Domus Medica, with the title:

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Blockers to Probe Glutamate Transporter Functions

Keiko Shimamoto is a chemist, and has specialized in developing inhibitors of glutamate transporters. All inhibitors of glutamate transporters, with the exception of the kainate-derivatives, have been substrates which are themselves transported. Because the transport causes release of internal glutamate by heteroexchange, the results obtained by using these compounds are difficult to interpret as the effect is a mixture of both inhibition of uptake and release. Although the kainate compounds do not have this problem, they have low affinity action only on one of the transporter subtypes. Further, they also activate AMPA receptors. Shimamoto has developed compounds that do not have these shortcomings. The first one was TBOA which quickly became in widespread use throughout the World. Now, Shimamoto has developed inhibitors which have several thousand fold higher affinity. In this lecture she will describe the approach she has used to develop these compounds.

Shimamoto K, Lebrun B, Yasudakamatani Y, Sakaitani M, Shigeri Y, Yumoto N, Nakajima T (1998) DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate, a potent blocker of excitatory amino acid transporters. Mol Pharmacol 53: 195-201.

Shimamoto K, Sakai R, Takaoka K, Yumoto N, Nakajima T, Amara SG, Shigeri Y (2004) Characterization of novel L-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate derivatives, potent blockers of the glutamate transporters. Mol Pharmacol 65: 1008-1015.

CMBN guest lectures by Philip Beart
[Announced 11 September 2006]

Philip Beart, Howard Florey Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia, will give a guest lecture on Tuesday 12 September 2006 at 1245 in the lunch room (1330), Department of Anatomy, Domus Medica, with the title:

Astrocytes and neuroprotection: mechanistic insights into the roles of glutamate transporters and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)

Philip Beart is one of the founding fathers of the glutamate transporter field, and has been studying glutamate uptake since the early 1970s. He has also made important contributions to the pharmacology of other transmitter systems, notably those of GABA and dopamine. A recent theme of his research is on the consequences of hypoxia-ischemia and inflammation. Inter alia, he has shown that the protein, Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF), enters the cell nucleus activating genes for ‘suicide’ proteins by a caspase-independent process. His group is now focusing the roles of glial cells in neuroprotection and on regulation of glutamate transporter function.

Jones NM, Lee EM, Brown TG, Jarrott B, Beart PM (2006) Hypoxic preconditioning produces differential expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and its regulatory enzyme HIF prolyl hydroxylase 2 in neonatal rat brain. Neurosci Lett 404(1-2):72-7. Epub 2006 Jul 7.

O'Shea RD, Lau CL, Farso MC, Diwakarla S, Zagami CJ, Svendsen BB, Feeney SJ, Callaway JK, Jones NM, Pow DV, Danbolt NC, Jarrott B, Beart PM (2006) Effects of lipopolysaccharide on glial phenotype and activity of glutamate transporters: Evidence for delayed up-regulation and redistribution of GLT-1. Neurochem Int 48(6-7):604-10. Epub 2006 Mar 10.

CMBN guest lectures by Jean-Pierre Changeux
[Announced 11 September 2006]

Prof Jean-Pierre Changeux, Collège de France and l'Institut Pasteur, France, will give a guest lecture on Wednesday 27 September 2006 at 1300 in the new auditorium 13, Department of Anatomy, Domus Medica, with the title:

The role of brain nicotinic receptors in reward and cognition

CMBN guest lecture by Randi G. Syljuåsen
[Announced 22 August 2006]

Randi G. Syljuåsen, Institute of Cancer Biology and Centre for Genotoxic Stress Research, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark, will give a guest lecture on Tuesday 29 August 2006 at 1100 in Auditorium A3.3067, Seksjon for molekylærbiologi, Rikshospitalet, with the title:

Cell cycle checkpoints induced in the absence and presence of ionizing radiation

Abstract: In response to DNA lesions, human cells activate checkpoint pathways to repair DNA damage and prevent proliferation of genetically unstable cells. In this presentation, I will discuss the role of human checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) in the IR-induced S and G2 checkpoints, as well as for the progression through the normal S and G2/M phases. Furthermore, I will present our new data describing a process of checkpoint adaptation in human cells.

