37th Midwest Connective Tissue Workshop

描述(申请人提供)：这是一份申请支持将于2009年5月8-9日在芝加哥举行的第37届中西部结缔组织研讨会。这次会议的主要目标是将来自美国中西部地区的不同群体的科学家和临床医生聚集在一起，以促进和促进在“结缔组织”和肌肉骨骼疾病等广泛领域的翻译研究的进展。这些令人衰弱的疾病影响着数以百万计的美国人，导致慢性疼痛和残疾，并在医疗保健和生产力损失上花费数十亿美元。这些疾病包括许多不同形式的关节炎和许多肌肉骨骼系统的疾病。因此，应尽一切努力促进在理解、诊断、治疗和预防关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病方面的研究进展。这就是我们看到中西部结缔组织研讨会的意义所在。与以前举行的会议一样，这次会议将吸引具有广泛经验的个人，从该领域国际公认的领导者(包括基础科学家和临床医生)到新来者，包括初级教员、整形外科和风湿病研究员和住院医生、博士后研究员、研究生和医学生。这次会议的使命是促进中西部结缔组织领域的研究人员之间的互动和研究伙伴关系，重点是将现有的调查人员、新的调查人员和受训人员聚集在一起。这次会议还将成为中西部临床和基础科学研究界之间互动的催化剂。虽然这是一个中西部的结缔组织研讨会，但来自美国其他地区的研究人员也参加了，而且总是受到欢迎。从历史上看，这次会议是在拉什(几乎没有例外)的生物化学系举行的，有大约100名参与者(大约50名研究人员和50名学生/研究员/住院医生)。这是中西部地区唯一一次主要关注结缔组织和肌肉骨骼疾病的会议。虽然这次会议有36年的历史，但这是第一次提交给NIH的此类提案。会议将分六次组织发言，其中一次专门讨论新的调查员谈话。会议还将讨论肌肉骨骼和结缔组织领域的新发展，并将集中讨论以下建议的主题：1)细胞外基质基因：细胞外基质基因表达的调控2)细胞外基质分子：蛋白多糖、透明质酸、胶原和基质蛋白；3)细胞和组织：骨、软骨、韧带、肌腱、半月板4)新研究员简短演讲。5)肌肉骨骼疾病的动物模型；6)干预：植入物、组织工程和干细胞。 公共卫生相关性：叙述性结缔组织和肌肉骨骼疾病影响着数百万美国人，导致慢性疼痛和残疾，并造成数十亿美元的医疗保健和生产力损失。因此，应尽一切努力促进在理解、诊断、治疗和预防关节炎和肌肉骨骼疾病方面的研究进展。这就是我们看到中西部结缔组织研讨会的意义所在。这次会议的使命是促进中西部结缔组织领域临床和基础科学研究人员之间的互动和研究伙伴关系，重点是将现有的研究人员、新的研究人员和受训人员聚集在一起。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This is an application for support of the 37th Midwest Connective Tissue Workshop to be held in Chicago, on May 8-9, 2009. The main goal of this conference is to bring together a diverse group of scientists and clinicians from Midwest region of the country in order to promote and facilitate the progress of translational research in the broad area of "connective tissue" and musculoskeletal disorders. These debilitating diseases affect millions of Americans, cause chronic pain and disability and cost billions of dollars in health care and lost productivity. These diseases include the many different forms of arthritis and numerous disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Thus, every effort should be made to promote research progress in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders. That is where we see the significance of the Midwest Connective Tissue Workshop. This meeting, like those held previously, will attract individuals with a wide range of experience, ranging from the internationally recognized leaders in the field (both basic scientists and clinicians) to newcomers, including junior faculty, orthopedic and rheumatology fellows and residents, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and medical students. The mission of this meeting is to facilitate interaction and research partnerships among investigators in the connective tissue field in the Midwest with emphasis on bringing together established investigators, new investigators and trainees. This meeting will also serve as a catalyst for interactions between the clinical and basic science research community in the Midwest. Although it is a "Midwest" Connective Tissue Workshop, investigators from other parts of the country have attended and are always welcomed. Historically this meeting is held at Rush (with few exceptions) in the Department of Biochemistry and consists of about 100 participants (about 50 research faculty and 50 students/fellows/residents). This is the only meeting in the Midwest with a primary focus on connective tissue and musculoskeletal disorders. Although this meeting has a 36-year history, this is the first proposal of its kind to be submitted to the NIH. The meeting will have presentations organized in six sessions with one session being dedicated to new investigator talks. The meeting will also address new developments in the musculoskeletal and connective tissue field, and will be focused on the following suggested topics: 1) ECM GENES: Regulation of Extracellular Matrix Gene Expression 2) ECM MOLECULES: Proteoglycans, Hyaluronan, Collagen and Matrix proteins; 3) CELLS and TISSUES: Bone, Cartilage, Ligaments, Tendons, Meniscus 4) New Investigator Short Talks. 5) ANIMAL MODELS for musculoskeletal disorders; 6) INTERVENTIONS: Implants, Tissue Engineering/ and Stem Cells. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Narrative Connective tissue and musculoskeletal diseases affect millions of Americans, cause chronic pain and disability and cost billions of dollars in health care and lost productivity. Thus, every effort should be made to promote research progress in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders. That is where we see the significance of the Midwest Connective Tissue Workshop. The mission of this meeting is to facilitate interaction and research partnerships among clinical and basic science investigators in the connective tissue field in the Midwest with emphasis on bringing together established investigators, new investigators and trainees.