2012 Proteoglycans Gordon Research Conference

描述(由申请者提供)：该提案请求部分支持将于2012年7月8-13日在密西西比州安多佛市普罗科特学院举行的戈登蛋白质多糖研究会议。自1984年以来，大会每两年举行一次，具有突出的声誉。它汇集了一组不同的研究人员，他们将在紧张而非正式的环境中展示新的和未发表的对蛋白多糖的高影响研究。这次会议将由一个科学组织委员会挑选的特邀演讲者组成，该委员会包括前蛋白质多糖戈登会议主席和其他具有丰富研究专长的蛋白质多糖研究人员。除了聚集高水平的蛋白多糖研究科学家外，会议还为新的研究人员提供了一个论坛，在海报会议上展示他们的工作，或者在某些情况下，作为受邀演讲者进行简短的演讲，这些演讲交织在一组核心受邀演讲者之间。戈登会议设置为所有与会者提供了一种独特而有效的近距离互动方式。广泛的讨论以及 普罗科特学院组织良好的牧场环境为与会者提供了与演讲者直接互动的充分机会，使他们能够更深入地了解最新的研究成果，同时促进新合作的形成。蛋白多糖领域以其合议性、开放的讨论和初级研究人员的支持而闻名。最初，会议主要关注软骨和关节炎。然而，随着时间的推移，很明显，蛋白多糖在许多生物系统中具有关键功能，包括肌肉、骨骼、肌腱和牙齿等肌肉骨骼系统许多部分的形成和病理。除了在骨骼中的功能外，蛋白多糖还在免疫学和炎症、血管形成、心脏功能、癌症和发育方面发挥重要作用。蛋白多糖在这些系统中的作用为设计治疗与其相关的常见疾病的治疗方法提供了关键基础，这些研究领域将是拟议会议的重点。蛋白多糖还被证明在罕见疾病中发挥关键作用，如多发性遗传性外生性骨软骨病和粘多糖症，这两种疾病都将在该计划中得到强调。今年将增加两个新的会议，讨论蛋白多糖在干细胞生物学、组织工程和再生医学中的作用。Proteoglycan会议具有很强的国际性，超过33%的与会者来自欧洲、亚洲、澳大利亚、南美和非洲。与会者将通过邀请从网上提交的申请中选出，并将被选为代表不同研究人员的代表，并将认真注意将妇女和代表性不足的少数群体纳入会议的所有方面，包括讨论领袖、发言者、海报主持人和与会者。今年，蛋白质多聚糖社区将于7月7日和8日在普罗科特学院举办第一次戈登研究研讨会，重点是蛋白质多聚糖在“(重新)生成、修复和治疗”中的作用。 公共卫生相关性：会议的目标是促进与人类疾病蛋白多糖研究相关的思想、新发现、概念和技术的交流。预计会议的成果将是加深对许多人类疾病的认识，包括那些涉及人类发育过程中的病理、肌肉骨骼系统、神经系统、血管系统、免疫和癌症的疾病，这种认识最终将导致制定抗击这些疾病的新药和治疗方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposal requests partial support for the Gordon Research Conference on Proteoglycans that will be held on July 8-13, 2012 in Proctor Academy, Andover, NH. The conference has been held every two years since 1984 and has an outstanding reputation. It brings together a diverse group of investigators who will present new and unpublished high impact research on proteoglycans in an intense yet informal setting. The conference will be composed of invited speakers chosen by a scientific organizing committee that includes former Proteoglycan Gordon Conference Chairs and others who have substantial research expertise proteoglycans research. In addition to assembling high level proteoglycan research scientists the conference provides a forum for new investigators to present their work in poster sessions or, in some cases, as invited speakers to give short talks that are intertwined between the core set of invited speakers. The Gordon conference setting provides a unique and effective way for all of the attendees to closely interact. The extended discussions as well as the well-organized pastoral setting at Proctor Academy gives attendees ample opportunity for direct interaction with speakers so they can gain additional insight into the latest research findings and, at the same, facilitate the formation of new collaborations. The proteoglycan field is well known for its collegiality, open discussions, and support of junior investigators. Originally the conference focused primarily on cartilage and arthritis. However over time it became clear that proteoglycans have critical functions in numerous biological systems including the formation and pathology of many parts of the musculoskeletal system such as muscle, bone, tendons and teeth. In addition to their function in the skeleton the proteoglycans have fundamental roles in immunology and inflammation, vascularization, cardiac function, cancer and development. The roles of proteoglycans in these systems has provided a pivotal foundation for devising therapy to treat common diseases associated with them and these research areas will be the focus of the proposed conference. Proteoglycans have also been shown to have key roles in rare diseases such as multiple hereditary exostoses, and mucopolysaccharidosis both of which will be highlighted in the program. This year two new sessions will be added that will address the role of proteoglycans in stem cell biology and tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The Proteoglycan conference is very international with over 33% of the attendees coming from Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa. Attendees will be selected by invitation from the applications submitted online and will be chosen to represent a diverse set of researchers and careful attention will be paid to the inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities in all aspects of the conference including Discussion Leaders, Speakers, Poster Presenters and Attendees. This year the Proteoglycans community will hold its first Gordon Research Seminar on July 7 and 8 at Proctor Academy focused on the Proteoglycans in "(Re)generation, Repair and Therapeutics". PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The goal of the conference is to promote the exchange of ideas, new findings, concepts, and technology related to proteoglycan research in human disease. It is anticipated that the outcome of the conference will be an enhanced understanding of numerous human diseases, including those that involve pathologies in human development, the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, vascular system, immunity, and cancer, and that this understanding will ultimately lead to the formulation of new drugs and treatments for combating these diseases.