Hungarian Neuroscience Society · 30th anniversary
25–26 January 2024 · Grastyán Endre Theoretical Building, Medical School, University of Pécs
Invitation
We cordially invite all neuroscientists to participate in the International Neuroscience Conference organized by the Medical School of the University of Pécs on 25th–26th January, 2024 at the Endre Grastyán theoretical building of the Medical School, University of Pécs. This will be an outstanding scientific event in which novel and ground breaking results will be presented in the forms of Plenary lectures, Symposia, and Poster sessions. We feel honoured that renowned international scientists will present their latest results, further emphasizing the importance of Hungarian neuroscience research within the international community.
The program committee draws on long-standing collaborations between neuroscientists worldwide and invites all members of the Hungarian neuroscience community to contribute to a successful conference in Pécs.
We are looking forward to a fruitful and successful meeting!
Zsuzsanna Helyes and Dóra Zelena
Co-Chairs of the Conference
General information
1 December 2023
Deadline for early registration
1 December 2023
Deadline for abstract submission
5 December 2023
Deadline for cancelling registration and booking
Grastyán Endre Theoretical Building (new block)
Medical School of the University of Pécs · Szigeti rd. 12, Pécs, 7624
A huge renewal has begun at the University of Pécs Medical School in the spirit of competitiveness, improvement of the quality of education, innovation, and the creation of an inspiring environment. The building adapts to 21st century student expectations, such as, in addition to personal presence, ICT-supported education, a state-of-the-art "SKILL" environment that prepares students for practical training, problem-oriented training that introduces research challenges, or even quality spaces of community life beyond the educational environment. Moreover, the 10 000 square metre park was also renovated behind the building, serving as a beautiful social area for students with its plants, modern pavement systems, outdoor furnishing and artificial pond.
Public transportation
Parking
The streets surrounding the university campus are all in parking meter zones. Parking map.
Rooms in the hotels below could be booked on the registration form. For extra nights beyond 24–25 January, availability had to be confirmed with the hotel and prices could differ from the listed ones.
7635 Pécs, Középmakár dűlő 4.
Located in a quiet, green area, a few minutes' walk from the Medical University of Pécs and 2 km from the historic centre. Park, sports fields, car park and an extensive wellness centre with indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room; tennis and squash courts. Daily buffet breakfast.
7624 Pécs, Bartók Béla str. 10.
Within a 15-minute walk from the city center, with air-conditioned rooms, cable TV, a desk and free wired internet. Breakfast is served in the dining room; the restaurant serves Hungarian and international dishes. 1,5 km from the venue – about 5 minutes by car or 10 minutes by public transport.
7624 Pécs, Jurisics Miklós str. 44.
The hotel part of the Vasváry Villa, built in 1884, standing in a wonderful park; its south facade is richly decorated with colourful glazed Zsolnay majolica reliefs. Modern, well-equipped rooms in the villa and in the guest house in the park. Approximately 2 km from the venue – 5 minutes by car or 20 minutes by public transport.
7621 Pécs, Hunyadi str. 1.
On Széchenyi square in the centre of Pécs. Spacious air-conditioned rooms with mini-bar and flat-screen TV, buffet breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk. 2 km from the venue – about 10 minutes by car or 20 minutes by public transport.
7621 Pécs, Káptalan str. 8.
A quiet, tranquil environment next to the Cathedral, within a few minutes' walk of the main religious and cultural venues and museums. Two wings: a youth hostel wing with two 10-bed rooms, and a three-storey building with rooms for 3–4 people; each wing has a kitchen and communal area. Keys are handed over at the Cathedral Lapidarium. 2 km from the venue.
Questions about accommodation: info@nexusconference.hu
Miklós Nyitrai, Dean of the Medical School, University of Pécs
Presidents:
Zsuzsanna Helyes, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy
Dóra Zelena, Institute of Physiology, Medical School, University of Pécs
Members:
Valéria Tékus, Éva Borbély, Zsófia Hajna, Rita Börzsei (Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy); Péter Buzás and Kristóf László (Institute of Physiology)
Dorottya Kovácsdorottya.kovacs@nexusconference.hu
+36 70 311 6620
Erika Kulcsárerika.kulcsar@nexusconference.hu
+36 30 091 5949 · +36 70 224 3231
Programme
Four plenary lectures — including the Buzsáki lecture by Brain Prize winner Jes Olesen — six symposia and two poster sessions over two days, preceded by the HuNDoC satellite meeting. The program booklet and the abstract booklet were distributed as PDF downloads on the original site.
