The brain in health and disease: European Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) Autumn School Series
The European Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) Autumn School Series explores innovative ideas and research avenues in a multidisciplinary field that includes neuroscience, immunology, and mental health/stress research from basic to clinical science. Complex interdisciplinary interactions emerge as an important melting pot for the development of new integrative approaches addressing modern civilization health challenges. The Conference Venue Castle Rauischholzhausen is near Giessen and Marburg, Germany
While the actual COVID-19 crisis highlights the importance of infection trespassing body barriers, these relatively new research fields remain poorly understood. Here, we combine the expertise of the German-Endocrine-Brain-Immune-Network (GEBIN) and the recently established European PNI Network (EPN) with specialists in lung and skin research to establish a training event for a new generation of young motivated researchers. The scope is to promote novel research on health challenges of substantial relevance. As a third step, we consider it highly promising to complete the series with the study of lifestyle effects that combat civilization threats. This series of Autumn Schools would foster interactions between leaders and trainees in traditionally separated research fields within the framework of PNI. We aim at creating an attractive atmosphere to increase the interest of a new generation of scientists who should contribute to the development of an urgently needed integrative multidisciplinary medicine.
The lung-brain axis in health and disease: 03-11.09.2022
Application opens: 14th of December 21
Application deadline: Due to the pandemic with extended deadline to apply until 1st of March 22
Eligibility: trainees (PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, young group leaders) in the field of neuroscience, psychoneuroimmunology, immunology, integrative physiology/exercise physiology, brain/mind-body interaction or pulmonary physiology/pathophysiology
The skin-brain axis and the breaking of barriers: 02-10.09.2023
Application opens: 12th of December 22
Application deadline: 28th of February 23
Eligibility: trainees (PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, young group leaders) in the field of neuroscience, psychoneuroimmunology, immunology, integrative physiology/exercise physiology, brain/mind-body interaction or skin physiology/pathophysiology
- Format:
The format follows a template that ensures continuity and some branding of this specific trainee event series. Overall, the thematically related areas are allocated in morning sessions 1-3 and afternoon session I-II. Teachers have 60 minutes for each topic including discussion and involving interactive formats such as student response devices / clicker systems, case examples or other formats chosen by the speakers (group work, quiz, etc.). Practical courses and “hands on” formats with active participation of the trainees will take place in the late afternoon (15:00-18:00). Short evening after dinner sessions are planned to support social interaction and networking in different formats like one-by-one elevator pitch, match-making for mentors and peers, meet the PI, and career development courses “How to start your own research group”. Tuesday/Thursday afternoon/evening will be used to informally meet with the PIs in the frame of an excursion to local sites in Gießen/Marburg funded by sources external to the present proposal since informal meetings in particular are instrumental for long-term networking. An Autumn School Mini-Congress Presentation Event on the second day will allow the students to present their own research in trained short presentations in small groups of 15 participants and poster presentations. While the overall structure remains the same, details on the format can be found in the program of each topic of the autumn school series.
- Aims and scope:
Complex interdisciplinary interactions emerge as an important melting pot for the development of new integrative approaches addressing modern civilization health challenges. The COVID-19 crisis highlights the importance to understand how infections can trespas body barriers. The PNI interactions that control inflammation at these barriers are presently poorly understood. The European Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) Autumn School Series aims at exploring innovative ideas and research avenues addressing this knowledge gap in a multidisciplinary field that includes neuroscience, immunology, and mental health/stress research from basic to clinical science. The series combines the expertise of the German-Endocrine-Brain-Immune-Network (GEBIN) and the recently established European PNI Network (EPN) with specialists in lung and skin research to establish a training event for a new generation of young motivated researchers. It is planned as a series to cover two major organ systems responsible for interactions between the individual and the environment and the therapeutic options arising from the understanding of these two areas of research. The scope is to promote novel research on health challenges of substantial relevance. In addition, we consider it highly promising to complement the series with the study of lifestyle effects that combat civilization threats. This series of Autumn Schools would foster interactions between leaders and trainees in traditionally separated research fields within the framework of PNI. Trainees will be taught by preeminent PNI/lung/skin/life style researchers mainly recruited from experts within Europe to foster further interactions. We aim at creating an attractive atmosphere to increase the interest of a new generation of scientists who will be able to contribute to the development of an urgently needed integrative multidisciplinary medicine.