Advanced Neuroscience
Advanced Neuroscience Lectures
Vienna is a City of Neuroscience. Not only at the Center for Brain Research are several special lectures for Neuroscience offered also on many other institutions. Thus, if you are interested there are many options to improve your skills and knowledge in Neuroscience.
The following lectures are offered at the Center for Brain Research:
- Cell type-specific features of the nervous system (I. Adameyko, T. Weiss, M. Christensen, D. Kamenev)
Abstract: This lecture series will focus on cell type-specific mechanisms and cell differentiation. It will take place in 4 parts:
Part 1 “Development of CNS-specific cell types” by Dmitrii Kamenev: This lecture will provide an overview of the processes that drive the development of CNS-specific cell types, with focus on how neural progenitors differentiate into diverse neurons and glial cells. Key topics will include the role of signaling pathways, transcriptional regulation, and epigenetic modifications in cell fate specification. The lecture will also introduce techniques, such as lineage tracing, organoid models, and single-cell technologies, to study these mechanisms. We will discuss how disruptions in these processes can lead to neurological disorders, offering a foundation for understanding the complexity of CNS development and its relevance to health and disease.
Part 2 ""During this lecture we discuss the discovery of neural crest cells and their essential role in forming the diverse cell types of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). We will review the early embryological experiments that first identified the neural crest as a transient, migratory, and multipotent progenitor cell population. We will then examine how these cells differentiate into peripheral neurons and glial cells, emphasizing the mechanisms that regulate their migration, fate specification, and maturation. Finally, we take a look at how disruptions in neural crest development result in a spectrum of congenital disorders collectively known as neurocristopathies."
Part 3 The functional versatility of human Schwann cells in regeneration and disease" by Tamara Weiss: The regenerative potential of the peripheral nervous system is largely dependent on the ability of Schwann cells to adopt a specialized repair phenotype. This lecture will provide insight into the temporal dynamics and functional diversity of repair Schwann cells, with a particular emphasis on human models. Students will also learn about the neuritogenic, phagocytic, and immunomodulatory capacities of human Schwann cells, which extend beyond established concepts of repair function. We will discuss how these capacities are reshaping current views of Schwann cell biology in regeneration and disease, and explore their implications for therapeutic strategies."
Part 4 "Modern methods to study the diversity of cell types in developing and adult nervous system" by Igor Adameyko: The lectures will provide an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge techniques and methodologies used to analyze cellular diversity in the nervous system. The course will cover single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, advanced imaging techniques such as multiphoton and light-sheet microscopy, and molecular tools like CRISPR- and lentivirus-based barcoded lineage tracing at single cell resolution and epigenetic profiling. Students will hear about how to characterize and classify neural cell types, investigate their functional roles, and track their developmental trajectories. The lectures will also include discussions on current challenges in neuroscience research, and applications of these methods to model organisms and human systems, preparing students to address complex questions about neural development, plasticity, and regeneration. - Peroxisomes in Health and Disease (J. Berger, M. Kunze)
Abstract: The aim of the course is to improve the understanding of the biochemical pathways performed in peroxisomes as well as their physiological relevance for the mammalian organism with a focus on the nervous system. Biogenesis, proliferation and degradation of peroxisomes and mechanisms of protein import metabolic pathways exerted in peroxisomes and discussion of their physiological role and their contribution to inherited human diseases, phenotypic alterations upon complete, tissue or cell type selective inactivation of peroxisomes in mouse models (e.g. in brain, neurons, oligodendrocytes) and the possible role of peroxisomes in common disorders such as Alzheimer disease. - Genetic Methods and Techniques (M. Kunze)
Abstract: Neuroscience utilizes a broad variety of methods to investigate the complex foundation of brain physiology, brain development and behavior. Among these methods genetic approaches excel by their long and successful tradition within biological sciences and their applicability to very diverse research questions. Taking advantage of the tight relation between the genetic heritage/inheritance of an organism and its phenotypic appearance (under well-defined environmental conditions), genetic approaches allow the identification of factors, which affect brain processes in health and disease. At the beginning, genetic fundamentals and the proper terminology will be introduced and put into the context of neurobiology. This will include the development of a conceptual framework for brain development and function, which integrates the influences of heritage, environment and developmental processes and is useful to understand human neuroscience in health and disease. Furthermore, the art of genetic screens utilized in neuroscience will be introduced, emphasizing their power but also tackling their limitations. Subsequently, traditional genetic screens performed in diverse model organisms will be discussed and compared to alternative approaches applicable to human-specific questions, which will include the study of human diseases. Altogether, I hope this lecture provides a toolbox for a specific class of approaches exquisitely suitable for the study of many neurobiological questions. - Comparative neuroscience and human brain evolution (K. Moczulska, L. Piszczek)
Abstract: Human brain underwent rapid evolution that can be studied on various levels ranging from anatomical comparisons between modern humans, extinct hominid fossils and extant mammals to genetic analyses. We will discuss different ways to study and comparative neuroanatomy and evolution as well as different models: in silico with application on computational model, in vitro using molecular, cellular and organoid approaches and in vivo using humanised animal models. After completing the course, the students will apprehend the basics of evolutionary principles, understand the similarities and differences between human brain and extinct and extant species and learn state of the art methods of modelling these changes. - Processing and interpretation of neuroscience data (V. Kellner, H. Malagon-Vina, L. Piszczek, K. Moczulska
Abstract: Course will be a part of the Neuroscience program as a non-mandatory ‘Advanced Neuroscience Lecture’.
This comprehensive data analysis course for neuroscience equips students with essential skills to interpret complex neural signals across multiple modalities. Participants will learn to process and analyze electrophysiological recordings, extracting meaningful information from action potentials and local field potentials. The course also covers advanced techniques in calcium imaging analysis, including motion correction, signal extraction, and spike inference. Additionally, students will explore the intricacies of single-cell RNA sequencing data, focusing on quality control, normalization, and differential expression analysis. Through hands-on exercises and real-world datasets, students will gain proficiency in using popular programming languages and tools specific to neuroscience research, enabling them to uncover valuable insights from diverse neural data types.