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Academia Europaea Tbilisi Knowledge Hub recently hosted Prof. Vladimir Parpura, a Member of Academia Europaea, Distinguished Professor, and Director of the International Translational Neuroscience Research Institute at Zhejiang Chinese Medical University.
Member of Academia Europaea and Chair of the Scientific Board of its Tbilisi Regional Centre, Professor of Lund University, Prof. Zaal Kokaia, has also arrived in Georgia.
This gave us an excellent opportunity to organize series of lectures dedicated to the latest ongoing scientific studies in the field of Neuroscience in collaboration with the Ilia State University and Ivane Beritashvili Centre of Experimental Biomedicine with coordination of the Director of the Institute of Chemical Biology at the Ilia State University, Head of the Neuropharmacological Laboratory and Chair of the Scientific Board at the Ivane Beritashvili Centre of Experimental Biomedicine Prof. Revaz Solomonia.
On 8 October at the Ilia State University, Prof. Parpura gave a lecture titled: “Astrocytes release glutamate by regulated exocytosis in health and disease.” He presented the evidence that astrocytes, a subtype of glial cells in the brain, can exocytotically release the neurotransmitter glutamate and analyzed how this release is regulated. He also discussed spatiotemporal characteristics of vesicular fusion that underlie astrocyte glutamate release. In addition, he presented data on a translational project in which this release pathway can be targeted for treating astrocytoma IV (also referred to as glioblastoma mutiforme IV), the deadliest brain cancer.
On 11 October at the Ivane Beritashvili Centre of Experimental Biomedicine, Prof. Parpura and Prof. Kokaia delivered lectures on “Carbon nanotubes in translational astrogeology” and “How to make new oligodendrocytes and why?” in their respective order.
Prof. Parpura’s lecture focused on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), which have shown promise in neurobiology and biomedicine. Their structural stability and ease of chemical modification make them compatible with biological applications. Prof. Parpura discussed the effects that chemically functionalized CNTs, applied as a colloidal solute or used as strata, have on the morphological and functional (glutamate uptake and vesicular recycling) properties of astrocytes, with an insight into the potential use of CNTs in neural prostheses, as well as in the pre-clinical treatment of astrocytoma/glioblastoma and traumatic brain injury model.
In MS, for example, the immune system attacks oligodendrocytes, resulting in demyelination and disrupted communication between nerve cells. Generating oligodendrocytes through stem cell therapy holds significant promise for therapeutic intervention. By promoting remyelination, these therapies could restore lost functionality and improve recovery outcomes for stroke patients and those with MS.
Engaging Q&A sessions followed lectures. Scientists and students discussed these studies' groundbreaking possibilities for the future of neuroscience and medicine. The exchange of knowledge, insights, and ideas not only deepened the audience's understanding but also sparked enthusiasm for future research collaborations.
