Neurotrophic factors play essential roles in the developing and mature nervous system. While Nerve growth factor (NGF) was the first neurotrophic factor when it was identified more than 50 years ago, a large set of related and unrelated extracellular proteins are now known to exert neurotrophic effects in the developing and mature nervous system. The roles of neurotrophic factors include regulation of cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, migration, axon and dendrite growth, synaptic plasticity and the interactions of neuronal and glial cells. As a result, neurotrophic factors affect complex behaviors including feeding, anxiety, depression and learning, and aberrations in the activities of neurotrophic factors have been implicated in multiple neurologic and psychiatric disorders.
The Neurotrophic Factors Gordon Conference provides a great opportunity to learn of recent advances in this broad field, and enhances collaborations among scientists and students. The 2013 meeting will feature work on diverse neurotrophic factors and their roles in neurogenesis, neuronal migration, survival, plasticity, behavior and diseases, including disorders of neural development such as autism and epilepsy and degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and peripheral neuropathies. Emphasis will be placed on the most recent developments. Newly emerging hypotheses will be addressed, and opportunities to discuss groundbreaking work will be plentiful. Poster sessions and "Hot Topics" sessions will highlight cutting edge studies and enhance interactions. This meeting will include new efforts to translate neuroscience advances into new therapies for neuro-psychiatric disorder.
