Report on Summer School on "Imaging neuroinflammation" at Kotor, Montenegro in June, 2016

The Regional Biophysical School “Academician Radoslav K. Andjus” (NERKA) was established in honor of Professor R.K. Andjus (1926-2003), an internationally recognized scientist from the University of Belgrade, a member and founder of Montenegrin and Serbian academies of sciences and arts. This was the sixth school, organized traditionally by the Biophysical Society of Serbia, co-organized by the Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Institute for Marine Biology in Kotor also as the venue, and with the fellowships sponsored by the International Union for Pure and Applied Biophysics (IUPAB).

The topic of the School was to introduce modern methods of biophysical imaging and image analysis in studies of inflammatory phenomena and markers of neurodegenerative diseases. Discussion was stimulated among participants on the translational value of these techniques and the clinical relevance of presented experimental markers. A discussion panel was also organized on the crisis in modern science and the relevance of interdisciplinarity and team work. The techniques covered were MRI, MRS, PET, EPRI, and advanced microscopy (non-linear microscopy- dual photon fluorescence, Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy & microscopy, PALM, STED, CARS, digital holographic microscopy). A multidisciplinary faculty (from 8 countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, Italy, Serbia, Sweden, UK, and USA) was chosen ranging from fields of physics (applications of laser technology and advanced microscopy), physical chemistry (magnetic resonance techniques and applications), biology (experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases), and medicine (clinical studies and markers of neuroinflammation).

The students were from 8 countries: Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovakia. Altogether 33 students were registered. 15 students were awarded a fellowship on competitive basis.