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SUMMARY:Activity dependent myelination: a mechanism for learning and regen
 eration? - Dr Thóra Káradóttir\, WT-MRC Stem Cell Institute
DTSTART:20211012T150000Z
DTEND:20211012T160000Z
UID:TALK156979@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Dervila Glynn
DESCRIPTION:Theme: *Beyond the Neuron: glia\, vascular and immune cells*\n
 \n*Abstract*: The CNS is responsive to an ever-changing environment. Until
  recently\, studies of neural plasticity focused almost exclusively on fun
 ctional and structural changes of neuronal synapses. In recent years\, mye
 lin plasticity has emerged as a potential modulator of neural networks. My
 elination of previously unmyelinated axons\, and changes in the structure 
 on already-myelinated axons\, can have large effects on network function. 
 The heterogeneity of the extent of how axons in the CNS are myelinated off
 ers diverse scope for dynamic myelin changes to fine-tune neural circuits.
  The traditionally held view of myelin as a passive insulator of axons is 
 now changing to one of lifelong changes in myelin\, modulated by neuronal 
 activity and experience.\n\nMyelin\, produced by oligodendrocytes (OLs)\, 
 is essential for normal brain function\, as it provides fast signal transm
 ission\, promotes synchronization of neuronal signals and helps to maintai
 n neuronal function. OLs differentiate from oligodendrocyte precursor cell
 s (OPCs)\, which are distributed throughout the adult brain\, and myelinat
 ion continues into late adulthood. OPCs can sense neuronal activity as the
 y receive synaptic inputs from neurons and express voltage-gated ion chann
 els and neurotransmitter receptors\, and differentiate into myelinating OL
 s in response to changes in neuronal activity.  \n\nThis lecture will expl
 ore to what extent myelin plasticity occurs in adult animals\, whether mye
 lin changes occur in non-motor learning tasks\, especially in learning and
  memory\, and questions whether myelin plasticity and myelin regeneration 
 are two sides of the same coin. \n\n*Biography:* Ragnhildur Thóra Kárad
 óttir\, currently the director of the MS Society Cambridge Centre for Mye
 lin Repair\, did her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the Universit
 y of Iceland.  For her postgraduate training\, she entered the Wellcome Tr
 ust 4 year PhD Programme in Neuroscience\, at UCL\, where she did her PhD 
 with Prof. David Attwell. Immediately\, after her PhD she was awarded a Do
 rothy Hodgkin Fellowship of the Royal Society\, and in 2011 she was awarde
 d a Wellcome Trust Career Development Research Fellowship.\n\nSince establ
 ishing her lab she has been awarded a number of awards\, most recently the
  Lister Institute Research Prize (one of 5 in the UK)\, the Allen Distingu
 ished Investigator Award (one of 5 worldwide\, first time given outside of
  USA) and an ERC consolidator award.  In 2015 she was elected to the FENS-
 Kavli Network of Excellence (one of 20 in Europe) and in 2017 awarded the 
 Fabiane Carvalho Miranda International Prize for the best paper published 
 in the years 2015-2017 in myelin biology and MS related research.\n\nHer m
 ain research interest is to understand how neuronal activity can regulate 
 oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) differentiation and myelin plastici
 ty in health and disease. Her new line of research interest is to determin
 e the changes in myelin and myelin repair throughout the lifespan. \n\n \n
 Register in advance for this meeting:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/reg
 ister/tZMkdeGpqT0iGdZKPo-TEC25-kWyBwUXhJbA \n\nAfter registering\, you wil
 l receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the me
 eting.
LOCATION:Register on Zoom - link in abstract
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