European Society for Neurochemistry
Encyclopedia
The European Society for Neurochemistry (ESN) is a professional society
for neurochemists and neuroscientists from Europe whose research concerns the role and interactions of small molecules in the function, and pathology of the nervous system
.
In the years before the establishment of the ESN, many European Neurochemists (from Biochemistry, Physiology, Neurology and related disciplines) were centrally involved in the development of the subject, for example in the discussions which led to the establishment of the Journal of Neurochemistry
in 1956 and especially in the formation of the International Society of Neurochemistry
in 1967. In the same year as the foundation of ISN (1967), the Neurochemical Group of the British Biochemical Society
was established, many of its meetings with an international and particularly European flavour .
During the years 1974 to 1975, in particular at a meeting of clinical neurochemists organised by Armand Lowenthal in Brussels in 1974, many participants expressed the need in Europe for a Society of Neurochemistry which would not only provide a forum for exchanging ideas and new developments in the subject, but also provide a vehicle for strong contact between clinically-oriented and basic neurochemists. The various views were finally co–coordinated at a meeting organised by Lars Svennerholm at the Billinghus conference centre in Skovde, Sweden, in May 1975. Some general principles were agreed: that it should be open to members from all European countries, East and West, who were interested in Neurochemistry and allied subjects, and that it should pay special attention to clinical and applied aspects of the subject.
The working party accepted an invitation, through Alan Davison from the Neurochemical Group of the British Biochemical Society, to organise the First Meeting to be held in Bath, UK, in September 1976. The organising committee (Brian Ansell, Tim Hawthorne, George Lunt and Herman Bachelard) were all members of the Neurochemical Group of the British Biochemical Society. The working party had requested that the meeting should have a clinical theme, so the general area of "Basic Aspects of Neurochemistry Related to the Epilepsies" was chosen. Approximately 350 participants attended the meeting.
, the latest meeting being held in Athens in 2011. ESN meetings are designed to promote scientific discussions. Special efforts are taken to encourage young investigator participation. Short oral presentations are selected from the submitted abstracts. There are daily poster sessions
1976 Bath Topic: Basic Aspects of Neurochemistry Related to the Epilepsies, organiser Herman Bachelard
1978 Göttingen, organiser Volker Neuhoff
1980 Bled Topic:Synaptic Constituents in Health and Disease, organiser Miro Brzin
1982 Taormina Topic: Basic and Clinical Aspects of Molecular Neurobiology, organiser Anna-Maria Giuffrida-Stella
1984 Budapest Topic: Regulation of Transmitter Function: Basic and Clinical Aspects, organiser Sylvester Vizi
1986 Prague Topic: Molecular Basis of Neural Function, organiser Stan Tucek
1988 Göteborg, organiser Annica Dahlström
1990 Leipzig, organiser Dietmar Biesold
1992 Dublin, organiser Keith Tipton
1994 Jerusalem, organiser Keith Tipton
1996 Groningen Topic: Neurochemistry: Cellular, Molecular & Clinical Aspects, organiser Albert Teelken
1998 St. Petersburg oraniser, Svetlana Dambinova
1999 Berlin (with ISN), organiser Ferdinand Hucho
2001 Perugia Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Gianfrancesco Goraacci
2003 Warsaw Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Katarzyna Nalecz
2005 Innsbruck (with ISN) organiser, Alois Saria
2007 Salamanca Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Juan Bolanos
2009 Leipzig Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Thomas Arendt
2011 Athens (with ISN), organiser Dimitra Mangoura
2013 Bath Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Robert J Williams
University of Salamanca, Spain
Alessandro Prinetti (ESN Secretary)
University of Milano, Italy
Ralf Dringen (ESN Treasurer)
University of Bremen, Germany
Jacqueline S. de Belleroche (ESN Company Secretary)
Imperial College London, UK
Frode Fonnum (ESN Historian)
University of Oslo, Norway
Dusan Dobrota
Comenius University/Jessenius Medical Faculty, Slovak Republic.
Illana Gozes
Tel Aviv University, Israel
Simon Heales
National Hospital & Institute of Neurology, London, UK
Joâo Laranjinha
University of Coimbra, Portugal
Natalia Nalivaeva
University of Leeds, UK and Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russia
Max P.E. Recasens
CNRS Universite Montepellier II, France
Ago Rinken
University of Tartu, Estonia
Reinhard Schliebs
University of Leipzig, Germany
Ursula Sonnewald
NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Helle S. Waagepetersen
Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
Learned society
A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...
for neurochemists and neuroscientists from Europe whose research concerns the role and interactions of small molecules in the function, and pathology of the nervous system
Nervous system
The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. In most animals the nervous system consists of two parts, central and peripheral. The central nervous...
.
