The Protein Aggregation Conference: Exploring Rugged Landscapes

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Project Summary Protein aggregation is critical to both normal and pathological biological phenomena. Inappropriate protein aggregation underpins many neurological and systemic diseases, especially those associated with aging. Despite enormous progress in the advancement of knowledge for how protein aggregation relates to disease pathogenesis there remain few effective therapies for these diseases - especially relative to the successes in cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Recent discoveries have unearthed numerous examples of functional protein aggregation in membraneless organelles and signaling pathways. The structural bases of such phenomena include not only amyloids and other ordered polymers but also liquid-liquid phase separation. The mechanisms and regulation of these forms of aggregation are still being deciphered, but are already illuminating fruitful intersections with pathological aggregation. These new directions in the field place protein aggregation at an energetic and exciting moment of progress. This R13 proposal seeks support for a FASEB Summer Research Conference on “Protein Aggregation: Exploring Rugged Landscapes”. This will be the fourteenth conference of a series that began in 1995. Our 4-day program will bring the best researchers on the most cutting- edge topics of the discipline, while emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will use the R13 funding to support these measures and further increase engagement by junior researchers.