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Location: Boston, MA Date: October 29, 2010 Conference Website Organizers: Barry Lester, Edward Tronick, and Eric Nestler
This 2-day conference will be one of the first to focus on a frontier epigenetics field: Behavioral Epigenetics, i.e. the quest to understand how environmental factors can affect alterations in behavior. Epigenetic effects have been studied in animal models of depression, addiction, schizophrenia and neuro-developmental disorders. Human studies on epigenetics and behavior are being conducted as well. Some psychoactive drugs, such as cocaine or anti-psychotics, also cause changes in some of the co-factors involved in this genetic regulatory system. With an understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in epigenetic modulation, it might be possible to develop targeted therapies for those individuals in whom it malfunctions.
Discussions originating from this symposium, their dissemination through enduring materials, and the collaborations emerging from this forum will foster advancements in the field of Behavioral Epigenetics and will improve our understanding of 1) the fundamental mechanisms that shape development, and 2) individual vulnerability and resilience to adverse behavioral outcome.
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