A cross-disciplinary approach to understanding neural stem cells in development and disease

© 2010. Published by The Company of Biologists LtdThe Company of Biologists recently launched a new series of workshops aimed at bringing together scientists with different backgrounds to discuss cutting edge research in emerging and cross-disciplinary areas of biology. The first workshop was held at Wilton Park, Sussex, UK, and the chosen theme was ‘Neural Stem Cells in Development and Disease’, which is indeed a hot topic, not only because of the potential use of neural stem cells in cell replacement therapies to treat neurodegenerative diseases, but also because alterations in their behaviour can, in certain cases, lie at the origin of brain tumours and other diseases.Work in D.H.’s laboratory is supported by Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia and Fundação Champalimaud Neuroscience Program. Work in L.B.-C’s laboratory is supported by the CNRS, the French National Research Agency (ANR), the Medical Research Foundation (FRM), the Paris School of Neuroscience (ENP), the PIME program, the Schlumberger Association for Education and Research (FSER), and the European 7th Framework Program (IP NeuroXsys)