Emeritus professor, Institute of Physiology, Pécs University Medical School
In these days we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of foundation of the independent Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT – HNS). This presentation is a historical overview of the circumstances and preceding events leading to the foundation, and of the development of the interrelationship with the IBRO, the ENA and the FENS. In the decades after World War II the Hungarian Physiological Society became the most attractive community for neuroscientists, who formed a Neuroscience Section within it; the Hungarian Academy of Sciences' programme on the Regulatory Mechanisms of Life Processes led to the Neurobiology Colloquia, the first held in Tihany in 1974, which gradually became the Section's regular late-January conferences. At the Visegrád conference in 1992 the Board decided to prepare the foundation of an independent society; the statutes were accepted and the foundation of the HNS was officially announced on 21 January 1993 in Veszprém. The first HNS Congress was held in Pécs, 27–29 January 1994. Over the past 30 years the membership has grown greatly and the Hungarian neuroscience meetings have become a well-recognized forum for neuroscientists in Hungary and abroad.
Professor of Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford
Conscious perception in mammals depends on precise circuit connectivity between the cerebral cortex and thalamus; the evolution and development of these structures are closely linked. During the wiring of reciprocal connections between cortex and thalamus, thalamocortical axons (TCAs) first navigate forebrain regions that had undergone substantial evolutionary modifications. In particular, the organization of the pallial–subpallial boundary (PSPB) diverged significantly between mammals, reptiles, and birds. In mammals, transient cell populations in the internal capsule and early corticofugal projections from subplate neurons closely interact with TCAs to enable PSPB crossing. Prior to TCA arrival, cortical areas are initially patterned by intrinsic genetic factors; TCAs then innervate cortex in a sensory-modality-specific manner to refine cortical arealization and form primary sensory areas. The lecture reviews the mechanisms guiding TCAs across forebrain boundaries, the implications of PSPB evolution for TCA pathfinding, and the reciprocal influence between TCAs and cortical areas during development.
Reference: Molnár Z. & Kwan K. Y. (2023) Development and evolution of thalamocortical connectivity. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology.
Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen · Brain Prize 2021 · Buzsáki lecture
Translational research usually means that discoveries in basic science are translated to humans. For migraine the opposite has been the most successful. Migraine poses the unique possibility that attacks can be provoked in patients in a fully ethical fashion. Carotid arteriography induces aura in patients and measurements of regional cerebral blood flow have made it almost certain that cortical spreading depression is the mechanism of the aura and a valid animal model. Nitric oxide (NO) donors induced migraine and a non-selective NOS inhibitor was effective in migraine treatment; a valid mouse model uses repeated injections of NO donors. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) induced migraine attacks and this was crucial for the development of modern CGRP antagonistic treatments that now revolutionize migraine treatment. PACAP induced migraine and a monoclonal antibody against PACAP is currently in clinical trial; a mouse model showed that the PACAP pathway is independent of CGRP. Prostanoids and openers of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) also induced migraine. Rodent models suggest that migraine induction and treatment take place outside the blood-brain barrier, that CGRP antagonists and triptans are not additive, and that NO and CGRP mechanisms are closely interrelated. KATP channel blockers were effective in rodent models and may represent a new target for migraine treatment.
Associate Professor, Laboratory of Emotions Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw
The current impasse in developing mechanism-based therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders can be overcome by adopting a symptom- and circuit-specific approach. The complexity of neuronal circuits involved in controlling behaviors necessitates a focused approach targeting specific brain regions that serve as hubs of high connectivity. One such hub is the central amygdala (CeA), which plays a crucial role in motivation. We identified specific neuronal circuits within the CeA that are critical for initiating and maintaining social interaction, as well as recognizing negative emotional states in others, and circuits involved in the modulation of food motivation; the social- and food-related circuits only partially overlap. Our studies have also demonstrated the involvement of the human CeA in processing social and food-related stimuli. These findings provide a promising avenue for circuit-focused treatments for motivation disorders such as depression or autism spectrum disorder.
