2012 Craniofacial Morphogenesis & Tissue Regeneration GRS & GRC

描述(申请人提供)：颅面畸形是常见的出生缺陷，约占所有先天畸形的三分之一。它们也是婴儿死亡的主要原因。总体而言，它们对全国的医疗保健成本产生了巨大的影响。在近700种颅面畸形综合征中，有Saethre-Chotzen、Apert、Treacher Collins、Pierre Robin和Waardenburg综合征等疾病。影响颅缝、腭部、牙齿和颌骨的非综合征性疾病也很常见。无论是症状性还是非症状性的颅面部疾病，都会对受影响的个人以及家庭成员和照顾者的一生产生重大影响。治疗通常必须多管齐下，包括手术、牙科护理和多年的心理咨询。这些方法成本高昂，尽管它们可以带来显著的好处，但它们往往并不完全成功。因此，需要作出重大努力，开发预防的治疗途径，并改进组织工程修复方法。新的治疗方法只能来自对个体畸形综合征的病因学和病理生理学的深入了解，这是建立在对调节颅面发育的正常事件的透彻了解的基础上的。为此，我们为2012年关于颅面形态发生和组织再生的戈登研究会议(GRC)和随之而来的戈登-凯南研究研讨会(GRS)寻求资金。GRC已经成为头面部发育和疾病的首要国际会议。GRS于2010年首次在意大利Il Ciocco与GRC联合举办，为博士后研究员和研究生提供机会，在严谨但小规模和支持性的环境中展示他们的工作。这项提议的长期目标是促进科学界的凝聚力，该科学界将对头面部复合体的发展以及影响头面部结构和功能的疾病的病理生理学和治疗进行基础和转化性研究。由于颅面发育和疾病是复杂的和缺乏了解的，跨学科的方法是必不可少的。变革性研究发生在学科之间的交界处，这一点是公认的。因此，将在发育生物学、干细胞生物学、人类遗传学和组织工程等不同但相关学科工作的科学家聚集在一起，对于在颅面疾病的治疗方面取得真正进展至关重要。 与公共卫生相关：头部和面部的异常约占所有出生缺陷的三分之一。它们也是婴儿死亡的主要原因，并对全国的医疗保健成本产生重大影响。此类疾病的治疗往往很复杂，可能是终生的，对家庭成员和照顾者以及受影响的个人都会产生重大后果。为了设计治疗这类疾病的新方法，至关重要的是，在促进互动和合作的环境中，在发育生物学、干细胞生物学、人类遗传学和组织工程等不同但相关学科工作的科学家们必须共同努力。为此，我们寻求为2012年戈登研究会议(GRC)提供资金，该会议将于2012年3月18-23日在加利福尼亚州文图拉举行，主题为颅面形态发生和组织再生。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Craniofacial abnormalities are common birth defects, accounting for approximately one third of all congenital anomalies. They are also a major cause of infant mortality. Collectively they have a dramatic impact on the cost of health care nationally. Among the nearly 700 craniofacial malformation syndromes are disorders such as Saethre-Chotzen, Apert, Treacher Collins, Pierre Robin and Waardenburg syndromes. Non-syndromic disorders that affect the cranial sutures, palate, teeth and jaw are also common. Craniofacial disorders, both syndromic and non-syndromic, have major consequences over the lifetimes of affected individuals, as well as family members and caregivers. Treatments must often be multi-pronged, involving surgery, dental care, and psychological counseling over many years. These approaches are costly and, although they can have significant benefit, they are too often not entirely successful. Therefore major effort needs to be directed towards developing therapeutic avenues for prevention and improving tissue engineering approaches for repair. New therapeutic approaches can only come from a deep understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of individual malformation syndromes, which is built upon a thorough understanding of the normal events that regulate craniofacial development. To this end, we seek funding for the 2012 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Craniofacial Morphogenesis and Tissue Regeneration and the accompanying Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar (GRS). The GRC has become the premier international conference on craniofacial development and disease. The GRS, which first took place in conjunction with the GRC at il Ciocco, Italy in 2010, provides opportunities for postdoctoral fellows and graduate students to present their work in a rigorous yet small and supportive setting. The long term goal of this proposal is to contribute to the cohesion of a scientific community that will conduct basic and translational research on the development of the craniofacial complex and the pathophysiology and treatment of diseases that affect craniofacial structure and function. Because craniofacial development and disease are complex and poorly understood, interdisciplinary approaches are essential. It is well established that transformational studies take place at the interfaces between disciplines. Therefore bringing together scientists working in the diverse yet related disciplines of developmental biology, stem cell biology, human genetics, and tissue engineering is essential for making real progress on the treatment of craniofacial disease. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Abnormalities of the head and face account for approximately one third of all birth defects. They are also a major cause of infant mortality, and have a dramatic impact on the cost of health care nationally. Treatment of such disorders is often complex and can be life-long, with major consequences for family members and caregivers, as well as affected individuals. To devise new approaches for the treatment of such disorders, it is essential together scientists working in the diverse yet related disciplines of developmental biology, stem cell biology, human genetics, and tissue engineering in a setting that fosters interaction and collaboration. To this end, we seek funding for the 2012 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Craniofacial Morphogenesis and Tissue Regeneration and the accompanying Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar (GRS) which will take place in Ventura, CA, March 18-23, 2012.