Support for the Charleston Ceramide Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请为即将举行的国际会议，第五届查尔斯顿神经酰胺会议（CCC5）寻求部分资金，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双树举行，预计有200名与会者（2011年和2013年的日期大致相同）。会议的主题建立在20年的调查基础上，这些调查导致了以生物活性鞘脂为中心的研究的爆炸式增长；特别是神经酰胺、鞘氨醇、磷酸鞘氨醇（S1P）、磷酸神经酰胺（C1P）和其他相关脂质（这些脂质被引用超过15000次）。目前的研究开始对生物活性鞘脂在病理生理学中的作用产生重要的见解，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、皮肤疾病和骨骼疾病。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正在出现令人兴奋的可能性。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，要么已经意识到生物活性脂在他们自己独特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、它们的细胞生物学、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的论坛，以加强思想的交流和发展。CCC开创了一种新颖的形式，即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）。高级研究人员发表主题演讲，概述，并监督动态讨论。会议将重点介绍新方法（如鞘脂组学、数学建模）、前沿研究和转化科学。所要求的资金将专门用于支持将出席会议并作为应邀报告介绍其工作的初级调查人员的会议和旅费。所要求的资金对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.