Dean BUONOMANO, professor of psychology and neurobiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

The ability to tell time, represent and encode temporal information, and use past experiences to predict the future, are among the most fundamental computations the brain performs. But how do networks of neurons tell time and encode temporal information in a flexible manner? Precisely because of the importance of time, we argue that most neural circuits are capable of temporal computations. But in contrast to the clocks on our wrists that rely on the same mechanism to tell time across a wide range of scales, the brain engages many different mechanisms and circuits to tell time. We and others have proposed that on the scale of seconds timing relies on neural population clocks: time-varying patterns of neural activity that emerge from the dynamics of recurrent neural circuits. More generally, we propose that such dynamic regimes represent a fundamental computational strategy in the brain.

Effectiveness of an audiovisual telerehabilitation program on visual field restoration in children with hemianopia consecutive to a brain tumour.

Thesis funded for 3 years under a European grant (European Science Foundation).

Procedures

Interventional data analysis from the virtual reality headset (safety, performance, adherence/compliance, eye/head tracking)

Primary outcome data analysis (visuel fields)

Secondary and exploratory outomes measures and data analysis (VEP, SD-OCT, questionnaires)

Collaborative work involving 2 clinical departemnt at HUS (opthalmology and pediatrci neuro-oncology)

International collaboration with European consortium (8 clinical sites in 7 countries: Strasbourg, Milan, Padova, Barcelona, Vienna, Utrecht, London, Copenhagen).

Pre-requisite

Master in Neurosciences or equivalent (MSc, MD). Comprehensive knowledge of the visual system.

Minimum B2 level in English. Knowledge of another european language is a plus. Comprehensive knowledge of Python (coding), biomedical statistics/epidemiology. Strong interest for innovating technologies. Knowledge of clinical trials regulations.

Contact

Michael REBER lab, Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience & Psychiatry UMR-S1329

michael.reber[at]inserm.fr

Assaf Breska, Independent group leader, Max-Planck institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen

Invited by: Anne Giersch & Philippe Isope

To survive in a rapidly dynamic world, the brain predicts the “what”, “where” and “when” of upcoming events and proactively adjusts perception, attention and action. The cerebellum has traditionally been associated with prediction and timing in the motor domain, while proactive perception and attention were associated with oscillatory mechanisms in cortical circuits. I will present a series of studies that combined computational modelling, psychophysics, and EEG recording in healthy and neurological populations to investigate mechanisms of dynamic prediction and the potential role of the cerebellum beyond motor control. These reveal that the cerebellum is indeed involved in non-motor prediction, of the timing of sensory events, as well as of semantic content in language. This is then leveraged to uncover causal cerebellar control of temporal variability in cortical circuits, identify unique entrainment mechanisms to isochronous streams, and study the computational overlap between implicit and explicit timing. Altogether, these findings expand our understanding of subcortical-cortical interactions in supporting prediction, timing, and high-level cognition, and inspire translational applications.

Early non-motor signs as a window into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis pathophysiology

• 9:35 AM: Karine MERIENNE, LNCA, ITI NeuroStra

Epigenetic dysregulation in Huntington's disease

• 10:10 AM: Pierre-Eric LUTZ, INCI, ITI NeuroStra

Sex differences in epigenetic mechanisms of chronic opioid action

• 11:05 AM: Angelina ANGELOVA, Institut Galien, Université Paris-Saclay

Multicomponent lipid nanoparticles for neuroprotection and development of brain-targeted nanomedicines

• 11:40 AM: Philippe ISOPE, INCI, ITI NeuroStra

Synaptic connectivity maps and temporal processing in the cerebellar cortex

Organisers

• Manon Boivin
• Marianne Lemée
• Jacqueline Ji
• Charlotte Schmuck

Translational Medicine and Neurogenetics department, IGBMC

We study the contribution of microglial cells and underlying mechanisms of neuronal and glial dyshomeostasis in neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer´s disease (AD) and the childhood dementia Niemann-Pick type C (NPC). We use translational approaches to identify molecular fingerprints of microglial dysfunction and identify novel cellular targets to target and monitor neuroinflammation across neurodegenerative disorders.

September 20th 2024 at 11am
Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Integratives; Salle de Seminaire
8, allée Général Rouvillois
Strasbourg

Host
Frank W. Pfrieger, INCI

Supported by BayFrance

Our research aims to explore the intricate interactions between Müller cells, microglia and neurons in both healthy and diseased retinas. We are particularly interested in understanding the effects of AAV-vectored gene therapies targeting these interactions, in particular the coordination of the retinal immune response, for example by modulating retinal complement homeostasis or glucocorticoid receptor signaling. We demonstrate that our approach of delivering therapeutic gene expression to Müller cells can improve disease progression in models of diabetic retinopathy or ischemic stress, independent of the underlying cause of the disease, and thus may benefit patients who are not candidates for currently available treatment strategies, since most, if not all, retinal diseases involve Müller cell gliosis and inflammatory processes that potentially accelerate neuronal dysfunction.

