White Matter in Focus

White matter in focus: exploring the role of myelin and oligodendrocytes in neurodegeneration

There is increasing interest in the role of cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage in neurodegenerative conditions. While oligodendrocytes have been primarily studied in the context of demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis, this is changing with an increasing awareness of their roles in metabolic support, immune response and synaptic function. Concurrently, our understanding of the importance of oligodendrocyte dysfunction in a range of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease has also matured.

The goal of this meeting is to connect researchers and industry stakeholders with interests in multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases with a focus on the function and dysfunction of the oligodendrocyte lineage in neurodegeneration. By facilitating networking, sharing of knowledge, resources and methods we hope to accelerate translation in the field.

Supporting organisations:
This symposium is being organized jointly by members of the Cambridge Dementia Research Institute, the ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute and the Cambridge Centre for Myelin repair

Symposium structure

This symposium will include two keynote speakers with outstanding contributions to oligodendrocyte research and neurodegeneration, namely Klaus Nave, director of the Max Planck institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, and Siddharthan Chandran, director of the UK Dementia Research Institute. The remainder of the day will be divided into four themed sessions, which will provide a holistic insight into oligodendrocyte function and their role in
disease:

• Genetics and pathology: This session will focus on the genetic and pathological evidence for the involvement of cells of the oligodendrocyte lineage in neurodegeneration.
• Mechanisms: This session will focus on disease mechanisms associated with oligodendrocyte function, including changes to metabolism, myelination and synaptic integrity.
• Modelling: This session will discuss challenges of modelling oligodendrocyte function in vitro and in vivo to understand disease mechanisms and test translational potential.
• Translation: This session will consist of two talks, the first reviewing the translational successes within the area of multiple sclerosis and the second aimed at identifying translational barriers. This session will close with a panel discussion to create a foundation for the strategic planning of collaborative work between participants.

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