MILLENIUM CONFERENCE ON NUCLEIC ACID THERAPEUTICS

一项旨在开发用于治疗癌症、慢性病和微生物的核酸类似物和载体的广泛国际研究工作已经进入临床试验阶段，并首次获得FDA批准的DNA药物。自1991年上一次核酸治疗会议以来，已经取得了很大的进展。2000年的会议将提供一个论坛，世界各地的科学家、临床医生和监管机构将分享在制备基因特异性药物和载体以及在临床前和临床试验中应用这些药物方面的最新进展。请国立卫生研究院为24位受邀演讲者的部分旅费提供支持。其他费用的资金将从感兴趣的供应商和制药公司以及国际生物化学和分子生物学联合会筹集。这次会议遵循了戈登研究会议的设计。多达300名参与者将在周六到达，然后在周日、周一和周二的每个上午和晚上参加6个20分钟的讲座。将讨论寡核苷酸衍生物、诊断寡核苷酸芯片、机制和药理学、临床前试验、基因治疗载体和临床试验。下午将举行海报会议，让与会者自由讨论共同的研究兴趣和开发新项目。食品费包括在注册费中。大多数与会者将住在会议酒店，并一起用餐。这种会议设计鼓励与会者进行最大可能的互动。会议的设计，以及适中的注册费、酒店费用和机票费用，将最大限度地提高年轻教师、博士后研究员和研究生参加会议的可能性。演讲者将被要求展示最近实验的硬数据，而不是旨在说服投资者的说明性演讲。不会有专门的演讲者午餐会，不会有外部会议管理公司，也不会有昂贵的宴会。所筹资金中的一部分将用于向无法为旅费提供足够支持的年轻调查员许诺，使他们有可能参与。通过这一设计，2000年会议将促进新的合作，并加强新的和有经验的研究人员的新想法。

A broad international research effort to develop nucleic acid analogs and vectors for treatment of cancers, chronic diseases, and microorganisms has reached the stage of clinical trials and the first FDA approval of a DNA drug. Great progress has occurred since the last Conference on Nucleic Acid Therapeutics in 1991. The 2000 meeting will provide a forum whereby the most recent developments in preparing gene specific drugs and vectors, and applying those agents in preclinical and clinical trials will be shared among scientists, clinicians, and regulators from around the world. Support is requested from NIH for a portion of the travel expenses of the 24 invited speakers. Funds for other expenses will be raised from interested vendors and pharmaceutical firms, as well as the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The conference follows the design of a Gordon Research Conference. Up to 300 participants will arrive on a Saturday, then attend six 20-minute talks during each morning and evening session on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Oligonucleotide Derivatives, Diagnostic Oligonucleotide Chips, Mechanisms and Pharmacology, Preclinical Trials, Gene Therapy Vectors, and Clinical Trials will be discussed. Poster sessions will be held in the afternoons, leaving participants free to discuss mutual research interests and develop new projects. The cost of food is included in the registration fee. Most participants will stay at the conference hotel, and eat all their meals together. This meeting design encourages the maximum possible interaction of participants. The conference design, as well as the modest registration fee, hotel costs, and airfare will maximize the feasibility of attendance by young faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students. Speakers will be directed to present hard data from recent experiments, as opposed to illustrative presentations intended to persuade investors. There will be no special luncheons for speakers, no outside conference management firm, and no expensive banquet. Some of the funds raised will be utilized to make possible participation by promising young investigators who are unable to identify sufficient support for travel expenses. Through this design, the 2000 conference will stimulate new collaborations and potentiate new ideas by new and experienced investigators.