Ion Channels Gordon Research Conferences & Seminar

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Project Summary/Abstract This proposal requests partial support for an internationally-attended meeting on Ion Channels, as part of the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) series, to be held at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, July 12 – 17, 2020. The broad and long-term goal of the conference is to increase our understanding of the structure, function and physiological roles of ion channels, their targeting by next-generation therapeutics, as well as the molecular basis of channel dysfunction in disease. The 2020 iteration of the meeting will assemble presentations on the latest advances in structure determination, functional analysis, computational modelling and targeted gene editing, with an eye toward understanding physiological mechanisms and treatment of disease. The specific aims of this meeting will be to convene roughly 45 speakers and discussion leaders that represent critical areas of ion channel research, with a maximum total of 200 participants, for a five-day meeting in a secluded setting. The program will have nine platform sessions that address current issues in ion channel mechanisms in human health and disease, which will all incorporate late-breaking talks to be determined shortly before the conference, to promote discussion on the newest cutting-edge research. Ample time will be allotted during the platform sessions for discussion and exchange of ideas. In addition, four poster sessions will allow all participants to present their latest research and further scientific discussions. The significance of this proposal is that the Ion Channels GRC is widely regarded as a key, established conference to fertilize ideas and research in the community of ion channel biologists. Indeed, the small size and intensive discussions facilitated by the Ion Channels GRC make it uniquely important for the catalysis of new ideas and directions among the participants. The goals of the meeting are to advance our understanding of ion channels as key players in the function of nerve, muscle, sensory organs and other systems, and as therapeutic targets for the cure and treatment of human disease.