The conference will include eight oral sessions and one poster session covering the latest findings across many topics. Many talks will be selected from openly submitted abstracts on the basis of scientific merit and relevance. Social events throughout the conference provide ample opportunity for informal interactions.

Glia including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia are traditionally considered as passive supporting cells of nerve tissue. However, emerging evidence has indicated that glia play a variety of active roles in the development and functioning of nervous system including synapse formation, synaptic efficacy modulation, neural inflammation and tissue repair among others. The conference will attempt to reflect the rapid development of the field by bringing together an outstanding and diverse group of basic and translational scientists who are at the cutting edge of glial research to discuss the latest and most significant progress in the field. The emphasis of this conference will be on the development, function and regeneration of glia under normal and pathophysiological conditions, with a highlight of basic cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Major Topics:

• Astrocytes and brain function
• Roles of microglia in CNS function and disorder
• Oligodendroglia differentiation, myelination, and demyelinating disease
• Glia and synapse
• Glia metabolism
• Glial cells and CNS disease