Course overview
Cancer neuroscience represents an interdisciplinary field at the forefront of cancer research, seamlessly combining insights from neuroscience and oncology. The intricate interplay between the nervous system (central and peripheral) and cancer has yielded profound insights into the mechanisms of tumor progression and the tumor microenvironment. The latter, comprising neuro-glial, immune, and endothelial networks, has been identified as a critical determinant of cancer growth and metastasis. Furthermore, the presence of a tumor might impact neuronal communication in a way that could be functionally relevant by compromising the function of the brain and/or peripheric organs, which could contribute to impact quality of life.
Cutting-edge technologies inspired by the neuroscience field are transforming our ability to study brain cancers from a neural perspective. Bordeaux University has a unique opportunity to promote this field of research due to the presence of strong neuroscience and oncology teams. The course will enable students to integrate theoretical and methodological concepts in oncology, combining modern neuroscience approaches with hands-on experience in state-of-the-art methodologies. This course, now in its second edition, provides an integrated understanding of the crosstalk between oncology and neuroscience.
The program will benefit from the participation of scientists who conceptualized Cancer Neuroscience.
Course directors
Antonio Pagano Zottola
Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC), France
Manuel Valiente
Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Spain
Thomas Daubon
National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), University of Bordeaux, France
Keynote speakers
Thomas Kuner, Heidelberg University, Germany
Haikun Liu, German Cancer Research Center, Germany
Jose Lopez Atalaya, Alicante Institute of Neuroscience, Spain
Sanne Schagen, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands
Hugh Robinson, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Manuel Valero, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Spain
Fanny Mann, Marseille Developmental Biology Institute, France
Céline Delloye, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, France
Instructors
Carolina Hernandez-Oliver, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Spain
Camille Humeau, Bordeaux Institute of Oncology (BRIC), University of Bordeaux, France
Luigi Bellocchio, Neurocentre Magendie and BRIC, University of Bordeaux, France
Irinka Séraudie, Institute of Cellular Biochemistry and Genetics (IBGC), University of Bordeaux, France
Giulia Dematteis, Neurocentre Magendie, University of Bordeaux, France
Emilie Pacary, Neurocentre Magendie, University of Bordeaux, France
Holly Simpson Ragdale, University College London, England
Mathieu Raoux, University of Bordeaux, France
Kévin Boyé, BRIC, Université de Bordeaux, France
Annamaria Regina, BRIC, Université de Bordeaux, France
Maxime Toujas, BRIC, University of Bordeaux, France
Ahmad Sharanek, BRIC, University of Bordeaux, France
Audrey Burban, IBGC, University of Bordeaux, France
Doriane Bomont, IBGC, University of Bordeaux, France
Marc-Antoine Da Veiga, IBGC, University of Bordeaux, France
Claire Larrieu, University of Basel, Switzerland
Ruben Quintana, Cajal Institute, Spain
Hind Ibork, Neurocentre Magendie, University of Bordeaux, France
Domitille Chalopin-Fillot, Immunoconcept, University of Bordeaux, France
Pablo Abad, Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Spain
Benoit Pinson, IBGC, University of Bordeaux, France
Martin Hagedorn, BRIC, University of Bordeaux, France
Barbara Braz, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, France
Violeta Duran-Laforet, Alicante Institute of Neuroscience, Spain
Course content
Topics and techniques
The scientific program will be structured around seven main topics:
- Cancer progression in the brain
- Crosstalk of tumor cells with neuronal, immune and vascular microenvironment
- Neurogliomal synapses
- Metabolic exchanges between tumors and healthy tissue
- Brain tumors and the immune system
- Therapeutic strategies in brain tumors
- Effects of tumors on cognitive performance
Aims and techniques
Cancer progression in the brain
- Brain electroporation and glioma models
- Orthotopic model of brain cancer or brain metastasis and tissue clearing
Brain cancer models on organotypic cultues - Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane model
Crosstalk of tumor cells with the neuronal, immune and vascular microenvironment
- High resolution confocal microscopy
- Co-culture of cancer cells and primary mouse brain cells/organoids/brain slices
- Transcriptomics using scRNAseq, spatial trancriptomics
- Multiplex immunofluorescence
- Image analysis
Neurogliomal synapses
- Calcium imaging and analysis
- Electrophysiological recordings and microelectrode array (MEA)
Metabolic exchanges between tumors and healthy tissue
- High resolution respirometry
- Membrane potential and ROS detection
- Metabolic analysis using liquid chromatography, fluxomic
- FRET/intensiometric sensor for studying metabolites
Immune system in brain cancer
- Isolation of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes by immunomagnetic selection and FACS sorting
- Immunophenotyping of cancer cells and analysis of the intratumoral immunosuppressive microenvironment using flow cytometry
- Assessment of cytotoxic and immune activity of effector cells on tumor target cells by flow cytometry
Therapeutic strategies in brain tumors
- Surgical resection models
Effects of tumors on cognitive performance
- Behavioral tests in brain tumor models and data analysis
Venue
Bordeaux School of Neuroscience, France
The Bordeaux School of Neuroscience is part of Bordeaux Neurocampus, the Neuroscience Department of the University of Bordeaux. Created in 2015, it is currently directed by David Perrais. Throughout the year, renowned scientists, promising young researchers and many students from any geographical horizon come to the School.
The school works on this principle: training in neuroscience research through experimental practice, within the framework of a real research laboratory.
Facilities
Their dedicated laboratory (500m2), available for about 20 trainees, is equipped with a wet lab, an in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology room, IT facilities, a standard cellular imaging room, an animal facility equipped for behavior studies and surgery and catering/meeting spaces. They also have access to high-level core facilities within the University of Bordeaux. They offer their services to international training teams who wish to organize courses in all fields of neuroscience thanks to a dedicated staff for the full logistics (travels, accommodation, on-site catering, social events) and administration and 2 scientific managers in support of the experimentation.
Registration
Fee : 4.500 € (includes tuition fee, accommodation and meals)
Stipends from the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation and IBRO are available! Please apply through the course application form. In order to identify candidates in real need of a stipend, any grant applicant is encouraged to first request funds from their lab, institution or government.
Applications will open in January 2027.
Questions regarding registration and the course program? Email us at: info@cajal-training.org
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