Previous workshops of the ITB

Learning and Memory

Learning and memory are central ingredients for proper biological function in changing environments. Both processes are of particular importance for neuroscience but they also play a significant role in other biological disciplines. This autumn school focuses on the basic molecular and cellular processes underlying learning and memory in neural systems, with emphasis on synaptic plasticity. Experimental approaches will be discussed in close relation with the corresponding mathematical models, both at an introductory level. The last day of the school will bridge between the physiological and behavioral level and also touch on learning and memory in the immune system.

Circadian Clocks

Circadian clocks are endogenous oscillators that drive daily rhythms in physiology and behavior (e.g. the sleep/wake cycle). Within single clock cells in the brain, transcriptional/translational feedback loops are generating 24-hour oscillations on the mole-cular level. Light acts as the primary stimulus to synchronize the internal clock with the outside world. This lecture series focuses on the molecular and neurobiological principles of mammalian clock function. In addition, mathematical approaches to decribe circadian oscillators are presented. Directly following the Autumn School, there will be a Mini-Symposium with international speakers reporting their most recent results in circadian clock research.

Theoretical Immunology

The immune system protects us from potentially infectious agents and our own malignant cells. It is made up of a variety of organs, cells, and molecules distributed throughout the body. Cell-cell, cell- molecule and molecule-molecule interactions are crucial for the functioning of the immune response, resulting in a highly complex dynamical system. The task of theoretical immunology is to unveil principles and mechanisms by which the immune system works, and why it can sometimes be defeated, using mathematical modeling and data analysis as its main tools. The lecture series will start with an introduction to the cells and molecules in the immune system and its basic biological features, leading then into the most up-to-date examples of the theory of modeling immunological problems.

Population Genetics and Molecular Evolution

The use of recombinant DNA technology and DNA sequencing allows variability within species and evolutionary change to be studied at the most fundamental level. New insights into the organization and evolution of the genome, the impact of selection on DNA and protein sequences, and the history of life, are emerging as a result. The generation and interpretation of the relevant data requires integration of knowledge from molecular biology, evolutionary biology, population genetics, statistics, and bioinformatics. The purpose of the school is to give an introduction to some of the current problems and approaches in this rapidly changing field.

Evolutionary Medicine

Evolutionary biology is the foundation of the life sciences but medicine has made very little use of it. This autumn school will explore the potential of evolutionary theory for medicine. Aimed at students and professors, the school covers subjects ranging from the evolution of the immune system and virulence to addiction, psychopathology, and aging.

Tenth Anniversary of the ITB: "Where is Theoretical Biology heading?"

 

Biology of Aging

 

Epigenetics

Epigenetics generally describes heritable alterations in gene expression, which are not due to structural changes in the DNA. The importance of epigenetic modifications has been extensively investigated for decades in processes such as development and cancer. In recent years we have been confronted with an overwhelming amount of data revealing the complexity of epigenetic modifications indicating that DNA and histone modifications are equally important. This lecture meeting will cover the different aspects of epigenetics including cancer and development in mammals, but also in plants. It will further present computational approaches aiming towards improved predictions and statistical evaluation of epigenetic modifications and it will give an overview of state of the art technology to evaluate chromatin alterations in different biological systems.