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Workshop Agenda
Environmental Neuroscience: Advancing the Understanding of How Chemical Exposures Impact Brain Health and Disease—
A Virtual Workshop
June 25, 2020, via Zoom
Hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders in Collaboration with the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology
Workshop Objectives: This public workshop will bring together experts and key stakeholders from academia, government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to explore the current knowledge landscape and future opportunities in neurotoxicology. Invited presentations and discussions will be designed to:
- Provide an overview of what is known about neurotoxic exposures and how they lead to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders;
- Explore how new technologies can be harnessed to identify previously unknown neurotoxic chemicals;
- Consider whether algorithms can be developed to better predict the effects of cumulative exposures and interactions across the life span on brain health; and
- Discuss research gaps and collaborative opportunities between neuroscientists and environmental health scientists.
10:00–10:15 a.m. | Welcome and opening remarks Frances Jensen, University of Pennsylvania, Neuroscience Forum Co-Chair |
Walter Koroshetz, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Neuroscience Forum Member and Workshop Co-Chair | |
10:15–10:40 a.m. | Opening talk—Chemical exposures: The ignored environmental risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders Deborah Cory-Slechta, University of Rochester, Workshop Co-Chair |
Session I: What Are the Neurotoxicants?
Discussion questions:
- What neurotoxicants should we be concerned about?
- How can they be measured?
- How can we measure their effects on populations and on individuals?
10:40–10:45 a.m. | Session overview Deborah Cory-Slechta, University of Rochester, Workshop Co-Chair and Session Moderator |
10:45–11:00 a.m. | Exposure to neurotoxic chemicals and neurodevelopmental disease Tracey Woodruff, University of California, San Francisco |
11:00–11:15 a.m. | Environmental contributors to neurodegeneration: Why not measure everything? Gary Miller, Columbia University |
11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Panel discussion and Q&A |
The two speakers above will be joined by panelists: Jennifer McPartland, Environmental Defense Fund Brenda Eskenazi, University of California, Berkeley |
12:00–12:30 p.m. | Break |
Session II: Biology of Toxicant Interaction with the Nervous System
Discussion question:
- What is known about the biology of how “common” exposures to chemical and particulate toxicants might alter nervous system development or contribute to neurodegeneration?
12:30–12:35 p.m. | Session overview David Jett, National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke, Session moderator |
12:35–12:50 p.m. | Exploiting genetics to identify environmental risks for autism Mark Zylka, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
12:50–1:05 p.m. | LRRK2 activation as a common mechanism of environmental toxicant-induced Parkinson’s disease J. Timothy Greenamyre, University of Pittsburgh |
1:05–1:20 p.m. | Environmental gerogens in the Alzheimer’s disease exposome: Air pollution and cigarettes Caleb Finch, University of Southern California |
1:20–2:15 p.m. | Panel discussion and Q&A |
The three speakers above will be joined by panelists: Helena Hogberg, Johns Hopkins University Tomás Guilarte, Florida International University |
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2:15–2:30 p.m. | Break |
Session III: Chemical Toxicants as Drivers of Abnormal Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration
Discussion questions:
- What is the level of evidence for chemical toxicants as drivers of abnormal neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration?
- What research is needed to launch prevention efforts: either treatments or policy changes?
2:30–2:35 p.m. | Session overview Walter Koroshetz, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Workshop Co-Chair and Session Co-Moderator |
Allison Willis, University of Pennsylvania, Session Co-Moderator | |
2:35–2:50 p.m. | A developmental perspective on early-life exposures to neurotoxicants David Bellinger, Boston Children’s Hospital |
2:50–3:05 p.m. | In utero endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure may reprogram the adult mouse brain: A role for epigenetics Marisa Bartolomei, University of Pennsylvania |
3:05–3:20 p.m. | Translational research on the role of developmental pesticide exposure and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder Jason Richardson, Florida International University |
3:20–3:35 p.m. | Using gene–environment interactions and omics approaches to understand neurodegenerative disease etiology Beate Ritz, University of California, Los Angeles |
3:35–3:50 p.m. | Exposure to air pollution and risk of Alzheimer’s disease Andrew Petkus, University of Southern California |
3:50–4:05 p.m. | Identification and validation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis environmental risk factors Eva Feldman, University of Michigan |
4:05–4:30 p.m. | Panel discussion and Q&A Panel composed of speakers above |
4:30–4:45 p.m. | Break |
Session IV: Future Directions
Discussion questions:
- What are the critical research gaps, next steps, and promising areas for future action?
- What opportunities are there for collaboration among neuroscientists and environmental health scientists?
4:45–4:50 p.m. | Reflections from the workshop co-chairs Deborah Cory-Slechta, University of Rochester |
Walter Koroshetz, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke | |
4:50–5:15 p.m. | “Lightning round” remarks (5 minutes each) Stanley Barone, Environmental Protection Agency Ray Dorsey, University of Rochester Medical Center Carl Hill, Alzheimer’s Association Devon Payne-Sturges, University of Maryland Richard Woychik, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |
5:15 p.m. | Additional discussion with speakers, panelists, and audience members |
5:30 p.m. | Adjourn workshop |
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