Cambridge Ion Channel Forum
Metrion Biosciences and AstraZeneca are delighted to be co-hosting the 2023 Cambridge Ion Channel Forum at the Babraham Research Campus Conference Centre on the afternoon of Wednesday 10th May 2023.
You will have the opportunity to enjoy a series of presentations from esteemed ion channel scientists, promote your research during the dedicated poster session and network with other ion channel enthusiasts.
Illuminating new roles for Nav1.1 in somatosensory signaling and behavior – Dr Theanne Griffith, UC Davis
Peripherally expressed NaV1.1 is critical for sensory proprioceptive signaling and motor coordination.
Cardiac Safety Symposium 2023
At the Cardiac Safety Symposium you can learn about newest insights on current challenges in safety pharmacology, cardiac physiology, electrophysiology and contractility assessments of stem cell-derived and native cardiomyocytes.
Ion Channels in Synaptic and Neural Circuit Physiology
The primary goal of this course is to demonstrate, through lectures and laboratory work, the different biophysical properties of ion channels that enable neurons to perform unique physiological functions in various neural systems.
Cure CLCN4 Scientific Conference 2023
This conference will bring together leading academic, clinical and industry speakers from the ion channel, rare disease, and therapeutic discovery fields.
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi and the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
Have you ever wondered why mongooses are not afraid of snakes?
In fact, mongooses have developed resistance to alpha-neurotoxins via specific mutations in their nAChRs, so that alpha-neurotoxins no longer bind these receptors.
Regulation of cardiac Nav1.5 channels by phosphorylation – Dr Céline Marionneau, University of Nantes
Phosphorylation of the cardiac NaV1.5 channel pore-forming subunit is extensive and critical in modulating channel expression and function, yet the regulation of NaV1.5 by phosphorylation of its accessory proteins remains elusive.
Ion channels are the key to a vampire’s hunting success
One interesting peculiarity of vampire bats is that they can detect hot spots on their prey where blood flows close to the skin. So, how do vampire bats find these hot spots?
The Calcium and Cell Function Conference
The program will address the rapidly moving research on receptor-regulated calcium signaling and the critical questions that are key to establishing future therapies for cardiovascular, airway, gut, liver, immunoinflammatory, metabolic and neurological disorders.
Membrane Transport 2023: Recent Research into Ion Channels, Transporters and Epithelial Physiology
This meeting will explore the latest research in epithelial transport physiology and the role of ion channels and transporters in health and disease, as well as showcasing various emerging techniques in the field of membrane transport.
38th Microelectrode Techniques for Cell Physiology Workshop
The Microelectrode Techniques for Cell Physiology Workshop provides postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers with both hands-on and theoretical training in electrophysiological and associated techniques.
1st NALCN workshop: The Sodium Leak Channel in health and disease
This workshop aims to cover all aspects of NALCN research, including involvement of patient families & physicians, and research highlighting in vivo studies, along with NALCN molecular structure and function.
Swiss Physiology & Ion Channels and Membrane Transporter Joint Meeting 2023
Keynote speakers: Prof. Raimund Dutzler (University of Zurich) and Dr. Sabine Hadida (Vertex Pharmaceuticals)
2nd International Kv7 Channels Symposium 2023
This symposium will showcase the myriad aspects of Kv7 research, with emphasis on emerging research areas.
Mapping the Pain Landscape: From Molecules to Medicine
This 2023 SGP Meeting will be focused on the topic of pain and will offer an excellent opportunity for participants to interact with leading scientists tackling impactful questions in the pain field, from the biophysical to behavioral level.
The Channelopathy Conference 2024
World-renowned speakers, pioneers in the field of channelopathies, will present their latest discoveries.
Lysosomal channel TMEM175 and Parkinson’s disease
Although ion channels might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about genes implicated in Parkinson’s development and progression, several recent studies have identified one particularly interesting ion channel as a genetic risk factor in about 20% of cases of Parkinson’s disease.
Ion channels enable plants to outsmart some animals
How does the Venus flytrap know when a fly has landed on it? Well, not surprisingly, ion channels play a leading role here.
Inward cardiac sodium current in health and disease – Prof. Silvia Priori, University of Pavia
Silvia Priori’s lab studies mechanisms of genetic arrhythmias.
Ephaptic coupling and the magical channels
Ion channels perform real magic by enabling cells to control other cells from a distance, much like magicians who move objects on the stage without physical contact.
7th RSC-BMCS / SCI Symposium on Ion Channels as Therapeutic Targets
This symposium, the 7th in an ongoing series, will showcase the most recent advances to aid the design of new ion channel therapeutics and promote interaction between scientists with a shared interest in the field of ion channel drug discovery.