Neuroscientists and philosophers will present their latest research. György Buzsáki (New York University) will talk about his experimental results presented in Scientific American, which show that the brain is not designed to represent the world, but to ensure the survival of the whole organism through continuous interaction with the environment. According to Patricia Churchland (University of California, San Diego), recent research in neuroendocrinology suggests that moral behaviour is significantly influenced by changes in the oxytocin-vasopressin system. Christof Koch (Allen Institute) argues that scientific theories of consciousness, in addition to explaining conscious experience and neural correlates, must also explain why we feel the way we do, the extent of space, the passage of time, the taste of food; computational functionalism offers a way to explain. Joseph LeDoux (New York University) interprets the human being as a set of four domains of existence: biological, neurobiological, cognitive and conscious. According to János Boros (University of Pécs), György Buzsáki's book The Brain from Inside Out (Oxford 2019) proposes a new philosophical perspective for contemporary brain research based on experiments, challenging the a priori nature of philosophy: the brain is much more complex than its environment, so the nature of interaction is fundamentally determined by itself. Brain research points to the neurological basis of human culture, in a framework where we can find the thinking of Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Dewey, Davidson and Rorty, among others.
The preclinical examination of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is pivotal for advancing our understanding and treatment strategies. By studying ASD in different animal models, we can uncover underlying biological mechanisms and identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The ASD research also facilitates the testing of novel interventions, contributing to the development of more effective treatments. Overall, preclinical studies bridge the gap between basic science discoveries and clinical applications, enhancing our ability to address the complexities of ASD.
Stress is a primary cause of many illnesses, such as anxiety, depression and PTSD. These increasingly common illnesses lead to poor quality of life and overburden the health system. Unfortunately, modern treatment methods are often not effective enough. A detailed understanding of the underlying molecular neural mechanisms is essential to develop new, more effective treatments. The aim of the symposium is to present the latest national and international research in the field and to provide a forum for scientific exchange and possible collaborations, bringing together speakers who give complementary insights into the different mechanisms involved in stress disorders.
The human brain is a network of unprecedented complexity consisting of billions of nerve cells and is particularly interesting to neuroscience. Recent years have witnessed a surge of studies that aim to characterize the human cortical microcircuits functionally. To directly study the electrical activity of human microcircuits, neurosurgical resections are used for in vitro experiments enabling functional readout of human microcircuits. The symposium focuses on electrophysiological recordings of human neurons performed at multiple levels: from dendritic and somatic recordings to multichannel recordings in healthy and diseased human brains. Featured topics cover active dendritic conductances, how epilepsy alters neuronal performance, and the presentation of atypical spontaneous depolarizing events.
Talks of this symposium detail recent advances in visual science covering topics of both colour and night vision of human, primate and non-primate mammalian species. The talks focus on the early visual system, revealing details of the microcircuitry of the retina and retinorecipient visual brain centers including the lateral geniculate nucleus and the superior colliculus.
Neuropeptides are short-chain proteinic substances synthesized mainly in the central nervous system, playing the role of a neurohormone or a neurotransmitter. They can modulate physiological processes such as stress response, food and water intake, social and sexual behavior, but they can also be involved in the pathogenesis of diseases such as anxiety, depression and pain. The symposium presents recently discovered roles attributed to classical neuropeptides, including corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), urocortins, kisspeptins, arginine vasopressin (AVP), oxytocin, ghrelin and obestatin.
Thursday: poster topics P1–P4 · Friday: poster topics P5–P11
Recommended size: 90 × 120 cm, portrait format. The poster sessions took place in the Romhányi György Hall; the exact time of installation and collection was given in the confirmation emails. Tools were provided on site to help install the posters.
All posters presented by eligible applicants (35 or younger) as first authors automatically took part in the poster competition. Almost 240 posters were exhibited and 25 prizes were awarded.
The abstract booklet was distributed as a PDF download on the original site.
Events
The 7th Hungarian Neuroscience Doctoral Conference for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students and Junior Post-Docs (HUNDOC) will be held on the 24th of January. Similarly to previous years, it will be held the day before the International Neuroscience Conference. Registration is separate and it is free of charge for MITT members who paid their annual fees (2000 HUF for students and 4000 HUF for postdocs) by November 15th. Non-members are asked to pay a registration fee (15 000 HUF).
We would like to welcome undergraduates, PhD students and junior post-docs to share their research at an open, stimulating, and motivational forum. It'll be a fun day filled with good company, elevating speeches, and workshops and most of all fascinating science in the lively and lovely city of Pécs. The HuNDoC conference will provide the catering and amazing programs, such as an open discussion with one of the greatest Hungarian neuroscientists, Prof. György Buzsáki. In the evening there will be a social event to further discuss and reflect on the happenings of the day.
