5.4: Presentation session: Plenary speaker — Neuroscience informatics and making a difference: Identifying and closing the knowledge gaps discussion/forum: “Neuroinformatics: Building an integrative framework to study brain function, injury, and regeneration”

The analysis of human brain disease has profited enormously from systematic application of reductionist methods. But as we learn more about injury and disease susceptibility, we realize that final outcomes are due to complex interactions among systems that are essentially irreducible. How do we model and test such complexity and take into account the major roles played by genetic variation and environmental perturbations such as changes in diet, stress level, and exercise? We need experimental systems with tightly controlled genomes and environments, but with a level of genetic complexity that faithfully mirrors human population diversity. This is now possible using Genetic Reference Populations of mice and rats. These new resources promise to revolutionize our ability to deliver personalized and predictive health care to humans. In this talk I will review how Reference Populations are being used to study brain function, injury, aging, and regenerative potential.