Montana Neuroscience public lecture series to cover latest in brain research

Using the recent technology of brain imaging to understand depression will be the first topic of a public lecture series in Missoula offered by the Montana Neuroscience Institute Foundation.

John Gerdes, associate professor in the Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience at the University of Montana’s Department of Chemistry, will discuss "PET Brain Imaging: Understanding Depression," on Tuesday, Feb. 15, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Broadway Building Conference Center of the St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center.

This is the third year of the foundation’s series of free, public lectures.

– Tuesday, Feb. 15 – "PET Brain Imaging: Understanding Depression," presented by John Gerdes, Ph.D., associate professor in the Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience at UM’s Department of Chemistry.

– Tuesday, March 15 – "Neurological Illness and Care Giving at Home: Successful Strategies," presented by Chad O’Lynn, Ph.D., R.N., a professor in the School of Nursing at Montana State University, and a registered nurse at St. Patrick Hospital and Health Services Center; and Pamela Meck, R.N., a research nurse specialist at the Montana Neuroscience Institute Foundation.

– Tuesday, April 19 – "Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Fight for Sight," presented by Brian Sippy, M.D., who practices at Rocky Mountain Eye Center in Missoula, and specializes in vitreo-retinal disease and surgery. He also is a faculty affiliate at UM’s School of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences.

– Tuesday, May 17 – "CNS Stem Cells and Alzheimer’s Disease," presented by George Carlson, Ph.D., who is director and senior scientist at the McLaughlin Research Institute in Great Falls.

– Tuesday, Sept. 20 – "The Many Facets of Managing Chronic Pain," presented by Randale Sechrest, M.D., LeeAnn Bradley, Pharm.D., and Patrick Johnson, Ph.D. Sechrest is medical director of the Montana Spine Center and a faculty affiliate of the UM School of Pharmacy. Bradley is a clinical associate professor at the UM School of Pharmacy, and the clinical coordinator at St. Patrick Hospital. Johnson is director of the Center for Behavioral Medicine at St. Patrick Hospital.

– Tuesday, Oct. 18 – "Your Brain and the Air You Breathe: Chronic Health Effects of Air Pollution," by Lilian Calderon-Garciduenas, M.D., Ph.D. Calderon-Garciduenas is an assistant professor in the Environmental Toxicology and Pathology Department at UM.

– Tuesday, Nov. 15 – "Contemporary Stroke Therapy in 2005: Focus on Carotid Artery Disease," presented by Mark Sanz, M.D. Sanz is director of cardiology at the International Heart Institute at St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center.

By DARYL GADBOW of the Missoulian

Full Story and event information: http://missoulian.com/articles/2005/01/24/news/local/news04.txt