Friday January 22nd, 2021 and Saturday, January 23rd, 2021

NBH is Virtual this year!

University of Vermont - Burlington, Vermont

Keynote Speaker

Diane Lipscombe, PhD 

Thomas J. Watson, Sr. Professor of Science, Professor of Neuroscience,

Reliance Dhirubhai Ambani Director of the Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science

Keynote talk

Voltage-gated calcium ion channels cell-specific forms and functions

The precise exon composition of expressed genes defines fundamental features of neuronal function. Alternative pre mRNA splicing regulates exon composition for >95% of multi-exon genes. Exon choice is controlled by cell-type, development, cellular activity, and disease and this process defines cell-specific functions that can influence behavior. The mechanisms that regulate cell-specific alternative splicing of physiologically significant events are determined for only a few genes. Cell specific expression of ion channel splice isoforms influences synapse-specific release probability, neuronal firing frequencies, ion channel sensitivity to G protein coupled receptor modulation, subcellular targeting and ion channel density. Our recent studies describe the cellular mechanism that controls cell-specific splicing of Cacna1b - the gene that encodes the core subunits of all voltage-gated CaV2.2 channels. CaV2.2 channels control transmitter release at numerous synapses in the mammalian nervous system and, in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, CaV2.2 channel activity regulates the transmission of innocuous and noxious signals from the periphery to central sites. We found striking cell-specific hypomethylation of a Cacna1b exon in noxious heat sensing nociceptors and long-term disruption of this epigenetic modification in an animal model of nerve injury. Our studies offer the most comprehensive description yet of the mechanisms of cell-specific alternative splicing of a synaptic ion channel gene exon, in normal and in disease states. The cellular control mechanisms that determine which isoform is expressed where, when and for how long, are essential for defining protein action within the specific cellular context

Schedule of Events

 NBH Forum Full Program 2021

Our keynote speaker will kick off the 2021 NBH forum at 4:30p on Friday January 22nd and we will continue on Saturday January 23rd at 8:00a with data blitz and platform talks. Please check back here for the full 2021 NBH Forum Schedule of Events as it becomes available.

Keynote Address for the Neuroscience, Behavior and Health Forum
Time: Jan 22, 2021 04:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Please join us on Zoom!

Platform Talks and Data Blitz Sessions for the Neuroscience, Behavior and Health Forum
Time: Jan 23, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Please join us on Zoom!

Forum Presentations

Due to the online format of this year's NBH forum, in lieu of our poster session we will be doing data blitz sessions! Each data blitz will be capped at 5 minutes and be limited to 3 slides (eg: intro on slide 1, data on slide 2, and conclusions on slide 3...but get creative!). Data blitzes will be grouped thematically into blocks of approximately 5 talks, followed by a 10 minute panel discussion for speakers in each block to answer questions.

Data blitz sessions will be accompanied by platform talks. Platform talks will be 15 minutes long, with time following for questions. Please use the registration form to specify your preference. You may access the submission form for general registration, as well as data blitz or platform talk registration. Please include a 3-6 sentence summary as an abstract so that we may asses the theme of your talk.