Support for the Charleston Ceramide Conference

申请者描述(由申请人提供)：本申请旨在为即将召开的第五届查尔斯顿神经酰胺国际会议(CCC5)提供部分资金，该会议将于2009年3月11日至14日在南卡罗来纳州查尔斯顿的Double Tree举行，预计将有200人参加(2011年和2013年大致相同)。这次会议的主题建立在20年来的研究基础上，这些研究导致了以生物活性鞘磷脂为中心的研究的爆炸性增长，特别是神经酰胺、鞘氨醇、神经鞘氨醇磷酸(S1P)、神经酰胺磷酸(C1P)和其他相关脂类(超过15000篇期刊引用了这些脂类)。目前的研究开始深入了解具有生物活性的鞘磷脂在病理生理学中的作用，包括癌症生物学、动脉粥样硬化、炎症、神经退行性变、真菌发病机制、皮肤疾病和骨骼疾病。因此，基于生物活性鞘脂和药物抑制剂的类似物的治疗应用正在出现令人兴奋的可能性。会议的目的是1)汇聚研究生物活性鞘脂和/或已经认识到生物活性脂类在各自不同研究领域中的重要性的各种研究人员；2)使这些领域的研究人员克服在研究脂类、其细胞生物学、它们的酶和它们的功能时通常遇到的许多困难。CCC5旨在将这些研究领域的世界领导人聚集到一个共同论坛，加强思想的交流和发展。该中心开创了一种新颖的形式，大多数演讲由初级教师、博士后研究员和研究生进行，简短的演讲(15分钟)然后是长时间的讨论(15分钟)。高级调查人员发表主旨演讲、概述并监督动态讨论。会议将重点介绍新的方法(例如，蛛磷脂组学、数学建模)、尖端研究和翻译科学。请拨的资金将专门用于支助会议和初级调查员的旅费，这些调查员将出席会议并作为应邀发言介绍他们的工作。所要求的资金对本次会议的支助将是无价的。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks partial funding for an upcoming international conference, the fifth Charleston Ceramide Conference (CCC5) to be held March 11-14, 2009 at the Double Tree, Charleston, SC with expected 200 attendees (and approximately the same date in 2011 and 2013). The theme of the conference builds on two decades of investigation that have resulted in an explosion in research centered on bioactive sphingolipids; especially ceramide, sphingosine, sphingosine phosphate (S1P), ceramide phosphate (C1P), and other related lipids (more than 15000 pub med citations to these lipids). Current investigation is beginning to yield significant insight into the roles of bioactive sphingolipids in pathophysiology, including cancer biology, atherosclerosis, inflammation, neurodegeneration, fungal pathogenesis, skin disorders, and skeletal disorders. As a consequence, exciting possibilities for therapeutic applications are emerging based on\ analogs of bioactive sphingolipids and pharmacologic inhibitors. The purpose of the conference is 1) to bring together a wide variety of investigators who either investigate bioactive sphingolipids and/or have come to the realization of the importance of bioactive lipids in their own distinct fields of study; and 2) enable investigators in these areas to overcome the many difficulties usually encountered in studying lipids, their cell biology, their enzymes, and their function. CCC5 aims at bringing together world leaders in these areas of research into a common forum that enhances the exchange and development of ideas. The CCC has pioneered a novel format whereby most presentations are by junior faculty and by post doctoral fellows and graduate students with short presentations (15 min) followed by prolonged discussion (15 min). Senior investigators present keynote addresses, overviews, and oversee the dynamic discussions. Sessions will highlight novel approaches (e.g. sphinoglipidomics, mathematical modeling), cutting edge research, and translational science. The funds requested will be used exclusively to support the conference and travel expenses of junior investigators who will be attending the conference and presenting their work as invited presentations. The requested funds will be invaluable to the support of this conference.