ScienceDaily (Sep. 22, 1997) — The University of Illinois at Chicago will host the Second International Symposium on Oxidative Stress and Brain Damage Sept. 26-28 at the Hotel Inter-Continental, 505 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois.

The three-day program will cover aspects of basic intracellular mechanisms of oxidative stress-triggered neuronal degeneration, role of endogenous neuroprotective mechanisms, and the role of oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases.

The focus will be on the free-radical-induced injury and how it may play role in aging and in the pathophysiology of diseases such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. Among various endogenous mechanisms, the focus will be on the mitochondria, glutamate, and the neurohormone melatonin.

The program will consist of lectures by leaders in the respective fields and poster presentations by registered participants.

This program is intended for physicians and basic neuroscientists interested in degenerative neurologic and psychiatric diseases and new developments in the search for neuroprotective treatments. At the conclusion of the program, the participant will be able to:

*understand the contribution of oxidative stress to mitochondrial injury and its link to neuronal apoptosis and pathophysiology of brain neurodegeneration; *compare the contribution of different neurotransmitter systems in the brain to the occurrence of oxidative stress and apoptosis; *trace the pathologic mechanisms that link neuronal degeneration and impaired brain function; *discuss mechanisms of neurobiological action of the neurohormone melatonin and other antioxidants and their relevance for neuroprotective therapies.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Media covering medicine and science are encouraged to attend the conference. Please call Adrienne Paris at (312) 433-8356 to register. For more information about the conference and its participants, contact Program Coordinator Dr. Hari Manev at the University of Illinois at Chicago via e-mail at HManev@psych.uic.edu

The schedule of speakers and presentations is available on the Internet at http://www.psych.uic.edu/~obd

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