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 Press Release 
For immediate release In sessions free and open to public, scientists to share new findings on causes and treatments of mental illnesses The symposium offers three sessions – on basic science, mood disorders and schizophrenia research -- which will take place over a day-and-a-half at Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Stern Auditorium, Madison Avenue and 99th Street, in Manhattan. While free to all, the event requires advance registration by calling NARSAD at 516-829-0091 or 800-829-8289 or by sending an e-mail to events@narsad.org. Designed to inform the public about some of the most recent, and exciting, developments in mental health research today, the sessions include (a more detailed schedule is attached below):
“These gifted young investigators provide a picture of where mental health research is going,” said Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M.D., chairman of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Hirschfeld, who is a member of NARSAD’s Scientific Council, selected the 15 scientists who will present their work at the symposium from the 197 recipients of NARSAD Young Investigator Awards in 2005. Dr. Hirschfeld will moderate the symposium with Herbert Pardes, M.D., president and CEO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. To provide commentary on, and context for, the young scientists’ presentations, NARSAD has also assembled top experts in the respective areas of basic science, mood disorders and schizophrenia research: Peter Kalivas, Ph.D., professor and chair of neurosciences at the Medical University of South Carolina; J. John Mann, M.D., professor of psychiatry and translational neuroscience, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and chief of neuroscience at the New York State Psychiatric Institute; and Jeffrey A. Lieberman, M.D., chair of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. All five experts are members of NARSAD’s Scientific Council, a group of 94 prominent neuroscientists who review and recommend grant proposals for the organization. Dr. Pardes serves as the council’s president. “NARSAD is committed to nurturing the careers of up-and-coming young scientists,” said Constance E. Lieber, the organization’s president. “The symposium demonstrates that they are doing exciting and vital work, which is bringing us closer to finding the causes and better treatments for mental illnesses.” Since its inception in 1987 as the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, NARSAD has given nearly $200 million in research grants to 2,284 scientists in the United States and 25 other countries. It not only supports the research of young investigators, but mid-career and senior scientists, too. Moreover, through public education programs, NARSAD has helped increase public awareness that mental illnesses are biological disorders. With symposiums in New York and other cities around the country, NARSAD is creating opportunities for the public to learn about the mechanisms behind mental illnesses and about researchers’ cutting-edge thinking on causes, treatments and preventions. On Friday, October 27th, following the first day of NARSAD’s New York Mental Health Research Symposium, the organization will hold its annual fundraising gala at The Pierre Hotel in Manhattan. Highlighting the dinner-dance will be a celebration of the 20th anniversary of NARSAD’s Scientific Council and the presentation of five awards for outstanding achievement in mental health research, representing the most prestigious prizes in the field. (For more information on NARSAD’s gala and the recipients of this year’s research prizes, click here.) Complete Schedule: NARSAD’s 18th Annual New York Mental Health Research Symposium Moderators: Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M.D., Chairman of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and Herbert Pardes, M.D., President and CEO, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital; President of NARSAD’s Scientific Council Friday, October 27th Basic Science Research (9 a.m. to noon) Commentator: Peter Kalivas, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Neurosciences at the Medical University of South Carolina Presenters Mark Ansorge, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratories of Jay Gingrich, M.D., Ph.D., and Rene Hen, Ph.D., Columbia University Serotonin in modulating depressive behavior The neurotransmitter serotonin is a key molecule regulating and modulating emotional behavior. Dr. Ansorge has demonstrated in mice that blocking serotonin transporter function during the development of young mice produces depressive-like behavior in the adult. Thus, increasing the action of serotonin comes with mixed blessings, depending on whether it occurs during development or during adulthood. His presentation will summarize the recent mechanistic insight into this phenomenon. Selena Bartlett, Ph.D., Director, Medications Development Group, Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California, San Francisco How dopamine receptor trafficking and signaling may be involved in schizophrenia Dopamine is a major neurotransmitter in the brain, and abnormalities of dopaminergic neurotransmission are associated with several major neurological and psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Dopamine interacts with dopamine receptors that are classified into two categories, D1-like receptors and D2-like receptors. Dr. Bartlett will present new findings on the cell biology of the D2 receptor, which demonstrate that D2 receptor responses are modulated in the brain via an interaction with a novel protein called GASP (G protein-coupled receptor Associated Sorting Protein). Jean-Claude Beique, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Richard Huganir, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University Relationship between brain synapse scaffold proteins and schizophrenia Research has shown that synaptic transmission, which involves the release and reuptake of neurotransmitters, might be altered in patients with schizophrenia, implying that abnormal synaptic