Support for the Charleston Ceramide Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请寻求为即将举行的国际会议提供部分资金，第五届查尔斯顿神经酰胺会议（CCC 5）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名与会者（2011年和2013年大致相同）。会议的主题建立在二十年的研究基础上，这些研究导致了以生物活性鞘脂为中心的研究的爆炸;特别是神经酰胺，鞘氨醇，鞘氨醇磷酸（S1 P），神经酰胺磷酸（C1 P）和其他相关脂质（超过15000篇关于这些脂质的公开引用）。目前的研究开始对生物活性鞘脂在病理生理学，包括癌症生物学，动脉粥样硬化，炎症，神经变性，真菌发病机制，皮肤病和骨骼疾病中的作用产生重要的见解。因此，基于生物活性鞘脂类似物和药理学抑制剂的治疗应用的令人兴奋的可能性正在出现。会议的目的是：1）汇集各种各样的研究人员，他们要么研究生物活性鞘脂，要么认识到生物活性脂质在各自不同的研究领域的重要性; 2）使这些领域的研究人员能够克服在研究脂质、其细胞生物学、其酶及其功能时通常遇到的许多困难。CCC 5旨在将这些研究领域的世界领导人聚集到一个共同的论坛，以加强思想的交流和发展。CCC开创了一种新的形式，即大多数演示文稿是由初级教师和博士后研究员和研究生进行简短的演示（15分钟），然后进行长时间的讨论（15分钟）。高级研究人员提出主题演讲，概述，并监督动态讨论。会议将突出新的方法（例如sphinoglipidomics，数学建模），前沿研究和转化科学。申请的资金将专门用于支付初级调查员的会议和差旅费，他们将应邀出席会议并介绍其工作。所要求的资金对于支持这次会议将是非常宝贵的。

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.