2016 Weinstein Cardiovascular Development Conference



 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The specific aim of this proposal is to obtain partial funding for the co-organization of the 2016 Weinstein Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration Conference to be held on May 19-21, 2016 in Durham, NC. The 2016 Weinstein Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration Conference originated from a series of annual meetings in which investigators funded by three separate RFAs on Cardiac Development in 1986, 1988, and 1990 came together under the direction of Dr. Constance Weinstein and colleagues at the NHLBI. Ever since its inception, the 3-day Weinstein meeting has been the premier opportunity for clinicians and researchers in the field of cardiovascular development to meet and share data and ideas on various topics including experimental cardiovascular embryology, cardiac function, genetics of human cardiovascular disease, cardiac stem cell biology, and transcriptional control of gene expression. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of the Weinstein Meeting for the development and growth of the field of cardiovascular developmental biology. The Weinstein program is entirely research community driven, with several features that make it unique among scientific conferences. The objectives of each meeting are to bring together basic and clinical scientists working in the areas of cardiovascular biology, to provide an interactive forum for students, postdocs and junior investigators to present their work and interact with senior investigators, and to actively support diversity in science. Last year, in response to the growing interest and studies in the area of potential translational cardiac repair, the Weinstein Cardiovascular Development Conference was renamed the Weinstein Cardiovascular Development and Regeneration Conference. In this proposal financial support is requested for the 2016 Weinstein meeting to be held in Boston. Funds will be used 1) to reduce student registration fees, 2) to provide financial assistance for under-represented groups, and 3) to support general meeting obligations. Narrative: Congenital heart defects and heart disease are among the most widespread and costly health issues in the United States and worldwide. The Weinstein Conference annually brings together clinical and basic scientists to discuss the latest findings about the underlying causes and potential cures for cardiovascular abnormalities and disease. This proposal seeks support from NIH to partially fund the 2016 Weinstein Cardiovascular Development and Regenerative Conference in Durham, NC.