2009 Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets Gordon Research Conference

描述(由申请人提供)： 在防止组织损伤部位失血过多方面，血小板起着至关重要的作用。它们是由骨髓中的巨核细胞形成的，在静止状态下在血流中循环，但在血管系统受损时会发生爆炸式的激活，从而支持血管堵塞的形成。与血小板数量减少(血小板减少)或功能降低相关的情况会导致大量出血。血小板在包括中风和心肌梗死在内的血栓性疾病中起着基础性作用，并有助于癌症的转移扩散。因此，血小板是药物干预的主要目标，既是为了提高产量，也是为了阻断功能。尽管有这种临床意义，但我们对导致血小板形成和激活的分子事件的理解存在重大差距。这一领域的研究一直受到骨髓中巨核细胞稀少的阻碍，以及随着大量血小板的产生，在体外培养这些细胞的挑战。转基因小鼠的出现，血小板生成素的发现，以及基因组学、蛋白质组学和RNAi等强大技术的引入，引发了一场分子进步方面的革命。然而，直到目前的戈登研究会议在4年前召开之前，没有一次有针对性的会议将从事巨核细胞和血小板细胞生物学工作的科学家聚集在一起。第三届‘巨核细胞和血小板的细胞生物学’会议将于2009年3月15日至20日在德克萨斯州加尔维斯顿岛的GRC现场举行，学术和药学研究人员、博士后研究员和研究生将聚集在一起，进行为期5天的激烈讨论，讨论该领域的重大科学发现和挑战。这项申请是申请部分资金，以支持发言者和讨论领袖，以及选定的博士后研究员和学生出席这一重要的科学会议。 本次会议将在以下时间举行： 加尔韦斯酒店 海堤大道2024号 加尔维斯顿岛，德克萨斯州77550

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Blood platelets play a critical role in the prevention of excessive blood loss at sites of tissue injury. They are formed from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow and circulate in the bloodstream in a quiescent state, but undergo 'explosive' activation upon damage to the vasculature, supporting formation of a vascular plug. Conditions associated with a reduction in platelet number (thrombocytopenia) or function can lead to excessive bleeding. Platelets play a fundamental role in thrombotic disorders, including stroke and myocardial infarction, and contribute to the metastatic spread of cancer. As such, platelets are a major target for pharmaceutical intervention, both to enhance production and block function. Despite this clinical significance, there are major gaps in our understanding of the molecular events which underlie platelet formation and activation. Research in this area had been hampered by the paucity of megakaryocytes in marrow, and the challenges of growing these cells in vitro with the generation of large numbers of platelets. The availability of genetically-modified mice, the discovery of thrombopoietin and the introduction of powerful technologies such as genomics, proteomics and RNAi has triggered a revolution in terms of molecular progress. However, until the current Gordon Research Conference was convened 4 years ago, there was no focused meeting that brought together scientists working on megakaryocyte and platelet cell biology. This third conference on 'The Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets' will bring together academic and pharmaceutical investigators, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students for 5 days of intense discussion of the major scientific discoveries and challenges in the field at the GRC site in Galveston Island, TX March 15-20th, 2009. This application is a request for partial funds to support the attendance of speakers and discussion leaders, and selected postdoctoral fellows and students at this important scientific meeting. This meeting will be held at: Hotel Galvez 2024 Seawall Boulevard Galveston Island, TX 77550