IIAS Research Conference 2011
"Frontiers in Neuroscience:From Brain to Mind"

Overview

Neuroscience was developed on the basis of anatomy and physiology and then established with the introduction of biochemistry. In recent years, its progress has been remarkable by the use of molecular biological techniques, e.g. gene knock-out and gene labeling with fluorescent protein, and the current neuroscience has been changing rapidly with the aid of these new technologies. One of the principal targets of the molecular biological approaches is directed to understand the human mind and consciousness.
The IIAS Research Conference entitled "Frontiers in Neuroscience: From Brain to Mind" is held, focusing on the question, “How much of the neural network and higher order brain functions can be elucidated in molecular biological terms”. Many world-leading researchers gave presentations with novel information. Through this intensive discussion, all the participants could share some perspectives for the next targets of neuroscience. We believe that this type of research conference, if continued, will lead to the substantiation of the institute’s policy in the future.

Sponsored by	:   :	Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Supported by	:	Kansai Economic Federation
Date	:	December 6, 2011 - December 9, 2011
Venue	:	International Institute for Advanced Studies, Kyoto, Japan

(1)Presentation

Opening Lecture	1
Session	7 (Invited Speaker 23, Short Talk 3)
Closing Lecture	1
Poster Presentation	28 (young researcher selected among applicants）

(2)Participants

Invited Speakers	25 (Overseas  15, Domestic  10)
Poster presenter	28 (Overseas    8, Domestic  20)
Discussant	4 (Domestic only)
Others	5 (Domestic only)

Total

62 (Overseas 23, Domestic 39)

Participating Countries：Japan, United State, France, Austria, Israel, Germany, Switzerland

(3)Language

English (no simultaneous interpretation)

(4)Organizer

Hitoshi Sakano Tetsuo Yamamori Yoshiro Shimura

The University of Tokyo National Institute of Basic Biology Vice Director, IIAS

(5)Remarks

The IIAS Research Conference entitled "Frontiers in Neuroscience: From Brain to Mind" was successfully held, focusing on the question, “How much of the neural network and higher order brain functions could be elucidated in molecular biological terms”.
Some 25 world-leading scientists participated in the IIAS Research Conference held from 6- 9, December, giving presentations with novel information..
The conference began with the Opening Lecture by Prof. Linda Buck entitled "Deconstructing smell," followed by 7 sessions (23 invited talks, 3 short talks). In addition to the oral sessions, there were poster presentations by young researchers whose participation was made possible through the internet. There were 20 poster presenters from Kyoto University, Osaka University and a few other research institutes not only within the Kansai area but from all over Japan. Furthermore, 8 presenters were from abroad. Undoubtedly, it provided a very significant opportunity for the young researchers to discuss many problems and subjects with their peers and world-leading scientists in the field of neuroscience.
Through the intensive discussion, all the participants could share some perspectives for the future in neuroscience. The IIAS conference 2011 has been highly evaluated by most of the attendees, particularly by all of the invited speakers who represent the top-leading scientific figures in the field of neuroscience, as seen in their comments received after the conference. The success of the conference is largely due to those speakers who presented the most exciting and cutting-edge information. In the course of the conference, scientists and other participants gained better understandings on IIAS and possibly on its mission. It is not hard to imagine that the contents of the IIAS conference 2011 will become widely known around the world among neuroscientists, which will in turn raise the recognition of IIAS world-wide.