CMBN guest lecture by James Fallon
[Announced 7 July 2006]

James Fallon, professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, USA, will give a guest lecture on Thursday 24 August 2006 at 1300 in Lille Auditorium, Domus Medica, UiO, with the title:

Imaging Genetics and the Neuroanatomy of Affective and Thought Disorders

Dr. Fallon's research program is primarily in four areas, including adult stem cells, chemical neuroanatomy and circuitry, higher brain functions, and brain imaging. He is an expert in chemically defined circuits in the brain and have detailed the dopamine and norepinephrine system, as well as the distribution of opioid peptide and growth factor systems, especially in the basal ganglia, limbic system and cortex in the developing and adult brain. Lately he has focused on higher brain functions, particularly in the neural circuitry and genetics of creativity, artistic talent, psychopathology, criminal behavior, and level of consciousness. Dr. Fallon has extensive collaborations with clinical and basic researchers working on human brain imaging.

CMBN guest lecture by Hans S. Keirstead
[Announced 14 August 2006]

Hans S. Keirstead, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Co-Director of the Stem Cell Research Center, Reeve-Irvine Research Center, School of Medicine University of California, USA, will give a guest lecture on Wednesday 16 August 2006 at 1400 in New Auditorium 13, Department of Anatomy, Domus Medica, UiO, with the title:

Stem cells for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury and Disease

CMBN guest lecture by Manuel S. Malmierca
[Announced 17 July 2006]

Dr Manuel S. Malmierca, Laboratory for the Neurobiology of Hearing, The Institute of Neuroscience of 'Castilla y Leon' (INCyL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain, will give a guest lecture on Tuesday 25 July 2006 at 1300 in the lunch room, Dept of Anatomy, Domus Medica, UiO, with the title:

The inferior colliculus: A key centre for auditory processing in the midbrain

Databasing the brain workshop, 25-27 June 2006
[Announced 13 March 2006]

The second Databasing the brain workshop will take place 25-27 June 2006 at the Soria Moria conference center in Oslo. Please see the meeting website for programme and information about availability of places.

Minisymposium: Neuroendocrine Signalling by Amino Acids - New Deal in Diabetes?
[Announced 13 June 2006]

Professor Dr. Gudrun Ahnert-Hilger, AG Funktionelle Zellbiologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany , will give a guest lecture on Wednesday 14 June 2006 at 1015 in the new auditorium 13, Domus Medica, UiO, with the title:

Regulation of vesicular transmitter uptake by heterotrimeric G proteins

 

 

Professor Dr Patrik Rorsman, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrionology and Metabolism (OCDEM), University of Oxford, UK, will give a guest lecture on Wednesday 14 June 2006 at 1115 in the new auditorium 13, Domus Medica, UiO, with the title:

GABA and the control of pancreatic islet function: studies in man and rodents

Runhild Gammelsæter's PhD defense
[Announced 13 June 2006]

Runhild Gammelsæter will defend her PhD dissertation with the title

Amino acid signaling in islets of Langerhans

on Tuesday 13 June 2006 at 1415 in Lille auditorium, Domus Medica, University of Oslo.

The trial lecture with the title

Central nervous regulation of insulin secretion

will be held on Tuesday 13 June 2006 at 1015, in Auditorium 3 (blue) at Rikshospitalet.

Further information.

Petter Angell Olsen's PhD defense
[Announced 7 June 2006]

Petter Angell Olsen will defend his PhD dissertation with the title

Targeted sequence alteration in the genomes of mammalian cells mediated by oligonucleotides

on Friday 9 June 2006 at 1015 in New auditorium 13, Domus Medica, University of Oslo.

