Western Region Islet Study Group

描述(由申请人提供)：在过去的几年里，NIH越来越重视提高我们对细胞生物学的理解，作为开发糖尿病最终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协作努力，即将成立一个国家-细胞联盟就是明证。为了进一步促进在细胞生物学领域的进展和合作，2000年夏天提出了成立一个西部地区小岛研究小组的想法，将60-100名与会者聚集在一起，举行年度会议，举行会议并交流意见。有人提议大力强调青年调查员在本科生和研究生一级的参与。组委会由来自丹佛、洛杉矶、波特兰、圣地亚哥、旧金山、西雅图和温哥华等6个地理分散的中心的基础胰岛和糖尿病研究的知名研究人员组成，并建立了集中汇编的成员数据库。该小组的成立会议于2001年9月28日至30日在旧金山以北约90分钟车程的马可尼会议中心举行，来自美国西部和加拿大的72名小岛研究人员参加了会议。这次会议在PA R13赠款的支持下取得了显著的成功，主要由学生和研究员进行了出色的演讲，与会者之间有充足的互动时间。西部地区小岛研究组第二届年会计划于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，会议将涵盖六个主题领域： 内分泌胰腺的胚胎发育 出生后胰岛发育和胰岛细胞团的动态平衡。 胰腺激素分泌的刺激-分泌和刺激-生物合成耦合。 胰岛素分泌的细胞生物学。 糖尿病患者的胰岛。 治疗糖尿病的新方法。会议将围绕上述主题领域，围绕6个2小时的科学会议展开。20分钟的口头报告将来自组委会审查和选择的摘要报告(见下文)。在遴选过程中，将强烈偏向年轻调查人员，但也将考虑偏袒妇女、任职人数不足的少数群体和残疾人。除主要计划外，还将有一次受邀演讲和非正式讨论小组。如有需要，将为求职研讨会提供设施，并将展示空缺和招聘职位的公告栏。会议的主要目标是将该区域岛屿研究领域的年轻研究人员聚集在一起，并促进这些人与他们的支助团体之间的沟通与合作。这次会议将不仅仅是一次聚焦于一个具有重大科学和社会重要性的主题领域的会议。这将是推动该领域进一步发展和团结研究人员完成未来任务的重要一步，这项任务将涉及建立研究联盟和学术界和工业界之间的密切联系。

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.