development might be at the core of the disease. Neurotransmitter receptors are believed to be structurally maintained by an extensive array of recently identified proteins that act as scaffolds. Dr. Beique will present new electrophysiological, genetic, molecular and imaging data about PSD-95—one of the more important scaffold proteins—that could provide insights about its role in synaptic function. Stephanie L. Borgland, Ph.D., Associate Research Scientist, Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center, University of California, San Francisco Role of orexin/hypocretin signaling on excitatory synaptic transmission of midbrain dopamine neurons in addiction Dr. Borgland will discuss her study of orexin, a molecule in the brain essential for arousal and appetite, which plays a central role in strengthening the connections between neurons that lead to the development of behaviors related to addiction. To examine the behavioral relevance of orexin-mediated plasticity, she and her colleagues studied in an animal model a behavioral phenomenon, called “locomotor sensitization,” which is associated with craving and the long-term changes from chronic drug use. Her results suggest that orexin directly enables the neural communication underlying the development of addiction and points to a novel target for the development of new medicines to counter the craving for drugs of abuse. Colleen A. McClung, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Genes in circadian rhythms and their role in mood disorders For some time researchers have speculated that the circadian clock, which controls everything from sleep/wake cycles to daily hormonal and temperature rhythms, may be disrupted in people who suffer from a variety of mood disorders, including major depression, seasonal affective disorder and bipolar disorder. Dr. McClung will present new findings that the disruption of individual genes that make up the circadian clock in mice leads to profound effects on behavioral measures of depression, reward, and anxiety. Her research also has begun to determine the molecular functions of these genes and finds they are important in regulating dopaminergic activity in regions of the brain that regulate mood and motivational state. Affective Disorders Research (1:30 to 4:30 p.m.) Commentator: J. John Mann, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Translational Neuroscience, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Chief of Neuroscience at the New York State Psychiatric Institute Presenters Robert M. Berman, M.D., Ph.D., Research Fellow in Affective, Anxiety, and Related Disorders, Columbia University/New York State Psychiatric Institute New brain stimulation methods to treat resistant depression, and their mechanisms of action The burgeoning field of brain stimulation has produced improvements in electroconvulsive therapy and the development of newer methods such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and deep brain stimulation. However, in some cases, haphazardly designed clinical trials have outpaced careful preclinical studies, leading to discrepancies in findings and limited efficacy. Dr. Berman will present his work in evaluating these methods in a systematic way. Through his research, he is screening the various methods for their ability to reach relevant brain regions and modulate neuronal activity, with the hope of optimizing their therapeutic effects. Amanda E. Guyer, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Emotion and Development Branch, Mood and Anxiety Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health. Temperament and family history in identifying children at risk of bipolar disorder Dr. Guyer studies the pathophysiology of pediatric bipolar disorder by linking symptoms of the illness, problems processing emotional stimuli (such as emotional faces, rewards and punishments), and abnormalities in brain structure and function. Through her line of research, she seeks to make possible prediction of which high-risk individuals will develop the disease. Dr. Guyer will present preliminary findings from her at-risk study showing that children at risk for BD have deficits in their ability to label facial expressions of emotion and discuss implications of these findings for treatment approaches to pediatric bipolar disorder. Steven F. Kendell, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, and Assistant Professor, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, Ohio Role of riluzole in modulating the neurotransmitter glutamate and in treating drug-resistant depression Accruing evidence suggests that the amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate plays a substantial role in the pathophysiology of depression, and contributes to the mechanism of antidepressant action. A newly emerging class of medications that includes riluzole, a drug previously approved for use in the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, directly modulates the glutamatergic neurotransmitter system and may be effective in the treatment of patients failing to respond fully to current standard antidepressant agents. Dr. Kendell will present his findings from a recently completed open-label study of riluzole augmentation therapy that showed it to be effective in individuals with treatment-resistant depression. Jason Scalia, Ph.D., Instructor of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Effects of major depressive disorder and SSRI medications on hippocampal neurogenesis Animal research indicates that the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus is adversely affected by chronic stress, and that reductions in this neurogenesis are linked to cognitive deficits and depressive-like behavior. Animal models also show that antidepressant medications in the SSRI class enhance neurogenesis. The extent to which these phenomena play a role in the expression of depressive symptoms in humans, however, is as yet unknown. Dr. Scalia is using novel methods to assess neurogenesis in postmortem human hippocampal tissue and will discuss his findings in the context of SSRI pharmacotherapy for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Hugh