History
The Society was founded in 1976 with the aim of helping to advance the science of Neurochemistry for the public benefit, in particular to facilitate exchange of ideas and interests amongst its members.In the years before the establishment of the ESN, many European Neurochemists (from Biochemistry, Physiology, Neurology and related disciplines) were centrally involved in the development of the subject, for example in the discussions which led to the establishment of the Journal of Neurochemistry
Journal of Neurochemistry
The Journal of Neurochemistry is a peer-reviewed scientific journal established by the International Society for Neurochemistry in 1956. The journal covers a variety of subjects within the field of neuroscience, but focuses in particular on the "molecular and cellular aspects of the nervous system,...
in 1956 and especially in the formation of the International Society of Neurochemistry
ISN
ISN is an initialism that can stand for:* Identec Solutions Norway* ISNetworld- Web-based contractor management tool.* International School Nadi, IB World School located in Nadi, Fiji....
in 1967. In the same year as the foundation of ISN (1967), the Neurochemical Group of the British Biochemical Society
Biochemical Society
The Biochemical Society is a learned society in the United Kingdom in the field of biochemistry, including all the cellular and molecular biosciences.-Structure:...
was established, many of its meetings with an international and particularly European flavour .
During the years 1974 to 1975, in particular at a meeting of clinical neurochemists organised by Armand Lowenthal in Brussels in 1974, many participants expressed the need in Europe for a Society of Neurochemistry which would not only provide a forum for exchanging ideas and new developments in the subject, but also provide a vehicle for strong contact between clinically-oriented and basic neurochemists. The various views were finally co–coordinated at a meeting organised by Lars Svennerholm at the Billinghus conference centre in Skovde, Sweden, in May 1975. Some general principles were agreed: that it should be open to members from all European countries, East and West, who were interested in Neurochemistry and allied subjects, and that it should pay special attention to clinical and applied aspects of the subject.
The working party accepted an invitation, through Alan Davison from the Neurochemical Group of the British Biochemical Society, to organise the First Meeting to be held in Bath, UK, in September 1976. The organising committee (Brian Ansell, Tim Hawthorne, George Lunt and Herman Bachelard) were all members of the Neurochemical Group of the British Biochemical Society. The working party had requested that the meeting should have a clinical theme, so the general area of "Basic Aspects of Neurochemistry Related to the Epilepsies" was chosen. Approximately 350 participants attended the meeting.
Meetings
Meetings are held every two years. From 1999, every six years the ISN helps organise a joint meeting with the International Society for NeurochemistryInternational Society for Neurochemistry
The International Society for Neurochemistry is a professional society for neurochemists and neuroscientists throughout the world.-History:...
, the latest meeting being held in Athens in 2011. ESN meetings are designed to promote scientific discussions. Special efforts are taken to encourage young investigator participation. Short oral presentations are selected from the submitted abstracts. There are daily poster sessions
1976 Bath Topic: Basic Aspects of Neurochemistry Related to the Epilepsies, organiser Herman Bachelard
1978 Göttingen, organiser Volker Neuhoff
1980 Bled Topic:Synaptic Constituents in Health and Disease, organiser Miro Brzin
1982 Taormina Topic: Basic and Clinical Aspects of Molecular Neurobiology, organiser Anna-Maria Giuffrida-Stella
1984 Budapest Topic: Regulation of Transmitter Function: Basic and Clinical Aspects, organiser Sylvester Vizi
1986 Prague Topic: Molecular Basis of Neural Function, organiser Stan Tucek
1988 Göteborg, organiser Annica Dahlström
1990 Leipzig, organiser Dietmar Biesold
1992 Dublin, organiser Keith Tipton
1994 Jerusalem, organiser Keith Tipton
1996 Groningen Topic: Neurochemistry: Cellular, Molecular & Clinical Aspects, organiser Albert Teelken
1998 St. Petersburg oraniser, Svetlana Dambinova
1999 Berlin (with ISN), organiser Ferdinand Hucho
2001 Perugia Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Gianfrancesco Goraacci
2003 Warsaw Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Katarzyna Nalecz
2005 Innsbruck (with ISN) organiser, Alois Saria
2007 Salamanca Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Juan Bolanos
2009 Leipzig Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Thomas Arendt
2011 Athens (with ISN), organiser Dimitra Mangoura
2013 Bath Topic: Advances in Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders, organiser Robert J Williams
ESN Council
Juan P. Bolanos (ESN President)University of Salamanca, Spain
Alessandro Prinetti (ESN Secretary)
University of Milano, Italy
Ralf Dringen (ESN Treasurer)
University of Bremen, Germany
Jacqueline S. de Belleroche (ESN Company Secretary)
Imperial College London, UK
Frode Fonnum (ESN Historian)
University of Oslo, Norway
Dusan Dobrota
Comenius University/Jessenius Medical Faculty, Slovak Republic.
Illana Gozes
Tel Aviv University, Israel
Simon Heales
National Hospital & Institute of Neurology, London, UK
Joâo Laranjinha
University of Coimbra, Portugal
Natalia Nalivaeva
University of Leeds, UK and Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russia
Max P.E. Recasens
CNRS Universite Montepellier II, France
Ago Rinken
University of Tartu, Estonia
Reinhard Schliebs
University of Leipzig, Germany
Ursula Sonnewald
NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Helle S. Waagepetersen
Danish University of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark