| ||
 | ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
| ||
|
|
8th Multidisciplinary International Conference of Biological Psychiatry “STRESS AND BEHAVIOR” (May 17-19, 2004; St. Peterburg, Russia)
The multidisciplinary conference was organized by the Centre for Physiology and Biochemical Research (CPBR), The Russian Society for Biopsychiatry (RSBP) in collaboration with the Institute of Experimental Medicine (IEM), I.Pavlov’s Institute of Physiology, V. Behterev’s Psychoneurology Institute, and State Military-Medical Academy. The conference was held in St Petersburg (Russia) between 17-19 May 2004, and dedicated to 100th anniversary of Ivan Pavlov’s Nobel Prize in Physiology (1904). Altogether there were nearly 500 registered delegates representing 32 countries worldwide. Conference proceedings were published in a special issue of “Psychopharmacology and Biological Narcology”. The conference was opened in the Institute of Experimental Medicine, where Pavlov has worked for several decades. Welcoming addresses were given by Dr. A.V.Kalueff, Conference Chair, Academy prof. B.I. Tkachenko, Institute Director and Vice-President of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. O.G.Syropiatov, President of the Russian Society for BioPsychiatry, and Prof. V.M. Klimenko, Chair of the Conference Program Committee. Prof. J. Feldon (Switzerland) and I.P. Lapin (Russia) gave plenary lectures on animal models of depression and neurobiology of neurokinurenines, followed by symposia on Psychoneuroimmunology and Clinical aspects of biological psychiatry. Parallel I. Pavlov Symposium on neurochemistry and psychoneuroendocrinology of stress was held at I.Pavlov’s Institute of Physiology, where Pavlov has researched for many years. Prof. P. Tuohimaa (Finland) and E.E. Zvartau (Russia) gave plenary lectures on neurosteroid Vitamin D, and Neurobiology of addiction. In Symposial plenary lecture, Dr. E. Rybnikova and Prof. V. Shalyapina (Russia) spoke on CRH and depression. Parallel symposium on molecular mechanisms of stress was held at the Department of Pharmacology of State Military-Medical Academy – the first Department Pavlov chaired in his research career. The symposium focused on cellular mechanisms of stress, and was organized by Prof. Yu.F. Pastukhov, P.D. Shabanov and B.A.Margulis (Russia). Day 1 social program included an exciting city tour and a traditional Conference dinner at “Idiot”, a famous stylish St. Petersburg restaurant known to be visited by Dostoevsky. The delegates also had a chance to attend Art exhibition “Virtual Neurology” ob paintings by Prof. Yu.V. Sherbatykh (Russia), dedicated to the beauty of brain histology. Starting Day 2 of the conference at the Institute of Experimental Medicine, plenary lecture by Prof. R. Slovenko (USA) focused on Law and Psychiatry of post-traumatic stress disorders, and Dr. Calvy (Canada) spoke on alcoholism in XXI century. “Sleep and Behaviour” Symposium (chaired by Drs. V. Kovalzon and Dr. V. Dorokhov, Russia) was held after the plenary lectures. Keynote speech was delivered by Prof. I. Tobler (Switzerland), the President of European Sleep Research Soceity. After lunch, there was K.C. Montgomery Memorial symposium on animal experimental models in biological psychiatry, chaired by Drs. A. Kalueff, E. Loseva (Russia) and R. Czabak-Garbach (Poland), who delivered plenary lecture on K. Montgomery contribution to experimental zoopsychology, and gave an overview of the existing animal experimental models. Parallel symposium on the history of experimental neuroscience was held in the Museum of IEM history, and the workshop “Neurophysiological basis for operator’s activity” (chaired by Dr. V. Dorokhov) was held in the Small Conference Hall. The program of the Day 2 of the Conference in the Pavlov’s Institute of Physiology included plenary lectures by Dr. A. Kalueff (Russia) on transitory models of anxiety and depression, and Academy prof. R. Naatanen (Finland) on Mismatch negativity, followed by Special symposium organized by CIANS chaired by Prof. F. Jagla (Slovakia). Day 2 social program included traditional “antidepressant” theatre event (“Gizelle” by Adan) at the State Opera and Ballet Theatre. Day 3 of the conference included a compact but lively poster session in the Institute of Experimental Medicine followed by Neuropsychophysiology symposium chaired by Prof. R. Naatanen (Finland) and Yu.V. Sherbatykh (Russia), and also Symposium on General issues of biological psychiatry. Parallel Yu.L. Nuller Memorial Symposium on Psychopharmacology (chaired by Prof. I.P. Lapin and P.D. Shabanov) was held in V.M. Bekhterev’s Institute of Psychoneurology, to pay tribute to Prof. Yu.L. Nuller, a prominent Russian psychiatrist who died earlier this year. Keynote addresses were delivered by Prof. N. Neznanov, Institute Director and Prof. O.G.Syropiatov, President of RSBP, outlining his contribution to neuroscience. Prof. I.P. Lapin told the audience about Yu.L. Nuller as a Scientist and Personality. The symposium was also attended by family members, friends and colleagues of the late Prof. Nuller. Concluding the conference at the ceremony held in the Institute of Experimental Medicine, the RSBP Young Investigator Diplomas were presented to Dr. E. Mironova (Russia, best clinical work) and Drs D. Reglodi and A. Tamas (Hungary, best pre-clinical work). It was announced that the 9th Multidisciplinary conference “Stress and Behaviour” will be held in May 16-19, 2005 in St-Petersburg, Russia. A remarkable Chaikovskiy’ “Swan lake” ballet at the State Opera and Ballet Theatre marked the last day of the Conference, reinforcing all the insights the delegates gained during the meeting. There was a traditional satellite (“sauna”) symposium on Biological psychiatry held on the next day after the conference. It gathered scientists from Russia, Finland, Belarus, Sweeden, Ukraine and Canada, to discuss during an informal round-table the role of creativity in stress-coping and stress-related neurophysiology. Discussion was moderated by Dr. A. Kalueff and largely contributed by Prof. R. Naatanen, Dr. C. Calvy and D. Mikheev. The aim of the Conference was to facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue, promote international collaboration and encourage scientists from all over the world to attend the meeting. Overall, the audience consisted of psychiatrists (45%) and neurobiologists (55%). 35% of the conference participants were young researchers. |
