Signaling in Vertebrate Organogenesis

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): One of the most challenging problems in human health is to understand what controls the development of the various organs of the body and how development can go awry to cause congenital malformations. Knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms of organ formation underlies many of the current ideas for how to devise cures for numerous diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and Parkinson's disease. One of the major lessons from the last decade of research is that the signals that initiate and sustain the development of the different organs of the body have been largely conserved. Thus, much can be learned about the development of one organ by knowing about the mechanisms that control the development of others. However, there are not many opportunities for scientists to meet and discuss organogenesis from such a broad perspective. This proposal requests funds for partial support of a Keystone Symposium on "Signaling in Vertebrate Organogenesis" co-organized by Gall Martin and Clifford Tabin. The goal of this conference is to provide a forum for scientists working in a variety of systems to exchange ideas about the molecular mechanism of vertebrate organogenesis and to consider how abnormal development can lead to disease. The Symposium will bring together ~150 outstanding senior and junior scientists for discussions of the recent advances in studies of organ development, including lung, mammary gland, kidney, pancreas, liver, heart, skin, skeleton, spinal cord. The conference format will consist of short talks (~20 minutes) followed by discussion (~10 minutes). By maximizing both formal discussion and informal interactions the Symposium should help to define both the present state and future of the field, and help young investigators, particularly graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, to broaden their perspectives and guide their research in new directions.