The trial lecture with the title

Aptamers in research and therapy

will be held on Thursday 8 June 2006 at 1515, also in New auditorium 13, Domus Medica, University of Oslo.

Further information.

The first glial endfoot meeting, 6-7 June 2006
[Announced 20 March 2006]

The first glial endfoot meeting, Physiology and pathophysiology at the brain blood interface, will take place in Oslo, 6-7 June 2006.

Erling Seeberg Symposium on DNA Repair
[Announced 18 January 2006]

The Erling Seeberg Symposium on DNA Repair takes place in Bodø and Henningsvær in Lofoten from 28 May to 2 June, 2006. We are very happy to announce that many distinguished speakers have already accepted invitations. Please visit the conference website for further information.

Guest lecture by Kim Q Do
[Announced 4 May 2006]

Kim Q Do, PhD, privat-docent, Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Lausanne University, Switzerland, will give a guest lecture on Tuesday 9 May 2006 at 13.00 in the small auditorium at Domus Medica, UiO, with the title:

Schizophrenia: redox dysregulation as vulnerability factor; from basic to clinical perspectives

Guest lecture by Chris Tang
[Announced 4 May 2006]

Chris Tang, Imperial College, London, UK, will give a guest lecture on Tuesday 2 May 2006 at 11.00 in the auditorium A3.3067 Rikshospitalet, with the title:

Interactions of N. meningitidis with the complement system

Genome Dynamics in Neuroscience Meeting, 26-29 April 2006
[Announced 5 March 2006]

The first Genome Dynamics in Neuroscience Meeting will take place on 26-29 April 2006 at Rikshospitalet. Please see the meeting website and meeting information in Nature Events. Registration and abstract submission for posters is now open at the meeting website. Registration deadline: 1 April 2006.

Elise Rundén Pran's PhD defense
[Announced 20 April 2005]

Elise Rundén Pran, will defend her PhD dissertation with the title

Intra- and extracellular signaling pathways underlying cell death in hippocampus

on Friday 21 April 2006 at 1615 in New auditorium 13, Domus Medica, University of Oslo.

The trial lecture with the title

Molecular mechanisms of prion diseases and related brain pathology

will be held on Thursday 20 April 2005 at 1015, also in New auditorium 13, Domus Medica, University of Oslo.

Further information.

Second Norwegian Transgenic Animal Forum
[Announced 20 February 2006]

The second Norwegian Transgenic Animal Forum will be arranged at Tyrifjord Hotel, Vikersund, 23-24 March 2006.

Guest lecture by Valina Dawson
[Announced 21 February 2006]

Professor Valina Dawson, Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA, will give a guest lecture on Tuesday 28 February 2006 at 10.15 in the lunch room (1330), Department of Anatomy, with the title:

Genetic Clues to Unravel the Mystery of Parkinson's Disease

Guest lecture by Bernd Epe
[Announced 6 February 2006]

Professor Bernd Epe, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Mainz, Germany, will give a guest lecture on Thursday, 9 February 2006 at 14.15 in Auditorium A3.3067, Rikshospitalet, with the title:

Endogenous oxidative DNA base damage and its consequences

Guest lecture by Vilhelm A. Bohr
[Announced 18 January 2006]

Professor Vilhelm A. Bohr, chief, Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, NIH, US, will give a guest lecture on Wednesday, 25 January 2006 at 14.00 in Auditorium A3.3067, Rikshospitalet, with the title:

Oxidative DNA damage processing and changes with aging

Guest lecture by Ken Howard
[Announced 11 January 2006]

Postdoc Ken Howard at the Department of Molecular Biology, University of Aarhus, will give a guest lecture on Thursday, 12 January 2006 at 13.00 in the New Auditorium 13, Domus Medica, with the title:

Small interfering RNA delivery and gene silencing using nanocarrier systems