2022 Membrane Transport Proteins GRC/GRS

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PROJECT SUMMARY The 2020 Gordon Research Conference on Membrane Transporter Proteins titled “Biomedical Transporters: Physiology, Dysfunction and Targets of Pharmacotherapy” will bring an urgently needed translational focus to research on clinically relevant and highly druggable membrane transporters. Although they account for 10% of the human genome and thought contribute to a gamut of highly prevalent (autism, depression, diabetes) as well as orphan and rare diseases (Christianson syndrome, mucoviscidosis), membrane transporters remain largely unexplored in their potential as therapeutic targets, and in their association to specific diseases. The impetus in organizing this conference is to link genetic, molecular and mechanistic insights on clinically important membrane transporters, including carriers, ion channels and pumps, to physiological function and disease-related malfunction. The intent is to offer and discuss opportunities for the development of pharmacotherapies targeting transporter dysfunctions in disease states. N ine highly interdisciplinary scientific sessions are bringing together topics, approaches and novel ideas that are not conventionally related. These range from genetics of transporter and ion channels in disease states, to unconventional animal models to study transporter, or particular approaches such as single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer and transcranial magnetic stimulation. This prevents the perception of a particular approach or topic dominating the conference and amplifies opportunities for discussion of new ideas. New topics have been introduced (e.g. peptides, hormones, and neurotransmitter release: the importance of transporters in the gut and brain; invertebrates as animal models to study transporter functions, etc.) that have never been covered in this conference. Ample discussion time after each talk, daily posters, and afternoon free time allow for informal discussion, networking and forming new collaborations. Other special features of the 2020 conference include the Gordon Research Seminar for young investigators, and the Power Hour for the promotion of women scientists. Notably, we secured Dr. Imogen Coe as the Discussion Leader of the Power Hour. Dr. Coe is internationally recognized as a Canadian thought leader in the area of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). She has advised academia, government and industry on the best practices and approaches to improve EDI in STEM, particularly in the Canadian post-secondary education (PSE) sector. She has written and spoken about these issues extensively for platforms such as the Globe and Mail, iPolitics and the CBC. In 2016, she was recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Women for her advocacy work promoting equity in STEM. We feel that this conference will offer plenty of scientific opportunities fostering an environment centered on EDI.