Public Lecture Series on Mysteries of the Brain Debuts Today

Proposition 71, the Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, has stimulated a considerable amount of public discussion in recent weeks about stem cells and their potential for treating disease. The first lecture in a new UCSD educational series called "Grey Matters" will address a fundamental issue that often has been absent in these discussions: What role do stem cells play in normal development?

Fred Gage, a professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and former president of the Society for Neuroscience, will speak "Stem Cells: The Brain's Beginnings," on Monday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. at the Salk Institute Frederic de Hoffmann Auditorium in La Jolla. Four additional "Grey Matters" lectures will be held this academic year, with plans to make this an ongoing series in future years to highlight advances in neuroscience for nonscientists.

"We envision this series as a way of helping the public learn about the exciting brain research going on in their own backyards," said Eduardo Macagno, dean of UCSD's Division of Biological Sciences, which conceived of and developed the series. "San Diego is a world leader in neuroscience research. We especially hope this series will pique the interest of parents, teachers and students and encourage young people to consider a neuroscience-related career."

The five "Grey Matters" lectures this year will focus on stem cells, the developing brain, perception, addiction and sleep. The lectures will be broadcast on UCSD-TV and UCTV.

For more information, visit the Grey Matters educations series Web site.