2011 Nucleic Acids Gordon Research Conference

描述(由申请人提供)：本提案请求部分支持将于2011年6月5日至10日在缅因州比德福德的新英格兰大学举行的戈登研究会议系列会议的一部分。戈登核酸研究会议成立于50多年前，从那时起，核酸生物学的基础发现影响了我们在从核酸化学到核酸在生物学几乎每个方面的中介反应中所起的作用等领域的理解。这次会议的广泛和长期目标是创建一个重要的论坛，通过将这个迅速扩大的领域中的世界领先研究人员聚集在一起来促进互动，以促进新思想的讨论，促进跨学科的讨论和合作，从而加强我们对核酸在生物学、人类健康和疾病中所起作用的理解。本次会议的具体目标将是召集35名涵盖该领域关键和不同领域的主要专家，共计150人，在相对孤立的环境中举行为期五天的会议，以促进与会者之间的互动。2011年核酸GRC会议将重点介绍八个广泛分类的核酸研究领域的最新进展，这些领域包括DNA和RNA生物学、生物化学和生物物理，以期突出这些领域的新兴概念和技术。具体主题包括：基因组完整性；DNA复制；转录和染色质动力学；协同和转录后调控；非编码RNA；RNA稳定性和出口；核糖体生物发生、功能和调节；核酸结构和催化。这项申请的意义在于，本次戈登研究会议将提供一个论坛，将专门从事不同核酸研究领域的国际研究界成员聚集在一起并进行协同。特别是，过去十年的发现重新激起了人们对非编码核酸在细胞中的作用及其对调节核酸生物合成和加工的影响的兴奋。RNAi参与染色质沉默和重塑是这次会议有用的另一个主要例子，因为它汇集了生物学中看似不同的领域。我们将重点鼓励青年科学家，特别是那些新近从事核酸研究的青年科学家出席并出席这次会议；简短演讲的时间将具体分配给从提交的摘要中挑选出来的人。这一应用的与健康有关的是，介绍和随后的讨论将有助于确定与基础科学和开发利用核酸治疗人类疾病的新战略有关的重要问题。例如，几种基于发现的核酸疗法，特别是RNAi疗法，目前正在进行黄斑变性和丙型肝炎的临床试验。 公共卫生相关性：NIGMS的既定目标是支持“是疾病诊断、治疗和预防的基础”的研究。在戈登核酸会议召开的过去50年里，关于核酸的生物学意义和治疗潜力，核酸领域取得了巨大的发现。例如，几种基于已在核酸GRC上提交和讨论的发现的核酸疗法，特别是RNAi疗法，目前正在进行黄斑变性和丙型肝炎的临床试验。我们2011年核酸GRC的目标是继续选择演讲者和主题，这些主题将提供一个关键论坛，供讨论新想法，以及专门从事核酸研究所有不同领域的研究人员之间的互动，以期认识到人类疾病治疗的新想法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests partial support for a meeting on Nucleic Acids as part of the Gordon Research Conference series to be held June 5-10, 2011 at the University of New England, Biddeford, Maine. The Gordon Research Conference on Nucleic Acids was established more than 50 years ago and since that time, fundamental discoveries in nucleic acids biology have impacted our understanding in areas ranging from nucleic acid chemistry to the role that nucleic acids play in mediating responses in nearly every facet of biology. The broad and long-term goal of this conference is to create a critical forum for discussion of new ideas by promoting interactions by bringing together the world's leading researchers in this rapidly expanding field to foster cross-disciplinary discussions and collaborations, so as to enhance our understanding of the role nucleic acids play in biology, human health and disease. The specific aims of this meeting will be to convene 35 leading experts that cover critical and diverse areas within this field, with a total of 150 participants, for a five-day conference in a relatively isolated setting which will promote interactions among the participants. The 2011 meeting of the Nucleic Acids GRC will highlight recent advances among eight broadly classified areas of nucleic acids research that encompass DNA and RNA biology, biochemistry and biophysics with a view toward highlighting emerging concepts and technologies in these fields. Specific topics include: Genome Integrity; DNA Replication; Transcription and Chromatin Dynamics; Co- and Post-transcriptional Regulation; Non-coding RNA; RNA Stability and Export; Ribosome Biogenesis, Function and Regulation; Nucleic Acid Structure and Catalysis. The significance of this application is that this Gordon Research Conference will provide a forum for bringing together and synergizing members of the international research community specializing in diverse areas of nucleic acids research. In particular, discoveries over the past decade have resulted in renewed excitement regarding the role of non-coding nucleic acids in cells and their impact on regulating nucleic acid biosynthesis and processing. The involvement of RNAi in chromatin silencing and remodeling is another prime example of the utility of this meeting because it brings together seemingly disparate areas of biology. We will place an emphasis on encouraging young scientists, especially those newly engaged in nucleic acids research, to attend and present at this meeting; with time specifically allotted in the schedule for short talks that will be selected from submitted abstracts. The health relatedness of this application is that the presentations and ensuing discussions will help define important questions related to basic science and the development of novel strategies for utilization of nucleic acids in the treatment of human disease. For example, several nucleic acid therapeutics based on discoveries which have been presented and discussed at the Nucleic Acids GRC, specifically RNAi therapeutics, are currently in clinical trials for macular degeneration and hepatitis C. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The stated goal of NIGMS is to support research that "is the foundation for disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention". Over the past 50 years that the Gordon Conference on Nucleic Acids has been meeting, the field of nucleic acids has exploded with tremendous discoveries regarding the biologic significance and therapeutic potential of nucleic acids. For example, several nucleic acid therapeutics based on discoveries which have been presented and discussed at the Nucleic Acids GRC, specifically RNAi therapeutics, are currently in clinical trials for macular degeneration and hepatitis C. Our goal for the 2011 Nucleic Acids GRC is to continue to select speakers and topics that will provide a critical forum for discussion of new ideas, and interaction between investigators specializing in all the diverse areas of nucleic acids research, with an eye toward recognizing new ideas for the treatment of human disease.