The7thWest China Academician Lecture Series, sponsored by West China Medical Center, organized by West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine and co-organized by medical schools/hospitals, was held on the afternoon of June 26th, 2019 in the lecture hall of Yifu Basic Medical Building in West China campus.
Prof. Alexei Verkhratsky from School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, an academician of the European Academy of Sciences, the German Academy of Sciences and the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences, gave an excellent lecture entitled “Principles of astrogliopathology”. Feng Luo (Deputy Director of the "Double First Class" Construction and Quality Evaluation Office), Prof. Yong Tang (Dssociate Dean of Chinese Medicine Innovation Research Institute in Chengdu University of TCM), Prof. Canhua Huang (Dean of West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine),and over 150 faculties and students attended the lecture. This lecture was chaired by Prof. Changlong Li, the Party Secretary of West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine.
Prof. Li appreciated all attendees and briefly introduced the academic achievements of Prof. Alexei. He said that theHuaxiba Academician Lecture Serieshas become an important academic activity in Sichuan University, which contributes greatly to our academic atmosphere, boosts the establishment of first-class disciplines and cultures first-class innovative talents.
Prof. Alexei vividly introduced the relationship between nerve cells and glial cells, and the origin and development of glial cells. Additionally, he illuminated the pathological changes of various types of brain cells (including nerve cells, glial cells and astrocytes)involved in different brain diseases, especially the Alzheimer’s disease. Prof. Alexei popularized the knowledge on cellular neurophysiology from small nerve cells to Alzheimer’s disease. His experience in spired numerous researchers in the field of neuroscience, and had a crucial guiding significance to our scientific career. The faculties and students discussed enthusiastically with Prof.Alexeiabout the signal transmission in nerve cells and glial cells.
Finally, Prof. Canhua Huang, the Dean of West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, briefly summarized the significance of this lecture and appreciated Prof. Alexei for his excellent lecture. He also appreciated the support from Chengdu University of TCM. Meanwhile, he put forward expectations for the construction of research platform, and progress in scientific research of all attendees.
Invited Speaker Profile:
Prof. Alexei Verkhratsky, fromneurophysiology in School of Biological Sciences at the University of Manchester,is anacademician of the European Academy of Sciences, the German Academy of Sciences and the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences. He is also an internationally recognized leader in the field of cellular neurophysiology. Prof. Alexei’s research focus is the cell signal transmission in central nervous system, especially the nerve cells and glial cells. He has made significant contributions to chemical and electrical signal transmission of neuron-glial cell communication, and the role of intracellular calcium signaling in the integration of the nervous system. Prof. Alexei’s research group focuses on investigating the mechanism of neurodegenerative cells and detecting the changes of calcium signals in aged neurons byin vitroandin siturecording, which provides direct evidence for the hypothesis of calcium signals in aged neurons. Specifically, he proposed a novel mechanism of neurodegenerative glial cell atrophy in recent years. Prof. Alexei has published over 220 papers in top journals includingPhysiol Rev,Lancet Neurol,Nat Neurosci,Neuron,Prog Neurobiol,Trends Neurosci,Acta NeuropatholandEMBO J.