Western Region Islet Study Group

描述（由申请人提供）： 在过去的几年里，NIH越来越重视提高我们对β细胞生物学的理解，作为开发糖尿病确定性疗法的必要步骤。特别是，国家残疾人发展中心正在促进这一领域的机构间合作努力，即将成立的国家β细胞联合会就是证明。为了进一步促进β细胞生物学领域的进展和合作，2000年夏天提出了成立西部地区小岛研究小组（WRISG）的想法，召集60-100名参与者参加年度会议，交流思想。有人建议大力强调本科生和研究生一级的年轻调查人员的参与。从6个地理上分散的中心即丹佛、洛杉矶、波特兰、圣地亚哥、旧金山弗朗西斯科、西雅图和温哥华的胰岛和糖尿病基础研究中选出了一个组织委员会，并集中编制了一个成员数据库。该小组的首次会议于2001年9月28日至30日在旧金山弗朗西斯科附近的马可尼会议中心举行，来自美国西部和加拿大的72名胰岛研究人员参加了会议。第二次会议于2002年11月1日至3日在不列颠哥伦比亚省维多利亚的维多利亚会议中心举行，有86名研究人员参加。这两次会议都取得了显著的成功，并提供了一个优秀的节目，主要是由学生和研究员，以及充足的时间，与会者之间的互动。西部地区小岛研究小组第三届年会计划于2003年9月19日至9月21日在华盛顿西雅图的贝尔港会议中心举行。我们预计，正如头两次会议所证明的那样，参与的国家将继续增加。 与上次会议一样，将讨论六个主题领域：  内分泌胰腺的胚胎发育。  出生后胰岛发育-导管细胞，祖细胞，胰岛新生。  胰岛β细胞存活和凋亡。  胰岛素原合成和胰岛素分泌的调节。  胰岛细胞生物学-颗粒生物发生，颗粒运输，胞吐作用，胰岛细胞接触。  1型和2型糖尿病的胰岛-病理学和新的治疗方法。 会议将围绕6个2小时的科学会议，涵盖上述主题领域。20分钟的口头报告将从组织委员会审查和选择的摘要提交交付（见下文）。在选拔过程中，将对年轻的调查人员有很大的偏见，但也将考虑对妇女、代表性不足的少数民族和残疾人有利。在主程序之外，将有一个邀请讲座和非正式讨论小组。如有要求，将为工作研讨会提供设施，并将张贴空缺和招聘职位的公告板。 会议的主要目标是汇集尽可能多的年轻研究人员在胰岛研究领域在该地区，并促进这些个人和他们的支持小组之间的沟通和合作。这次会议将不仅仅是一次侧重于具有重大科学和社会意义的专题领域的会议。这将是催化该领域进一步发展和团结研究人员以完成未来任务的重要一步：让下一代研究联盟参与进来，并加强学术界和工业界之间的联系。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the past few years, the NIH has placed increasing emphasis on improving our understanding of beta-cell biology as a necessary step towards developing a definitive therapy for diabetes. In particular, NIDDK is promoting collaborative inter-institutional efforts in this area as evidenced by the upcoming formation of a national beta-cell consortium. To further facilitate progress and cooperation in the area of beta-cell biology, the idea of starting a Western Region Islet Study Group (WRISG) was proposed in the summer of 2000 to bring together 60-100 participants at an annual meeting to meet and exchange ideas. A strong emphasis on the participation of young investigators at the graduate and postgraduate level was proposed. An organizing committee was chosen of established researchers in basic islet and diabetes research from 6 geographically dispersed centers namely Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, and a membership database compiled centrally. The inaugural meeting of the group was held September 28th - 30 th 2001 at the Marconi conference center near San Francisco and was attended by 72 islet researchers from the western U.S. and Canada. The second meeting was held at the Victoria Conference Center in Victoria B.C. from Nov 1-3rd, 2002 and was attended by 86 researchers. Both meetings were a remarkable success, and provided an excellent program of presentations primarily by students and fellows as well as ample time for interaction among, attendees. The 3rd annual meeting of the Western Region Islet Study group is planned for September 19th - September 21st, 2003 at the Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle, Washington. We anticipate a continuing increase in participation as evidenced by the first two meetings. As with our last meeting, six topic areas will be covered:  Embryological development of the endocrine pancreas.  Postnatal islet development - ductal cells, progenitor cells, islet neogenesis.  Islet beta cell survival and apoptosis.  Regulation of proinsulin synthesis and insulin secretion.  Islet cell biology - granule biogenesis, granule transport, exocytosis, islet cell contact.  The islet in type-1 & -2 diabetes - pathology and novel therapeutic approaches. The meeting will center around 6 scientific sessions of 2 hours covering the above topic areas. Oral presentations of 20-minute duration will be delivered from abstract submissions reviewed and selected by the organizing committee (see below). A strong bias will be made towards young investigators in the selection process but consideration will be also given to favor women, underrepresented minorities and individuals with disabilities. Outside of the main program there will be one invited lecture and informal discussion groups. Facilities will be provided for job seminars if requested and a bulletin board for positions vacant and wanted will be displayed. The primary goal of the meeting is to bring together as many of the young investigators in the islet research field within the region and to foster communication and collaboration between these individuals and their supporting group. The meeting will be more than just a conference focused on a topical area of great scientific and social importance. It will be an important step in catalyzing further development in the field and unifying researchers for the task ahead: to involve the next generation of research consortia and strong liaison between academia and industry.