The annual Irish Neuromuscular Association meeting and the 46th meeting of the Irish Neurological Association, took place at the Europa Hotel Belfast on May 27th and 28th
Dr. John McConville, Dr. Aisling Carr, Professor Nick Willcox, Dr. Stanley Hawkins
Irish Neuromuscular Meeting
The Irish Neuromuscular Association Meeting, directed by Dr. John McConville, took place on the morning of May 27th. Providing an opportunity for comment and discussion, as well as the presentation of interesting neuromuscular cases, Dr. McConville noted the participation by all delegates at the meeting resulting in a high quality educational experience. The Guest Lecturer at the Irish Neuromuscular Meeting was Professor Nick Willcox, Professor of Neuroscience, Oxford University. Professor Willcox delivered a stimulating lecture entitled "Clues to auto-immunising mechanisms from thymus and thymoma in myasthenia gravis patients".
Professor Nick Willcox, Oxford.
Irish Neurological Association Meeting
Attended by more than 100 delegates, the Irish Neurological Association meeting, now in it's 46th year, showcased the level of activity in research in neuroscience centres throughout Ireland and by Irish trainees and consultants in international centres. Delegates from the United Kingdom and from the United States joined with Irish neuroscientists to deliver the results of research, audits and case reports
Mr. Ted Buckley, Dr. Norman Delanty, Dr. Joe Lyttle
Dr. Renga Radhkrishnan and Dr. Kevin Murphy
Guest Lecture
Dr. Stanley Hawkins, INA President 2010, introduced the guest lecturer, Professor Semir Zeki FRS, Professor of Neuroesthetics at University College London, who delivered the Allison Lecture, endowed by Dr Sydney Allison. Professor Zeki has performed research in neuroscience for around 40 years. His initial research studies were in the anatomy and function of the primate visual cortex. More recently he has applied the techniques of PET and fMRI to functional specialisation of visual perception in normal and damaged human brains. An expanding interest and is in the appreciation of art. In his lecture, entitled "A dialogue between art and the brain”, Professor Zeki invited delegates to appreciate the complexity of the brain’s perception of reality in art. Drawing from the visual arts, sculpture, music and literature and citing the great works of Vermeer, Michaelangelo, Balthus, Riley, Wagner and Dante, Prof. Zeki illustrated that "the only reality that the brain has is brain reality", also "certainty of many different interpretations, each of which is sovereign at one time". In other words, what an individual perceives as reality is transient and conditioned by the brain and its previous experiences. The lecture was received warmly and will leave members of the audience with abiding impressions of a memorable event.
Professor Semir Zeki, University College London.
Irish Neurological Association Dinner.
Dr. Hawkins welcomed those attending the INA Dinner to the Great Hall at Queen's University Belfast, in particular Professor Zeki and some retired neuroscientists who had contributed so much to the successful Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience of today. Dr. Hawkins proceeded to provide a brief introduction to the history of Queen's University, and its record of history extending over 150 years, from the granting of the charter by Queen Victoria in 1845 to the Queen’s University in Ireland with three colleges in Belfast, Cork and Galway. The government of the day made £100,000 available for the building and furnishing of the colleges. In the shadow of portraits of many distinguished graduates and staff of the University including a Nobel laureate and a President of Ireland whose portraits line the walls of the Great Hall, much enjoyment and stimulating conversation enhanced the atmosphere of the meeting. Dr. Sean Connolly, on behalf of the Dean of the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, thanked Dr. Hawkins for hosting a most enjoyable and worthwhile meeting, noting also that the hospitality of the neuroscience community in Belfast remains one of his treasured memories of the Irish Neurological Association from his training days.
Awards
