1999 GORDON CONFERENCE--COLLAGEN

自1970年以来，胶原戈登会议每隔一年召开一次，因此，1999年的会议将纪念其29周年。胶原蛋白-戈登会议仍然是研究结缔组织结构和病理的研究人员的首要会议。多年来，它已被证明是一个独特的论坛，供对结缔组织生物学和疾病有共同兴趣的国际科学家小组进行互动。在胶原蛋白的基础生物学、发育和疾病方面，细胞外基质研究的重大发现经常在这次会议上首次报道。在1999年胶原戈登会议上强调的疾病将包括肝纤维化(控制胶原合成)、皮肤、骨骼、乳房、肾脏疾病、心血管疾病、类风湿性关节炎和衰老。胶原蛋白发育生物学和结构的各个方面都与眼睛的正常功能和疾病高度相关。在牙科研究领域，胶原蛋白在骨形成和牙齿结构的诱导中起着至关重要的作用。1999年的会议还将强调关于细胞外基质蛋白的结构、功能和组装的新信息，编码这些蛋白的基因在分化和发育过程中的调节，胶原突变或基因缺失在人类和转基因小鼠中的表型和代谢后果，以及个别胶原表位在疾病中的作用。国际公认的结缔组织生物学家以及未来的研究人员将被邀请介绍他们最令人兴奋的工作。会议为在现有科学家之间以及在现有科学家和新科学家之间开展富有成效的合作提供了宝贵的机会；这些合作反过来又进一步促进了该领域的科学进步。为了确保这次会议的成功，通过最高素质的科学家的参与和最具创新性的研究，我们请求为1999年胶原戈登会议的部分支持提供资金。这笔资金将用于支付与会者的部分旅费和注册费。

The Collagen Gordon Conference has convened every other year since 1970, consequently the 1999 Conference will mark its 29th anniversary. The Collagen Gordon Conference continues to be the premier conference for investigators studying the structure and pathology of connective tissues. Over the years, it has proven to be a unique forum for interaction of an international group of scientists with a common interest in connective tissue biology and diseases. Major discoveries in extracellular matrix research have often been reported for the first time at this conference in the basic biology, development, and diseases of collagen. Diseases highlighted at the 1999 Collagen Gordon Conference will include liver fibrosis (control of collagen synthesis), diseases of the skin, skeleton, breast, kidney, cardiovasculature, rheumatoid arthritis and aging. All aspects of collagen developmental biology and structure are highly relevant to normal function and diseases of the eye. In the area of dental research, collagens play a vital role in the induction of bone formation and tooth structure. The 1999 conference will also emphasize new information regarding the structure, function and assembly of extracellular matrix proteins, the regulation of the genes encoding these proteins during differentiation and development, the phenotypic and metabolic consequences of collagen mutations or gene deletion in humans and transgenic mice, and the role of individual collagen epitopes in diseases. Internationally recognized connective tissue biologists as well as up-and-coming investigators will be invited to present their most exciting work. The Conference has provided an invaluable opportunity for development of productive collaboration among established scientists and between established and new scientists; those collaborations have in turn further enhanced the scientific progress of the field. To ensure the success of this conference by participation of the highest caliber scientists and presentation of the most innovative research, we request funds for partial support of the 1999 Collagen Gordon Conference. The funds will be used to partially defray conferee travel expenses and registration fees.