Cell Contact & Adhesion Gordon Research Conference

说明(由申请人提供)：我们请求部分支持三(3)个关于“细胞接触和粘合”的国际会议，这些会议将于2009年(6月28日至7月3日)在美国新罕布夏州的沃特维尔山谷度假村举行，并于2011年和2013年再次举行--可能在沃特维尔山谷和Il Ciocco(Barga IT)地点之间交替举行。更大的目标和意义是加强我们在分子水平上对细胞-细胞黏附系统的基本了解，例如，所涉及的分子如何形成物理黏附接触，以及它们如何对允许细胞之间通信的信号通路做出贡献。这些担忧是获得对正常发育和多种病理的掌握的中心，在这些病理中，接触生理学中的异常是有贡献的。与人类疾病直接相关的条件包括癌症从起始到转移的进展、宿主-病原体的相互作用和起泡的皮肤病。 概述了九(9)次会议，这些会议共同讨论了各种细胞-细胞黏附环境中最令人兴奋的进展或机会领域--例如黏附连接、缝隙连接、紧密连接和桥粒连接(以及其他)。利用细胞系和各种脊椎动物和无脊椎动物模型系统，2009年会议的一个特别重点将是细胞极性的产生和维持，以及形态发生过程的执行。这种科学兴趣与另一次明确讨论癌症问题的中心会议密切相关。 我们在2009年的具体目标包括大会、44名有天赋的发言者/调查员和9名会议主席。与主席和副主席一起，这些个人将：提供其研究领域现有的最新观点和未公布的实验证据；促进积极讨论和辩论细胞-细胞黏附领域及其交叉学科的前沿问题；营造一种环境，使研究人员能够发展有意义的专业关系和促进未来合作所需的信任；协助妇女和代表性不足群体的积极参与；鼓励来自世界各地的个人积极参与；以及重要的是，促进博士后和研究生实习生与更高级的研究人员相结合。总而言之，在将跨越五年的三(3)次会议过程中，我们寻求的NIH支持将有助于一个在基础科学和对人类疾病的理解方面都具有深厚根基的重要而充满活力的领域。 公共卫生相关性：细胞接触和粘附戈登研究会议将推动研究，促进癌症、微生物入侵和起泡性皮肤病等疾病患者的更好结果。在这些和其他病理学中，通常发生在相邻细胞之间的接触和交流发生改变，并导致细胞和组织功能的中断，例如，在癌症转移期间发生的情况。通过为年轻和资深研究人员提供第一手分享他们最新成果的机会，同时发展信任以促进未来的合作，拟议中的会议提供了一个宝贵和已被证明的机会，以刺激所需的生物医学进步。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We request partial support for three (3) international meetings on "Cell Contact & Adhesion", which will be held in 2009 (June 28 - July 3) at the Waterville Valley Resort (New Hampshire USA), and again in 2011 & 2013 - likely alternating between the Waterville Valley and Il Ciocco (Barga IT) sites. The larger goal and significance is to enhance our basic understanding of cell- cell adhesion systems at the molecular level, for example, how the molecules involved form physical adhesive contacts and how they contribute to signaling pathways allowing communication between cells. These concerns are central to obtaining a grasp of both normal development and multiple pathologies where aberrations in contact physiology are contributory. Human disease conditions of direct relevance include the progression of cancer from initiation through metastasis, host-pathogen interactions and blistering skin diseases. Nine (9) sessions are outlined, which together address the most exciting advances or areas of opportunity in a variety of cell-cell adhesion contexts - such as adherens, gap, tight and desmosomal junctions (as well as others). Using cell-line and diverse vertebrate and invertebrate model systems, a particular emphasis for the 2009 conference will be upon the generation and maintenance of cell polarity, as well as the execution of morphogenic processes. Such scientific interests relate intimately with an additional central session that will explicitly address cancer. Our specific aims in 2009 include the assembly 44 gifted speakers/ investigators and 9 session chairs. In conjunction with the Chair and Vice-Chair, such individuals will: provide the latest views and unpublished experimental evidence available in their research areas; facilitate the active discussion and debate of issues at the forefront of the cell-cell adhesion field and its cross-over disciplines; foster an environment where researchers can develop meaningful professional relationships and the trust needed to promote future collaborations; assist the active involvement of women and under-represented groups; encourage the significant participation of individuals from around the globe; and importantly, facilitate the mixing of postdoctoral and graduate trainees with more senior investigators. In sum, over the course of three (3) conferences that will span five years, the NIH support we seek will be instrumental to an important and dynamic field with deep roots in both basic science and the understanding of human disease. Public Health Relevance: The Cell Contact & Adhesion Gordon Research Conference will advance research facilitating better outcomes for humans afflicted by diseases such as cancer, microbial invasion and blistering skin diseases. In these and additional pathologies, contact and communication that would normally take place between neighboring cells becomes altered and leads to the disruption of both cell and tissue functions, for example, as occurs during cancer metastasis. By providing both young and senior investigators an opportunity to share their latest results first-hand while developing trust to facilitate future collaborations, the proposed conference provides a valuable and proven opportunity to spur needed biomedical advances.