Western Region Islet Study Group

描述（由申请人提供）：在过去的几年中，NIH越来越重视提高我们对细胞生物学的理解，这是开发糖尿病明确治疗方法的必要步骤。特别是，NIDDK正在促进这一领域的机构间合作努力，即将成立的国家¿-cell联盟证明了这一点。为了进一步促进细胞生物学领域的进展和合作，2000年夏天提出了成立西域小岛研究小组的想法，每年召开一次会议，汇集60-100名参与者，交流意见。有人建议大力强调青年研究人员在研究生和研究生一级的参与。组织委员会由丹佛、洛杉矶、波特兰、圣地亚哥、旧金山、西雅图和温哥华6个地理位置分散的研究中心的基础胰岛和糖尿病研究人员组成，并集中编制了一个成员数据库。该小组的首次会议于2001年9月28日至30日在旧金山以北约90分钟路程的马可尼会议中心举行，来自美国西部和加拿大的72名岛屿研究人员参加了会议。这次会议得到了PA R13基金的支持，取得了显著的成功，主要由学生和研究员进行了精彩的演讲，与会者之间有充足的互动时间。第二届西部地区小岛研究小组年会将于2002年11月1日至3日在加拿大维多利亚举行。与第一次会议一样，将涉及六个主题领域：

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the past few years, the NIH has placed increasing emphasis on improving our understanding of ¿-cell biology as a necessary step towards developing a definitive therapy for diabetes. In particular, NIDDK is promoting collaborative interinstitutional efforts in this area as evidenced by the upcoming formation of a national ¿-cell consortium. To further facilitate progress and cooperation in the area of ¿-cell biology, the idea of starting a Western Region Islet Study group was proposed in the summer of 2000 to bring together 60-100 participants at an annual meeting to meet and exchange ideas. A strong emphasis on the participation of young investigators at the graduate and postgraduate level was proposed. An organizing committee was chosen of established researchers in basic islet and diabetes research from 6 geographically dispersed centers namely Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, and a membership database compiled centrally. The inaugural meeting of the group was held September 28th-30th 2001 at the Marconi conference center, about 90 minutes north of San Francisco and was attended by 72 islet researchers from the western U.S. and Canada. The meeting, supported by a PA R13 grant, was a remarkable success, with an excellent program of presentations primarily by students and fellows as well as ample time for interaction among attendees. The 2nd annual meeting of the Western Region Islet Study group is planned for November 1-3rd, 2002 in Victoria BC, Canada. As with the first meeting, six topic areas will be covered: Embryological development of the endocrine pancreas Post-natal islet development and homeostasis of islet cell mass. Stimulus-secretion and stimulus-biosynthesis coupling of pancreatic hormone secretion. Cell biology of insulin secretion. The islet in diabetes. Novel therapeutic approaches to diabetes. The meeting will center around 6 scientific sessions of 2 hour covering the above topic areas. Oral presentations of 20-minute duration will be delivered from abstract submissions reviewed and selected by the organizing committee (see below). A strong bias will be made towards young investigators in the selection process but consideration will be also given to favor women, underrepresented minorities and individuals with disabilities. Outside of the main program there will be one invited lecture and informal discussion groups. Facilities will be provided for job seminars if requested and a bulletin board for positions vacant and wanted will be displayed. The primary goal of the meeting is to bring together as many of the young investigators in the islet research field in the region and to foster communication and collaboration between these individuals and their supporting group. The meeting will be more than just a conference focused on a topical area of great scientific and social importance. It will be an important step in catalyzing further development in the field and unifying researchers for the task ahead, one which will involve the generation of research consortia and strong liaison between academia and industry.