37th Midwest Connective Tissue Workshop

说明（由申请人提供）：这是一份申请，支持将于2009年5月8-9日在芝加哥举行的第37届中西部结缔组织研讨会。本次会议的主要目标是汇集来自美国中西部地区的不同科学家和临床医生，以促进和促进“结缔组织”和肌肉骨骼疾病广泛领域的转化研究进展。这些使人衰弱的疾病影响着数百万美国人，导致慢性疼痛和残疾，在医疗保健方面花费数十亿美元，并导致生产力下降。这些疾病包括许多不同形式的关节炎和许多肌肉骨骼系统的紊乱。因此，应尽一切努力促进对关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病的认识、诊断、治疗和预防的研究进展。这就是中西部结缔组织研讨会的意义所在。这次会议和以前的会议一样，将吸引具有广泛经验的个人，从国际公认的该领域的领导者（基础科学家和临床医生）到新人，包括初级教员、骨科和风湿病研究员和住院医生、博士后研究员、研究生和医学院学生。这次会议的任务是促进中西部结缔组织领域的研究人员之间的互动和研究伙伴关系，重点是将现有的研究人员、新研究人员和受训人员聚集在一起。这次会议也将成为中西部临床和基础科学研究界之间互动的催化剂。虽然这是一个“中西部”结缔组织研讨会，但来自全国其他地区的研究人员也参加了会议，并一直受到欢迎。从历史上看，这个会议在生物化学系的拉什举行（几乎没有例外），由大约100名参与者组成（大约50名研究人员和50名学生/研究员/住院医师）。这是中西部唯一一个主要关注结缔组织和肌肉骨骼疾病的会议。虽然这次会议已有36年的历史，但这是第一次向NIH提交此类提案。会议将分六次会议组织演讲，其中一次会议专门讨论新的研究者。会议还将讨论肌肉骨骼和结缔组织领域的新进展，并将重点讨论以下建议主题：1)ECM基因：细胞外基质基因表达的调控；2)ECM分子：蛋白聚糖、透明质酸、胶原蛋白和基质蛋白；3)细胞与组织：骨、软骨、韧带、肌腱、半月板4)新研究者简短谈话5)肌肉骨骼疾病动物模型；6)干预：植入物，组织工程和干细胞。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is an application for support of the 37th Midwest Connective Tissue Workshop to be held in Chicago, on May 8-9, 2009. The main goal of this conference is to bring together a diverse group of scientists and clinicians from Midwest region of the country in order to promote and facilitate the progress of translational research in the broad area of "connective tissue" and musculoskeletal disorders. These debilitating diseases affect millions of Americans, cause chronic pain and disability and cost billions of dollars in health care and lost productivity. These diseases include the many different forms of arthritis and numerous disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Thus, every effort should be made to promote research progress in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders. That is where we see the significance of the Midwest Connective Tissue Workshop. This meeting, like those held previously, will attract individuals with a wide range of experience, ranging from the internationally recognized leaders in the field (both basic scientists and clinicians) to newcomers, including junior faculty, orthopedic and rheumatology fellows and residents, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and medical students. The mission of this meeting is to facilitate interaction and research partnerships among investigators in the connective tissue field in the Midwest with emphasis on bringing together established investigators, new investigators and trainees. This meeting will also serve as a catalyst for interactions between the clinical and basic science research community in the Midwest. Although it is a "Midwest" Connective Tissue Workshop, investigators from other parts of the country have attended and are always welcomed. Historically this meeting is held at Rush (with few exceptions) in the Department of Biochemistry and consists of about 100 participants (about 50 research faculty and 50 students/fellows/residents). This is the only meeting in the Midwest with a primary focus on connective tissue and musculoskeletal disorders. Although this meeting has a 36-year history, this is the first proposal of its kind to be submitted to the NIH. The meeting will have presentations organized in six sessions with one session being dedicated to new investigator talks. The meeting will also address new developments in the musculoskeletal and connective tissue field, and will be focused on the following suggested topics: 1) ECM GENES: Regulation of Extracellular Matrix Gene Expression 2) ECM MOLECULES: Proteoglycans, Hyaluronan, Collagen and Matrix proteins; 3) CELLS and TISSUES: Bone, Cartilage, Ligaments, Tendons, Meniscus 4) New Investigator Short Talks. 5) ANIMAL MODELS for musculoskeletal disorders; 6) INTERVENTIONS: Implants, Tissue Engineering/ and Stem Cells. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Narrative Connective tissue and musculoskeletal diseases affect millions of Americans, cause chronic pain and disability and cost billions of dollars in health care and lost productivity. Thus, every effort should be made to promote research progress in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders. That is where we see the significance of the Midwest Connective Tissue Workshop. The mission of this meeting is to facilitate interaction and research partnerships among clinical and basic science investigators in the connective tissue field in the Midwest with emphasis on bringing together established investigators, new investigators and trainees.