Brent Solvason, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine Managing obesity and diabetes risk in the pharmacological treatment of bipolar disorder The use of mood stabilizers to treat bipolar illness is the backbone of good psychopharmacologic treatment, but these and other drugs may contribute to obesity, which may be associated with decreased physical activity and metabolic syndrome (a syndrome that identifies people most likely to develop diabetes and heart disease). Some studies suggest that obesity is negatively correlated to treatment response. Thus, identification and management of insulin resistance and modifiable risk factors of diabetes such as weight gain and fitness, is an important aspect of the long-term care of individuals with bipolar illness. Dr. Solvason will present his current study to assess insulin sensitivity in bipolar patients on olanzapine, an important drug in managing this often difficult-to-treat illness. Saturday, October 28th Schizophrenia Research (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) Commentator: Jeffrey A. Lieberman, M.D., Chairman of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Director, New York State Psychiatric Institute Presenters Dimitri Avramopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Genetics of schizophrenia Although a strong genetic component is thought to contribute to risk for developing schizophrenia, few susceptibility genes have been identified. Genetic linkage analyses have pointed to a small region on chromosome 10 and specifically, a gene called Neuregulin 3 (NRG3). This gene, like a related gene called NRG1, is involved in neurodevelopment, regulation of the expression of neurotransmitter receptors, and synaptic plasticity -- all functions associated with schizophrenia. Dr. Avramopoulos is investigating how NRG3 genetic variation may contribute to the risk for schizophrenia. He will discuss his findings on NRG3 expression patterns in the brain and the many ways in which structural units called exons are spliced together to generate a variety of protein products from this single gene. Stefania Bonaccorso M.D., Ph.D., Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Psychopharmacology, Vanderbilt University Improving cognition in patients with schizophrenia It is widely believed that the major problems associated with schizophrenia are psychotic symptoms, such as delusion and hallucination, and so-called “negative” symptoms, such as withdrawal and lack of motivation. However, for people with schizophrenia to function successfully at work and school and in interpersonal relationships, they must overcome major deficits in the area of cognition, i.e., attention span, long- and short-term memory and executive function. It is thought that newer drugs, like clozapine and risperidone, improve cognition by normalizing two important neurotransmitters, dopamine and acetylcholine, in the two key areas of the brain that are important for cognition, the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Dr. Bonaccorso will present her lab’s finding that the mood stabilizer, valproic acid, and similar drugs, can increase brain dopamine release and enhance the effect of drugs like risperidone. Karin E. Borgmann-Winter, M.D., Clinical Associate, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Role of olfactory neurons in development of early intervention strategies for psychoses in adolescents While neurotoxic effects of traditional antipsychotic medications in preclinical studies are well documented, recent preclinical and clinical studies have suggested possible neuroprotective effects of several atypical antipsychotics. The effects of exposure to antipsychotics during specific periods of human brain development have not been characterized, however. Dr. Borgmann-Winter believes there is an urgent need for a critical evaluation of the neurodevelopmental effects and potential neurotoxic or neuroprotective effects of antipsychotic medications during adolescence. Dr. Borgmann-Winter will discuss her study of olfactory neuroepithelial tissues as a model in which to examine the effects of antipsychotics on intracellular signaling pathways implicated in cell death or survival. Steve Laviolette, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Western Ontario Processing and encoding of sensory information in schizophrenia In disorders such as schizophrenia, abnormalities in brain structures that process the emotional significance of sensory information may cause individuals to perceive some extraneous or insignificant sensory signals as highly emotionally salient. By repeatedly associating these sensations with inappropriate emotional perceptions, individuals ultimately may develop delusional ideas about the significance of such perceptions. Dr. Laviolette is studying interconnected regions of the brain called the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and ventral tegmental area, which are critical for processing emotionally salient sensory information. He will discuss his study of how individual neurons in these regions encode the emotional salience of sensory information and how the actions of two neurotransmitters, dopamine and cannabinoids, may be involved in modulating the processing of emotional learning and memory formation. Anita Ramani, Ph.D., Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine New MRI technique, Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging, in studying brain structure in schizophrenia The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques with people with schizophrenia has provided compelling evidence for the existence of structural abnormalities in their brains. The development of a non-invasive method to detect early, yet subtle changes in the cerebral microstructure in such patients would have considerable clinical value since therapy is most likely to be successful if intervention occurs early. Dr. Ramani will present her investigations using a new quantitative MRI technique, called Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging, which detects subtle brain abnormalities in schizophrenia. |
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