Every participant is required to submit an abstract, however ongoing projects are also welcome. Results are expected to be presented in the form of an A4 mini poster, with the possibility of being chosen to present your work in a short talk (10 min talk with 5 min discussion time).
Workshop
Utility of fiber photometry and in vivo imaging in microcirculation for neuroscience
A hands-on workshop by RWD Life Science held during the Thursday lunch break; participants were asked to sign up in advance.
Registration
| Category | Early registration (until 1 December) | After 1 December |
|---|---|---|
| MITT member | 49 000 HUF | 55 000 HUF |
| Non-member | 59 000 HUF | 65 000 HUF |
| Student | 36 000 HUF | 42 000 HUF |
| Gala dinner | 21 900 HUF | 21 900 HUF |
| All fees include VAT. | ||
The registration fee includes: participation in the scientific programme, and the coffee and lunch breaks for 1 person.
Please note that early registration is only available until 1 December. On-site registration for the gala dinner is not possible.
Due to the large number of participants, registration is closed. On-site registration is not possible.
Sponsors / Exhibitors
We'd like to thank the co-organizers of the 'Functional investigations in human brain sample' symposium, HCEMM Nonprofit Kft., and the Biomedicines and Neurology International journals by MDPI for sponsoring the poster presentation awards.
Location: University of Pécs, Medical School, Grastyán Endre Theoretical Block, 7624 Pécs, Szigeti road 12 · Date: January 25–26, 2024 · Expected capacity: 400 people.
Contact: Nexus Conference – Dorottya Kovács · dorottya.kovacs@nexusconference.hu · +36 70 311 6620
Report
The conference began on 24th January 2024 with a satellite event held by young scientists for young scientists (HunDoC). First Christina Miskolczi shared some career tips besides her interesting data on social development. Then the young scientists discussed their results in a relaxing environment and made suggestions to each other without the burdensome presence of the older generation. However, in the evening a much-awaited activity was the availability of György Buzsáki for a roundtable discussion, when everybody had the opportunity to freely ask questions about his personal experience in science.
INC2024's main program began on Thursday at 9.30 and ended on Friday at 18.00. After the opening remarks from the chief patron, the Dean of the Medical School of Pécs University and the current president of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society; László Lénárd, the first president of the society, shared his memories about the first conference held exactly 30 years ago, also in Pécs. This was followed by an interesting interaction between neuroscientists and philosophers, where we could hear the ideas of the brain prize winner György Buzsáki. His idea about the role of the brain as a controller, not merely a coder and interpreter of external signals was eye-opening.
After a break for the poster presentations, there was a symposium on autism followed by another one on stress, both with international presenters, where we could hear about the latest results on the field. The last plenary lecture of the day was held by Zoltán Molnár from the UK to rethink and re-evaluate. He spoke about the development of brain wiring, examining the issue from an evolutionary perspective and emphasizing the importance of basic research. As he said, the true significance of the sixth layer of the cerebral cortex has not yet been revealed, which is why further investigations are essential.
After a very successful gala dinner, the next day started with a plenary lecture on migraines. "Thousands of techniques are in vain, without basic research, there will be no real progress" – this was also the thought of the brain prize winner Danish scientist, Jes Olesen, who marvelously mixed data from basic research with clinical examination providing hope for patients suffering from migraines.
The program continued with more human brain-relevant data in the frame of an HCEMM Nonprofit Kft. sponsored symposium with invited speakers from Germany. A special section was dedicated to vision with excellent international scientists from Australia and Finland. Friday's poster section was followed by a symposium about neuropeptides. The great interest in the conference was indicated by the fact that even during the last plenary speech held by Ewelina Knapska on Friday evening, the auditorium was still full. Her excellent presentation introduced us to the brain mechanisms behind our social behavior.
An important part of the scientific program was the poster sections with an excellent location and organization. The almost 240 exhibited works were of high standard, the participants were thoroughly prepared, and they were rewarded with a total of 25 prizes. During the conference, art exhibitions were also held. We could enjoy a series of brain-inspired abstract paintings and another series inspired by interviews with patients living with chronic pain.
Dóra Zelena & Zsuzsanna Helyes
Co-chairs of the conference
Photos by Dávid Verébi