September 19th 2024 at 10:30am
Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Integratives; Salle de Seminaire
8, allée Général Rouvillois á Strasbourg

Host
Frank W. Pfrieger, INCI

Supported by BayFrance

Two co-financings are proposed in 2025. The doctoral contract will start no earlier than January 1, 2025 and no later than October 1, 2025.
Deadline to apply: November 28th, 2024.

Download the application forms below.

Entrée gratuite, mais inscription obligatoire sur https://www.eventbrite.com/e/billets-visites-du-centre-de-recherche-en-biomedecine-de-strasbourg-853544423347?aff=oddtdtcreator

PROGRAMMATION

10h : Ouverture des portes

Conférences grand public

Durée : 20 min de présentation, 10 min pour répondre à vos questions – À partir de 7 ans

• 10h30 : « Trouble de l’usage d’opiacés et marqueurs biopsychosociaux : à propos de deux projets », Pr. Laurence LALANNE
• 11h30 : « Actualités sur le Sclérose Latérale Amyotrophique ou Maladie de Charcot », Dr. Marie-Céline FLEURY
• 14h30 : « Le cerveau, un organe aux frontières bien gardées : exemple de la barrière hémato-encéphalique », Dr. Guillaume BECKER

Visites de nos locaux

Durée : 30min par visite – À partir de 7 ans

• Visite guidée de la plateforme d’imagerie
• Visite guidée d’un laboratoire de recherche

Ateliers ludiques autour de la science

Durée : 5-10min par atelier – À partir de 7 ans

• Hypothèse anatomo-fonctionnelle : découvrez comment est organisé le cerveau et comment chaque région se spécialise dans une fonction
• Les neurones communiquent : apprenez comment l’information est transmise dans les différentes zones du cerveau, et participez à un jeu où votre rapidité sera mise à l’épreuve !
• Colore ton neurone : à travers la coloration d’une lame, découvrez comment marquer et observer les neurones
• Développement cérébral : observez l’évolution du cerveau entre différentes espèces animales
• Défie ton cerveau ! Défiez votre cerveau avec des jeux de mémoire ou logique et des illusions d’optique !

Stands associatifs

• Association pour la Recherche sur la Sclérose Latérale Amyotrophique (ARSLA)
• Épilepsie France (10h-10h30 uniquement)
• Association Huntington France (AHF)

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease of the adult motor system, for which effective treatments remain elusive. Mutations leading to the mislocalization of FUS, an essential RNA-binding protein, have been linked to the most severe form of ALS. Despite intense research efforts, the cascade of pathological events triggering the progressive degeneration of motor neurons remains incompletely understood. Our prior investigations revealed significant lipid metabolism alterations in the spinal cord of a FUS mouse model, as well as in motor neurons derived from ALS patients induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Recent evidence suggests that dysfunctional glial cells, including oligodendrocytes, contribute to neurodegeneration in FUS-linked ALS through non-cell autonomous mechanisms. In our latest research, we investigated the impact of FUS mutations in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) derived from human iPSCs. Confirming the cytoplasmic mislocalization of FUS in OPCs, we uncovered significant alterations in lipid metabolism, accompanied by transcriptomic alterations related to myelin formation. Additionally, we observed mitochondria-associated ER membrane abnormalities, ER stress, and mitochondrial dysfunctions. These recent findings emphasize the pathological role of FUS in oligodendrocytes, shedding light on the intricate cellular mechanisms contributing to FUS-linked ALS pathology.

Un contrat IE de 2 ans (débutant janvier 2024) est ouvert à l’INCI UPR3212 pour mener un projet de neuroanatomie humaine (histologie, immunohistochimie, RNAscope).
Pour candidater et pour plus d’information, merci de contacter : Michel Barrot (mbarrot@inci-cnrs.unistra.fr) à l’INCI.

Bio: Philipp Sterzer is a psychiatrist, neurologist and neuroscientist who trained in Frankfurt am Main, London and Berlin and held a professorship for psychiatry and computational neuroscience at Charité Berlin from 2011 to 2022. Recently, he was appointed Professor of Translational Psychiatry at University of Basel, Switzerland. His work focuses on the investigation of predictive neural processes in perception and their alterations in psychotic disorders using functional neuroimaging and computational modeling among other methods. Along with numerous articles in scientific journals and textbooks, he recently published “Die Illusion der Vernunft”, a popular science book on delusions and other irrational beliefs.