The annual conference of the National Neuroscience Society of Romania (SNN) took place October 19-21, 2017 in Craiova, Romania (https://conf.snn.ro/archive/snn2017). The meeting venue was the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, in recognition of the important advancements in neuroscience research made in the last ten years at its Department of Functional Sciences and Center for Ageing Research.
The main topic of the SNN2017 conference was “Neurodegeneration and regeneration: from cells to mind”, in keeping with the wide range of interests of the Romanian neuroscientists. During 7 sessions spanning over 3 days, the SNN2017 conference focus was to discuss, in an interactive multidisciplinary approach, the state-of-the art and challenges of understanding how the brain reacts to various insults and eventually attempts a rewriting process in response to injuries. Priority was given to fundamental neuroscience topics, but related significant clinical aspects were also addresed.
In an interactive poster presentation session, young scientists had the opportunity to present their work, to discuss their ideas and to identify new research and cooperation possibilities. The presentations were evaluated by an international scientific jury.
The conference benefited from more than 130 registered participants, including 14 invited lecturers from abroad whose participation was possible through an IBRO-PERC grant. A special priority was given to the young neuroscientists which were encouraged with travel grants and presentation awards made possible by the IBRO-PERC financial support. More than half of the participants were PhD and undergraduate students, postdocs and young researchers from the main university centers in Romania (40 of them as first-author of posters or oral contributions), which gives us hope for the future of neuroscience in Romania.
Undergraduate students’ participation from Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest was facilitated by the Scientific Organization of the Medical Students (SOMS, https://www.soms.ro/about/), a constant and enthusiastic partner for most of the SNN meetings.
SNN2017 also benefited by attractive satellite events with free-entrance, that included a course of laboratory animal science for PhD students (certified by the Romanian veterinary authority) and a technical demonstration of two-photon microscopy. Also, a technical presentation was provided by RWD Life Science.
The engaging social program during SNN2017 was beneficial for exchange of ideas during interactive discussions, to enhance networking opportunities between participants.
The international quality of the meeting was ensured by support from the IBRO Pan-European Regional Committee (PERC).
