2021 Lung Development, Injury and Repair Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

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Project Summary: The 2021 Lung Development, Injury and Repair Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will be held August 14-20, 2021 in Waterville Valley, NH. The theme for the 2021 Lung GRC is "Biological Discoveries to Transform Respiratory Medicine". This meeting comes at a critical time, as the prolonged consequences of severe lung injuries associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will be coming into focus, heightening our need to understand, and ultimately counteract, the dysfunctional repair and remodeling that follows severe injury. Moreover, the growing global burden of lung disease continues unabated, with some 4 million premature deaths annually worldwide attributed to chronic respiratory diseases, including COPD, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis, according to the World Health Organization. While investments in basic scientific research continue to accelerate substantial strides forward in understanding molecular, cellular and tissue level mechanisms driving respiratory diseases, translation of these findings toward early detection and effective repair and restoration of lung function in chronic respiratory diseases remains a major barrier. Meeting this challenge requires the integration of knowledge from experts spanning lung development, molecular and cell biology, physiology, bioengineering, matrix biology as well as physicians and translational experts immersed in the diagnosis and treatment of human disease. This conference will bring this diversity of expertise together to disseminate and debate the latest findings in the fields of lung development, injury and repair, and to formulate the new ideas, collaborations and approaches that will be needed to translate biologic discoveries toward meaningful advances in respiratory medicine. A major emphasis of the Lung GRC and GRS is to strengthen the pipeline of scientists and clinicians focused on lung development, injury and repair. Funds from this R13 will be specifically targeted to promote participation in the conference by women, under-represented minorities and people with disabilities, particularly graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career investigators. The unique attributes of the GRC (small, secluded, unpublished data, abundant time for discussion) and GRS (close trainee interactions with peers and seniors) formats provide an opportunity for formal and informal interactions and collaborations that are likely to have significant and sustained impact on the field. The Lung Development, Injury and Repair GRC/GRS will thus promote accelerated progress in understanding and treating chronic lung diseases, and help to ensure the vitality and growth of a diverse pipeline of clinicians and scientists capable of addressing the growing burden of lung diseases.