Ion channels and rare diseases
How many rare diseases are related to ion channels? I used data from OrphaData.com to figure it out.
Novel Patch Clamp to Advance Pain Research
In this webinar, attendees will gain insight into the realm of automated patch clamp assays, exploring the mechanisms of pain.
Cardiac ephaptic coupling and interactions between sodium channels: myths or realities? – Prof. Jan Kucera, University of Bern
Ephaptic interactions mediated by extracellular potentials might
contribute to cardiac conduction when gap junctional coupling is reduced, but this mechanism is still controversial.
Biophysical Society Annual Meeting
The Biophysical Society annual meetings are the largest annual gathering of biophysicists around the world.
Acid-activated Cl-Channel ASOR/TMEM206: A Previously Enigmatic Channel with Roles in Endosomes – Dr. Thomas Jentsch, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin
The acid-sensitive chloride ion channel ASOR is found in almost all our cells. ASOR plays a role in acid-induced cell death, but a role in intracellular processes, for example in the transport of vesicles, is now coming to the fore.
Exciting channel Nav1.6
Today is SCN8A Awareness Day, so let’s take a deeper look at SCN8A channel (Nav1.6) and find out what makes it so special.
Funny channels
February 8 is Laugh And Get Rich Day. So, I looked through Pubmed to find out how ion channels are related to laughter.
The Scent of Roses and the mighty Nav1.7
Read how one tiny but mighty ion channel can keep us from enjoying the scent of roses.
Why does wasabi burn the nose?
When we eat it, wasabi primarily burns the nose and upper throat, while chili pepper mostly burns the tongue and mouth. Do you know why?
Sweet TRPM5
Do you know why hot chocolate tastes sweeter than cold chocolate?
Because of … obviously, ion channels.
Feed the birds with chili peppers
One interesting fact about birds is that they are insensitive to “hot” chili peppers.
Mechanical forces caused by foetal movements drive skeletal development
New study identifies the TRPV4 channel as playing a key role in translating mechanical signals from a baby’s movement in the womb to healthy development of the skeleton.
Dravet syndrome mouse models for novel gene therapy development – Dr Moran Rubinstein, Tel Aviv University
Dravet syndrome is severe childhood-onset epilepsy, caused by loss of function mutations in the SCN1A gene. Novel therapies aim to restore SCN1A expression in order to address all disease manifestations.
Treating gut pain via a Nobel prize-winning receptor
Targeting Piezo2 could provide a new avenue for treating chronic pain associated with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Researchers developed a method to target specific neurons and change their excitability with light for long periods of time
A new method for modulating neural activity using optogenetic polymerization and assembly of electroactive polymers on specified cellular membranes.
Researchers Discover Genetic Variant Associated with Earlier Onset Childhood Epilepsy
The recurrent SCN1A p.R1636Q variant causes a clinical entity with a wider clinical spectrum than previously reported, characterized by neonatal onset epilepsy and absence of prominent movement disorder.
Ion channels and cancer meeting 2022
This meeting will be dedicated to exploring ion channel regulation from molecular biophysics to physiology and clinical applications in cancer biology. Meeting will also include one ECS session: “Calcium signaling in cancer”.
Voltage-gated sodium channels and cancer – Dr William Brackenbury, University of York
Repurposing VGSC-inhibiting medications to cancer may hold promise for reducing metastasis.
Membrane proteins and mechanisms of disrupted cellular homeostasis – Anna Greka, Harvard Medical School, USA
Anna Greka leads a program focused on dissecting fundamental mechanisms of disrupted cellular homeostasis in genetically-defined kidney, metabolic and degenerative diseases…
Understanding the function of sodium channel accessory proteins using pain-causing toxins – Prof Irina Vetter, University of Queensland
The pharmacological activity of pain-causing toxins can provide critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning sensory neuron function and pain…
New test can help patients with cystic fibrosis
Challenged urine bicarbonate excretion may be an in vivo biomarker of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function.
Gain-of-function mutations in Nav1.6 and epileptic seizures – Dr Manoj Patel, University of Virginia.
Many de novo missense mutations of SCN8A, the gene that encodes for Nav1.6, have been identified and patients have seizure onset between birth and 12 months of age…
Scientists uncover potential “electrical language” of breast cancer cells
The high-throughout, cellular-resolution imaging data indicate that Vm fluctuates dynamically in subpopulations of highly aggressive breast cancer cell lines.
Pacemaker Channel Discovery Could Lead to Better Heart Drugs
Anionic lipids unlock the gates of select ion channels in the pacemaker family
Gene therapy targeting overactive brain cells could treat neurological disorders
UCL researchers developed a gene therapy strategy that self-selects pathologically overactive neurons and down-regulates their excitability via controlled expression of Kv1.1.
