Conference Description
The Cannabinoid Function in the CNS GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.
Endocannabinoids are key regulators of neurotransmission in the brain. They participate in adaptive and maladaptive responses of diverse synapses via mechanisms involving multiple signaling cascades, in both presynaptic and postsynaptic compartments. Despite decades of devoted research and technological advances accelerating the understanding of its contribution to brain function, our knowledge is yet incomplete. Because of the expanding legalization and liberalization policies regarding cannabis use, it is paramount to deepen our appreciation of the neurobiological mechanisms modulated by the endocannabinoid system and how it is affected by cannabis constituents.
The goal of the 10th Gordon Research Conference on "Cannabinoid Functions in the CNS, Charting the Course to Novel Therapeutics” is to gather scientists from different backgrounds (including biology, chemistry, medicine, neuroscience and pharmacology) to showcase their most recent unpublished data. The most exciting discoveries in the field will be given an in-depth discussion to further the understanding of role of (endo/phyto)cannabinoids in the brain from single molecules to synapses and circuits, in health and disease. A welcoming and inclusive environment with abundant networking opportunities will ensure scientists from all levels to learn, to inspire and to be inspired.
Important open challenges will be explored, such as: why do we have multiple endocannabinoids? Is there any cell type or regional specificity of their contributions? Is there a bias for one of the two endocannabinoids to be mobilized: when, where and why?Is there an endocannabinoid transporter? Does the CB2 receptor modulate neuronal function? How does aberrant endocannabinoid signaling lead to disease? Does medicinal and recreational cannabis use lead to therapeutic benefit or to neuropsychiatric disorders? How does cannabidiol act? Which new tools and methods are the most promising to tackle these questions? Finally, arguably equally important, what are the emerging drugs targeting the endocannabinoid system?
The topics, speakers, and discussion leaders for the conference sessions are displayed below. The conference chair is currently developing their detailed program, which will include the complete meeting schedule, as well as the talk titles for all speakers. The detailed program will be available by March 18, 2023. Please check back for updates.
Keynote Session: Endocannabinoid Signalling and Neuroinflammation
Discussion Leaders
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Andrea Hohmann (Indiana University, United States)
Speakers
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Beth Stevens (Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, United States)
Probes to Modulate and Visualize the Endocannabinoid System
Discussion Leaders
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Istvan Katona (Indiana University Bloomington, United States)
Speakers
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Yulong Li (Peking University, China)
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Uwe Grether (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Switzerland)
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James Frank (Oregon Health & Science University, United States)
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Elizabeth Liedhegner (University of Wisconsin Milwaukee)
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Miklós Zöldi (Indiana University, United States)
Endocannabinoid Trafficking and Signaling
Discussion Leaders
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Michelle Glass (University of Otago, New Zealand)
Speakers
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Ruth Ross (University of Toronto, Canada)
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Jürg Gertsch (IBMM University of Bern)
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Giovanni Marsicano (INSERM U1215, France)
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Pal Pacher (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIH, United States)
Session in Memory of Daniela Parolaro: Endocannabinoids and Neurodevelopment
Discussion Leaders
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Tiziana Rubino (University of Insubria, Italy)
Speakers
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Yasmin Hurd (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States)
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Pier Vincenzo Piazza (Aelis Farma, France)
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Viviana Trezza (Dept. Science, Roma Tre University)
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Davide Dulcis (University of California San Diego, United States)
Synaptic Effects of Endocannabinoids
Discussion Leaders
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Bradley Alger (University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States)
Speakers
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Stephanie Cragg (University of Oxford, United Kingdom)
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Raffaella Tonini (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Italy)
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Barna Dudok (Stanford University School of Medicine, United States)
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Marta Navarrete (Cajal Institute, CSIC, Spain)
Endocannabinoids in Emotional Homeostasis
Discussion Leaders
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Patrizia Campolongo (Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
Speakers
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Carmen Sandi (Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Switzerland)
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Joseph Cheer (University of Maryland School of Medicine, United States)
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Giuseppe Gangarossa (Université Paris Cité)
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Beat Lutz (Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Germany)
Endocannabinoid Signalling in Dysregulated Cell Behavior
Discussion Leaders
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Manuel Guzman (Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, Spain)
Speakers
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Leila Akkari (Netherlands Cancer Institute, The Netherlands)
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Laura Heitman (LACDR, Leiden University)
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Huaibin Cai (NIA/NIH, United States)
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Ku-Lung Hsu (University of Texas at Austin, United States)
Neuroprotective Effects of Endocannabinoids
Discussion Leaders
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Mauro Maccarrone (University of L’Aquila, Italy)
Speakers
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Inge Huitinga (Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, The Netherlands)
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Emma Puighermanal (Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain)
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Nephi Stella (University of Washington, United States)
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Elizabeth Thiele (Massachusetts General Hospital, United States)
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Alline Campos (University of Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Inhibition of Endocannabinoid Metabolism as Potential Therapy
Discussion Leaders
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Daniele Piomelli (University of California, Irvine, United States)
Speakers
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Sachin Patel (Northwestern University, United States)
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Matthew Hill (Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Canada)
The GRC Power Hour™
Organizers
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Giuseppe Gangarossa (Université Paris Cité)
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Leah Mayo (University of Calgary, Canada)