2008 Scientific Plenary Sessions

Focusing on clinical and basic science issues of interest to all neurologists, the four Plenary Sessions feature outstanding lecturers who are leaders in their fields.

• Presidential Plenary Session
• Hot Topics Plenary Session
• Contemporary Clinical Issues and Case Studies Plenary Session
• Frontiers in Clinical Neuroscience Plenary Session
• Scientific Program Highlights Plenary Session

Presidential Plenary Session

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

McCormick Place West, Ballroom

Features the AAN's premier lecture awards for clinically relevant research and presentations by leading lecturers. Top researchers speak on some of the most significant findings in neurology in 2007 and 2008.

Lectures include:

Moderator: Stefan M. Pulst, MD, FAAN

Chair, Science Committee and Scientific Program Subcommittee

Presidential Lecture

"The Mirror Neuron System"

Giacomo Rizzolatti, MD
University of Parma
Parma, Italy

Robert Wartenberg Lecture

"Molecular Pathogenesis of Genetic Epilepsies Associated with GABAA Receptor Mutations"

Robert L. MacDonald, MD, PhD, FAAN
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Sidney Carter Award in Child Neurology

"Leukoencephalopathies: From MRI Patterns to Disease Genes and Beyond"

Marjo van der Knaap, MD, PhD
VU University Medical Center
Amsterdam, Netherlands

George C. Cotzias Lecture

"The Dynamics of Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells in Cortical Development"

Arnold R. Kriegstein, MD, PhD
University of California
San Francisco, CA

AAN Business Meeting

Stay for the AAN annual Business Meeting immediately following the final lecture to find out the latest on Academy business and information. The Academy's annual Business Meeting will be held at 11:15 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, in the auditorium at the McCormick Place West, Chicago, IL. At that time, the Board of Directors will be submitting proposed amendments to the Academy's bylaws and also submitting a proposal to incorporate a companion American Academy of Neurology Professional Association that could establish a Political Action Committee.

Hot Topics Plenary Session

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
5:15 p.m.–6:15 p.m.

McCormick Place West, Ballroom

The Science Committee is pleased to continue this session which highlights presentations from other subspecialty and neuroscientific meetings—giving you a chance to hear some of the most stimulating and timely topics in clinical neuroscience that you may have missed at other events.

Moderator: Stefan M. Pulst, MD, FAAN

Chair, Science Committee and Scientific Program Subcommittee

Presenters will be chosen in January 2008.

Contemporary Clinical Issues and Case Studies Plenary Session

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

McCormick Place West, Ballroom

This session highlights issues most critical to practicing neurologists, including abstracts related to new therapeutic developments, clinical applications of basic and translational research, and innovative technical developments. In addition to the contemporary clinical issues discussion, a case study format addresses topics of interest. Commentary and discussion follow each presentation.

Moderator: Stefan M. Pulst, MD, FAAN

Chair, Science Committee and Scientific Program Subcommittee

Presenters will be chosen in January 2008.

Frontiers in Clinical Neuroscience Plenary Session

Thursday, April 17, 2008
9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

McCormick Place West, Ballroom

Focuses on translational research related to clinical issues of importance. Four physician-scientists outline their recent research findings, along with the clinical implications.

Lectures include:

Moderator: John W. Griffin, MD

Chair, Lecture Awards Subcommittee

"Natural Autoantibodies in the Treatment of Neurological Disease"

Moses Rodriguez, MD, FAAN
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN

"Prevention of Dementia in 2008: Strategies from Epidemiological Studies"

Kristine Yaffe, MD
University of California
San Francisco, CA

"Protein Interactions and Cell Signaling Pathways in SCA1 Pathogenesis: Targets for Therapeutics"

Harry T. Orr, PhD
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN

"Learning and Memory Mechanisms of the Basal Ganglia"

Ann M. Graybiel, PhD
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA

Scientific Program Highlights Plenary Session

Friday, April 18, 2008
5:15 p.m.–6:15 p.m.

McCormick Place West, Ballroom

Science Committee and Scientific Program Subcommittee Chair, Stefan M. Pulst, MD, FAAN, moderates this review of the most critical new research from more than 1,600 studies presented throughout the 2008 Scientific Program.

Members of the AAN Science Committee and AAN Scientific Program Subcommittee will select interesting abstracts presented at subspecialty meetings leading up to the AAN 60^th Annual Meeting that are not on the program but should be heard by a wide audience at the Annual Meeting.

Three or four top papers, regardless of topic, will be identified and these authors will be extended an invitation to present in this program. To accommodate the session, author standby time at the Tuesday night poster session will be from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., rather than 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.