Third Biennial Symposium on Age Related Macular Degeneration

申请资助：第三届老年性黄斑变性(AMD)研讨会将于2014年10月23日至25日在谢彭斯眼科研究所斯塔尔科学交流中心举行。这次会议由SERI，麻省理工学院眼耳(MEE)研究主任Patricia A.D‘Amore博士、MEE视网膜专家伊万娜·金博士和Mee眼科主任兼哈佛医学院眼科主任Joan Miller博士共同组织。本次会议将借鉴分别于2010年9月和2012年9月举行的第一次和第二次两年期会议取得的巨大成功。AMD是工业化国家50岁或以上人群不可逆转失明的主要原因。超过800万美国人患有AMD，由于人口老龄化，到2020年AMD的患病率预计将增加50%以上。根据这些人口统计数据，对AMD发病机制的不完全理解使这次会议成为一次及时而重要的会议。这次会议的目标是促进讨论和合作，旨在阐明AMD发展的基础机制，从而确定治疗、治愈并最终预防AMD的方法。这次会议在形式上将有别于其他有关AMD的会议，这为讨论留出了大量的时间。另一个独特的特点是纳入了演讲者，他们将强调AMD与其他系统性衰老表现之间的相似之处，如心血管疾病、脂质生物学和其他神经退行性疾病。该领域的领导者琼·米勒博士将发表主旨演讲，罗伯特·达马托博士将作总结和总结发言。课程包括：视网膜色素上皮细胞移植，视网膜和脉络膜血管，炎症，病理学新概念(内质网应激，疾病中的microRNAs，代谢)，视网膜色素上皮生物学，神经保护和再生，成像，和动物模型。将提供旅行奖励，以吸引研究生和研究员，特别强调代表人数不足的少数群体和残疾人。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Funds are requested to support The Third Biennial Symposium on Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) to be held October 23 & 25, 2014 in the Starr Center for Scientific Communications at the Schepens Eye Research Institute (SERI). The meeting is co-organized by Drs. Patricia A. D'Amore, Director of Research at SERI, Mass Eye and Ear (MEE); Dr. Ivana Kim, a retinal specialist at MEE; and, Dr. Joan Miller Chief of Ophthalmology at MEE and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. This meeting will build on the strong successes of the first and second biennial meetings that were held in September 2010 and September 2012, respectively. AMD is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in industrialized countries in people 50 years or older. More than eight million Americans have AMD, and as a result of the aging population, the prevalence of AMD is expected to increase by more than 50% by the year 2020. In light of these demographics, the incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of AMD makes this a timely and important meeting. The goal of this conference is to stimulate discussion and collaborations aimed at elucidating the mechanisms that underlie the development of AMD and, thus, to identify means to treat, cure, and ultimately prevent AMD. This meeting will be distinct from other meetings on AMD in its format, which allows significant time for discussion. An additional unique feature is the inclusion of speakers who will highlight the parallels between AMD and other systemic manifestations of aging such as cardiovascular disease, lipid biology, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Joan Miller, a leader in the field, will present the Keynote address, and Dr. Robert D'Amato will deliver a summary and concluding remarks. Topics to be covered include: retinal pigment epithelial cell transplantation, retinal and choroidal vasculatures, inflammation, new concepts in pathology (ER stress, microRNAs in disease, metabolism), retinal pigment epithelial biology, neuroprotection and regeneration, imaging, and animal models. Travel awards will be provided to attract graduate students and fellows, with a particular emphasis on under-represented minorities and persons with disabilities.