Extracellular fluid viscosity enhances cell migration and cancer dissemination
Elevated viscosity counterintuitively increases the motility of various cell types in a TRPV4-dependent manner.
Study Identifies Potential New Treatment Target for Sleep Apnea
TRPM7 channels regulate breathing during sleep in obesity by acting peripherally in the carotid bodies.
TRPC6 Blocking Improves Muscle Function and Survival in Mice with Severe Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Researchers discovered that blocking the TRPC6 channel in genetically modified mice with severe or moderate Duchenne muscular dystrophy substantially improves their skeletal and cardiac muscle function, bone deformities and survival.
A New Mechanism Responsible for Controlling Auditory Sensitivity
cAMP and voltage modulate rat auditory mechanotransduction by decreasing the stiffness of gating springs.
New findings reveal how neurons build and maintain their capacity to communicate
While the biosynthesis of the voltage-gated Ca2+ channels does not play a major role in regulating their abundance at presynaptic active zones, both trafficking and recycling at active zones are important regulatory steps.
Opening New Doors: First Synthetic Mechanosensitive Potassium Channel
Inspired by mechanosensitive potassium channels found in nature, researchers have developed the first synthetic mechanosensitive potassium channel.
Breaking the vicious itch-scratch cycle by targeting ‘miswired’ neurons
Researchers showed that the Piezo2 channels in Merkel cells are responsible for the itch triggered by mechanical stimulation in dry skin.
Researchers discovered novel light-gated potassium channel
Researcher have discovered two naturally occurring channelrhodopsins enabling optogenetic control of K+ gradients, which is promising for the study and potential treatment of potassium channelopathies such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and long-QT syndrome and other cardiac arrhythmias.
Research reveals surprising inactivation mechanism for a voltage-gated ion channel
New findings elucidate mechanisms of closed-state inactivation and voltage-dependent activation of the KV4 channel.
Gene therapy inspired by bacteria shows promise for cardiac conduction disorders
Scientists demonstrated that prokaryotic sodium channels can be directly, specifically, and stably expressed in cardiomyocytes through viral gene delivery to augment tissue excitability and conduction.
A striking difference between neurons of humans and other mammals
Human neurons have fewer ion channels compared to the neurons of other mammals.
Chemists discover the structure of a key coronavirus protein
An essential protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the envelope protein E, forms a homopentameric cation channel that is important for virus pathogenicity.
Outstanding ion channel scientists receive honorary awards
October 2020 has really become a month of awards for ion channel researchers.
Is crowdfunding an option to finance your research?
Discover the platforms for crowdfunding scientific research in this article.
What is an ion?
Outside of science, many people have a completely different idea of what an “ion” actually means.
Ardem Patapoutian and David Julius have won the 2020 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters has decided to award the 2020 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience to David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian “for their transformative discovery of receptors for temperature and pressure.”
Trends in ion channel paper authorship
This article shows how authors are distributed over ion channel papers (the number of authors per paper).
How many ion channel scientists are there?
How many ion channel scientists, labs, companies are there in the world? See the estimate in this article.
TOP ion channel-friendly journals
The choice of the journal for publishing your research is a strategic decision. This article will help you to chose the ion channel-friendly journal to publish your research in.
Ion channel journal trends
How many journals publish ion channel-related research? Do we need a lot of journals?
Extraordinary ordinary patch-clamp
The paper on patch-clamping by Erwin Neher and Bert Sakmann (1976) has been selected as 1 out of 10 extraordinary Nature papers.
Membrane transport
Every cell possesses a variety of sophisticated membrane transport systems allowing for control of the intracellular environment.
The classic paper by Neher and Sakmann is 1 out of 10 key Nature papers
The patch-clamp technique has been described by Nature journal as “a breakthrough method that became vital to neuroscience”.
History of ion channels
Before the 1660s the Theory of Animal Spirits dominated thinking regarding the function of the nervous system. “Animal spirits” (originating in the brain) were believed to control movements of the body by flowing through the nerves into the muscles.
Ion channel publication trends
Here is the outlook of an ion channel research productivity expressed in the number of ion channel-related papers per year.
Nobel Prizes
The scientific community has recognized the crucial importance of ion channel research by four Nobel Prizes for the discoveries concerning the structure and function of ion channels.
Why we should care about ion channels
“… ion channels are the most important single class of proteins that exist in the human body or any body…” – Clay Armstrong
Cryo-EM Structure of the Cardiac Sodium Channel Nav1.5 Revealed
The high-resolution structure of the
cardiac sodium channel gives detailed insights into voltage-dependent activation, ion selectivity, arrhythmia mechanisms, and antiarrhythmic drug action at the atomic level.
