World scientists join Nobel Laureates for Panama Conference

Two Nobel Laureates are among leading scientists from around the world in Panama for the first Scientists International Conference on diseases of the brain,  ever held in Latin America. {jathumbnail off}

The concentration is on drug discovery, and  new ways to focus mental research studies.

Within in the framework of the visit of Laureates Prof. Robert Huber of the Max-Planck Institute in Germany and Dr. Ada Yonath,  of the Weizmann Institute in Israel will be the provision  of two grants for special international scientific projects to develop collaboration between them and Panamanian scientists.
There are 35 million people worldwide living with dementia, according to the World Health Organization with Alzheimer's the most common dementia. The  number is predicted to double by 2030 and treble in the following 20 years.

Latin American countries have given less attention to the disease but, Panama has taken a leadership role, with brain disease research as a major  focus. 

The conference, at the Riu Hotel focuses on the design and discovery of drugs and their action targets. The main topics to be discussed include : new thinking in the design of drugs for brain diseases, new animal models for research, identifying new biochemical targets for drug screening and development of new drugs.  
There is an important clinical relevance in the symposium, as the manifestations of brain disorders are a challenge for physicians. The main challenge they face is the lack of drugs to treat patients and there is little clinical information on the neuro degenerative process.

Abseries of exhibitions at the conference will assist  doctors and those working in the basic biology of new drugs and their future expectations. New evidence to provide metabolic patterns and their clinical implications. Will also be discussed
Ten scholarships have been provided for  Latin American scientists and 30 university scholarships for students within the country so they can attend the conference and  250 secondary students  will attend meetings with the Nobel laureates.
 The Congress, at the Riu, was opened by President Ricardo Martinelli, and the first presentations were made  by Prof. Huber on "Antibodies and Antibody Receptors: Structure, Function and Application in Medicine." And Dr. Ada Yonath on "Ribosomal Antibiotics: Current and future expectations."

 Other keynote speakers include : Prof. Peter Kalivas (USA); Prof. Kumar Sambamurthi (USA); Prof. George Perry (USA); Prof. Osvaldo Uchitel (Argentina); Dr. Daniel Chain (USA); Prof. Alessandro Vindigni ( Italy); Prof. Dave Shine (USA); Prof. Jair C. Soares (USA); Dr. Gemma Casadesus (USA); Dr. Lawrence Rajendran (Sweden); Dr. Kiminobu Sugaya (USA); Dr. Jack Smith (USA); and 10 members of the scientific community of Taiwan.
 Panama’s  has  two speakers with  Dr. Fernando Gracia, on "Prion Disease", and Dr. Marcel F. Penna on "Mental Health in Panama."
The agenda includes a free talk open to the public, with the theme "Know Your Brain and how to keep healthy." The issue will be addressed by Dr. Jair C. Soares, a specialist in psychiatry and Co-Director of the Centre of Excellence for Mood Disorders at the University of Texas.
TheNobel Laureates are establishing partnerships to help researchers in Panama. Dr.Huber will be visiting Bocas del Toro for research facilities and sample collection sites for abioprospecting program  and will  time with INDICASAT (the Institure of Scientific  Investigation and High Technology Services) to provide support in the development of the Center for Drug Discovery, which will have world class facilities for research on drugs of marine origin, and the latest equipment to identify the structure of isolated molecules in Panama.

Dr Yonath is supporting the development of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology research in Panama.