2012 Pineal Cell Biology Gordon Research ConferenceLinks to circadian clocks, sl

描述（由申请人提供）：第12届戈登松果体细胞生物学研究会议（GRC）将于2012年1月29日至2月3日在德克萨斯州加尔维斯顿的加尔维斯酒店举行。2012年GRC的主要目标和长期目标将是增加我们对松果体及其激素褪黑激素与生物钟定时系统、睡眠/觉醒过程和新陈代谢之间的分子网络和生化途径的理解。2012年GRC的副标题是：生物钟、睡眠和新陈代谢之间的联系，将重点关注在理解这些功能之间的潜在机制和网络，以及健康和疾病中代谢紊乱、睡眠和昼夜节律紊乱之间的相互作用方面的最新进展。松果体和褪黑素的作用，在这些相互作用将被具体解决。最近的研究已经证明了生物钟和新陈代谢、睡眠不足和代谢紊乱以及昼夜节律、光线和睡眠之间的明确联系。GRC的具体目标是：1)提供一个交流昼夜节律、褪黑激素、睡眠和新陈代谢的最新研究进展的论坛，从而确定未来研究的关键机会；2)促进这些不同学科的研究人员之间的互动，以促进对跨学科和合作研究潜力的理解；3)通过汇集来自不同研究领域和国家的科学家来促进研究合作；4)通过将研究人类受试者的研究人员与研究其他物种的研究人员聚集在一起，促进转化研究。GRC将为来自这些不同领域的研究人员提供一个独特而及时的机会来会面、辩论和讨论，从而实现这些目标。到目前为止，还没有一个会议专门讨论新陈代谢、睡眠和昼夜节律这一新兴的跨学科领域。讨论的主题将从基因到行为，涵盖从基础科学到使用不同模型系统的转化研究等领域。来自学术界、政府和工业界的相关领域的世界领先专家齐聚一堂，将为与会者提供独特的思想交流、“跳出框框”的思维和新的研究交流机会。GRC上午和晚上的讲座形式，有充足的讨论时间，是促进这些科学互动的完美方式。青年科学家和研究生也将有机会以海报形式展示他们的工作，并与该领域的领导者交流思想。对于与会者和这个新兴的超学科领域的好处将是深远的。代谢紊乱（代谢综合征、糖尿病、肥胖）、睡眠限制和昼夜节律紊乱（例如轮班工作睡眠紊乱）在当今社会日益增多，因此，产生有关这些功能的过程的新知识至关重要，这最终将有利于国家的健康和经济。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Partial support is requested for the 12th Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Pineal Cell Biology to be held January 29 - February 3, 2012 at Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas. The major objectives and long- term goals of the 2012 GRC will be to increase our understanding of the molecular networks and biochemical pathways linking the pineal gland and its hormone melatonin with the circadian clock timing system, sleep/wake processing and metabolism. Subtitled: Links to clocks, sleep and metabolism, the 2012 GRC will focus on the very recent advances in understanding the underlying mechanisms and networks linking these functions as well as the interaction between metabolic disorders, sleep and circadian disturbances in health and disease. The role of the pineal gland and melatonin, in these interactions will be specifically addressed. Recent research has demonstrated clear links between circadian clocks and metabolism, between sleep deprivation and metabolic disorders and between circadian rhythms, light and sleep. The specific aims of the GRC are to: 1) Provide a forum for communication of recent research advances linking circadian rhythms, melatonin, sleep and metabolism, thus leading to identification of key opportunities for future study, 2) Stimulate interaction among the researchers trained in these different disciplines, so as to promote understanding of the potential for interdisciplinary and collaborative research, 3) Promote research collaboration by bringing together scientists from different research areas and countries, with different levels of training, including groups typicaly underrepresented in science and 4) Promote translational research by bringing together investigators studying human subjects with those investigating other species. The GRC will achieve these aims by providing a unique and timely opportunity for researchers from these diverse areas to meet, debate and discuss. To date no conference has been dedicated entirely to this newly emerging supra- disciplinary field of metabolism, sleep and circadian rhythms. Topics for discussion will range from genes to behavior and will cover areas from basic science to translational research using different model systems. Bringing together world leading experts from these related fields, from academia, government and industry, will allow a unique cross-fertilization of ideas, "out-of-the box" thinking and new research networking opportunities for attendees. The GRC format of lecture sessions in the morning and evening, with ample time for discussion is perfect to promote these scientific interactions. There will also be opportunities fo junior scientists and graduate students to present their work in poster format and exchange ideas with leaders in the field. The benefits for the attendees and for this emerging supra-disciplinary field will be far-reaching. Metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity), sleep restriction and circadian rhythm disorders (e.g. shift work sleep disorder) are increasing in today's society thus it is crucial that new knowledge of the processes linking these functions is generated which will ultimately benefit the nation's health and economy. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Recent research has demonstrated interactions between the circadian timing system, pineal melatonin, sleep and metabolism. The Conference objective is to bring together for the first time, world leading scientists in these different disciplines to discuss new developments, to increase the level of interaction and cross-fertilization between the disciplines and thus promote collaboration and translational research. Increased understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms and interactions between these processes will ultimately provide novel treatment strategies for circadian rhythm sleep disorders and metabolic disease (such as diabetes, shift work disorder). Disclaimer: Please note that the following critiques were prepared by the reviewers prior to the Study Section meeting and are provided in an essentially unedited form. While there is opportunity for the reviewers to update or revise their written evaluation, based upon the group's discussion, there is no guarantee that individual critiques have been updated subsequent to the discussion at the meeting. Therefore, the critiques may not fully reflect the final opinions of th individual reviewers at the close of group discussion or the final majority opinion of the group. Thus the Resume and Summary of Discussion is the final word on what the reviewers actually considered critical at the meeting.