CAN 2025 Satellite Meeting: Neurodevelopment – Structure, function, and plasticity

The goal of this satellite meeting is to bring together leading researchers and trainees across Canada addressing questions related to cellular activity and plasticity, genetic regulation, and cell dysfunction and regeneration over the course of neurodevelopment. With a focus on non-mammalian models (fish, fly, frogs, and birds), speakers will discuss recent findings in neurodevelopment and regulation (Session 1), degeneration and neurorepair (Session 2), and CNS plasticity and learning (Session 3). We will complete our event with a keynote talk by Dr. Susan Healy from St. Andrews University, UK.

This interactive forum will provide great opportunities for trainees to showcase their experimental results while meeting established Group Leaders in the field across Canada. It is our hope that this satellite meeting will foster new collaborations and synergies amongst researchers at all levels. This satellite meeting is dedicated to the late Dr. Zachary Hall, Assistant Professor, University of Alberta, who was a vibrant up-and-coming leader in the field of neurodevelopmental plasticity using the zebrafish model. In his short time as part of the Canadian neuroscience community, Dr. Hall inspired all those that knew him by his kindness and passion for scientific discovery.

Agenda

0815 – Arrival and registration

0835 – Opening Remarks – Vince Tropepe (University of Toronto)

Session 1: Neurodevelopment and regulation (Chair Ted Allison)

0840 – Calcium signaling dynamics in neurogenic Muller glia of the retina – Sarah McFarlane (U. Calgary)

0900 – Developmental changes in multiple ion channels shape maturation of primary motoneuron activity in larval zebrafish – Stephanie Gaudreau (U. Ottawa; trainee talk)

0915 –Unravelling the genetics of neurodevelopment using Drosophila – Paul Marcogliese (U. Manitoba)

0935 – Epigenetic regulation of neurogenic plasticity in the postembryonic forebrain – Alexa Izvorean (U. Toronto; trainee talk)

0950 – Development and neural stem cell dynamics of the zebrafish rostral migratory stream – Aurélien Caron (U. Manitoba; trainee talk)

1005 – Coffee Break

Session 2: Degeneration and neurorepair (Chair Stephanie Gaudreau)

1030 – Purinergic regulation of neurogenesis in zebrafish – Angela Scott (U. Guelph)

1050 – The effects of muscle disease on movement-dependent neurogenesis in postembryonic Danio rerio – Micaiah Achtymichuk  (U. Alberta, trainee talk)

1105 – The role of prom1 in photoreceptor outer segment morphogenesis and inherited retinal degeneration – Brittany Carr (U. Alberta)

1125 – Subretinal drusenoid-like deposits in prom1-null frogs mimic markers of human age-related macular degeneration and contain potential melanophages – Mahnoor Shoukat (U. Alberta, trainee talk)

1140 – Reserve or repair? Using a repeated injury model to challenge the regenerative capacity of radial-glial cells in the zebrafish forebrain – Sanjana Grover (U. Manitoba; trainee talk)

1200 – Lunch Break

1230 – Leica Microsystems Seminar – “Zebrafish Microscopy Workflows”

Session 3: CNS plasticity and learning (Chair Alexa Izvorean)

1300 – Cortical plasticity as a modulator of appendage regeneration – Nirosha Murugan (Wilfred Laurier)

1320 – Exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and its impact on memory and learning in zebrafish – Rida Ansari (U. Toronto; trainee talk)

1335 – Movement-generated neural activity facilitates neurogenesis in postembryonic Danio rerio – Shelby Sherlock (U. Alberta; trainee talk)

1350 – Dissecting long-term fear memory formation using juvenile zebrafish – Qian Lin (U. Toronto)

1410 – Effects of adult and developmental isolation on the brain and behaviour in Drosophila – Anna Phan (U. Alberta)

1430 –Movement induces peripheral nervous system neurogenesis in zebrafish larvae – Gabriel Dillenburg de Oliviera (U. Alberta; trainee talk)

1445 – Break

1500 – Bird Nests: From neuroscience to evolution – Zach Hall’s legacy – Susan Healy Keynote Talk (University of St. Andrews)

1545 – Closing Remarks – Ben Lindsey (University of Manitoba)

Download printable agenda

Registration

Trainee (undergraduate, MSc, PhD, postdoc): $60.00

Principal Investigator/Research Scientist: $90.00

You must be logged in to purchase a ticket. Add event ticket below, to cart and complete the registration process. If you do not already have an account created with CPD you will need to create a new user account prior to purchase. You will receive an email confirmation upon successful registration.

Please note that registration for this satellite session is limited to 100 people, on a first come, first serve basis.  Ticket sales and registration will close by May 13th, or once capacity is reached. 

As Per CPD Medicine policy, the department requires any refund or cancelation request to be submitted in writing up to fourteen (14) days prior to the program or session start date. A $50 administrative fee will be withheld to cover transaction and administrative costs. Refund or cancelation requests made less than fourteen (14) days notice may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For event details contact:

Benjamin Lindsey
Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science
University of Manitoba
Email: Benjamin.Lindsey@umanitoba.ca

Sponsors