Gordon Research Conferences

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-12

PROJECT SUMMARY The Carotenoids GRC is an international scientific conference focused on presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, scholarly discussion, and informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. Carotenoids are widespread isoprenoid pigments, vital for photosynthetic organisms and human health. In addition, they are the precursor of retinoids, such as vitamin A, and plant growth regulators and hormones involved in almost all aspects of plant life, including growth, development, stress response and communication with biotic environment. Animals obtain carotenoids through the diet and can accumulate, modify and convert them into retinoids and other bioactive apocarotenoids. Humans obtain carotenoids from red, orange, yellow, and dark green fruits and vegetables (F&Vs), seafood, dairy, and infants obtain carotenoids from human milk and some infant formula. Carotenoids confer anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities associated with reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin A is critical for healthy growth, vision, and immune function. New evidence suggests roles of carotenoids in early neurodevelopment and metabolic health. Macular carotenoids confer retinal protection and improved visual function. The conference program emphasizes scientific, geographical, gender, racial, and cultural diversity more than any other carotenoid conference. The five-day conference is in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field. The conference emphasizes giving early career scientists the opportunity to present their work. The GRC will be preceded by the 5th edition of the Carotenoids Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), entirely organized by graduate students and postdocs, and enables them to present and discuss carotenoid research with their peers. Experienced mentors and trainee moderators facilitate active participation so that all attendees are engaged participants rather than spectators. Participants in the Carotenoids GRS have gone on to become major leaders in the carotenoid research field. The conference seeks to achieve the following aims: Aim 1. To promote cross-cutting discussion of the roles of carotenoids in human health, with an emphasis on children’s and maternal health, vision, cancer prevention, and cardiovascular disease prevention. Aim 2. To foster interdisciplinary discussion on progress in crop biofortification to address human vitamin A deficiency. Aim 3. To advance the careers of women, underrepresented groups, trainees, and early-career carotenoid scientists by creating an engaging and inclusive environment. Impact: This interdisciplinary carotenoid conference will fuel innovation and scientists to understand how carotenoids can support improved human health across the lifespan.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-12

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT Directed cell migration plays central roles in shaping tissues during development, in tissue renewal and immune surveillance post-development, and in the most dangerous aspects of cancer progression. This application seeks funding for the 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Directed Cell Migration, which will be held from January 11-17 at the Renaissance Il Ciocco in Barga, Italy. For the past twenty years, this biannual meeting has provided the intellectual home for a highly diverse and international group of scientists who study how cells migrate and sense direction in all the physiological contexts described above and who do so using a variety of approaches. The attendees include developmental and cell biologists, immunologists, cancer biologists, bioengineers, applied mathematicians, and physics, who all come together to discuss their latest unpublished data, learn from one another, and generate the types of novel hypotheses and collaborations that speed discovery. The meeting also provides a key training opportunity for the students and postdocs who are the future of our discipline by allowing them to receive feedback on their research from leaders in the field and build their professional networks. The 2025 GRC will explore such topic as: (1) how cells sense and interpret a complex set of chemical and physical guidance cues to find their destination; (2) how these external stimuli are linked to internal cell responses; (3) how a self-organizing and dynamic cytoskeleton is deployed in time and space to ensure a directional output; and (4) how collectively migrating cells communicate with one another to coordinate their movements. The meeting will feature 26 invited speakers who are a mixture of established community leaders and new rising stars, as well as 20 short talks and 24 poster preview talks chosen from the abstracts that will allow students, postdocs, and junior faculty members to gain broad exposure for their work. The program also includes 4 poster sessions to facilitate deep conversations about ongoing research. We will further engage trainees in the meeting by holding a GRS on the weekend before the GRC. This pre-meeting is run by trainees for trainees, and includes 2 invited faculty speakers, 12 talks chosen from the abstracts, and 2 poster sessions. The GRS not only allows trainees to present their work in a safe and relaxed setting, but also builds a sense of confidence and camaraderie among the group that tends to make them bolder and more interactive in the main GRC. Finally, the meeting will feature two activities to strengthen our community – a GRC Power Hour, in which participants discuss how to overcome challenges faced by women and other underrepresented groups in science, and a workshop on scientific storytelling, in which participants will learn to communicate their science to the public in a clear and engaging way. Due to the central role cell migration plays in many normal and pathophysiological contexts and because of the wide range of systems covered at this meeting, this conference aligns with the missions of several NIH institutes, including NICHD, NIAID, and NCI, among others.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-12

PROJECT SUMMARY Germline stem cells (GSC) are the precursor cells that give rise to gametes (sperm and eggs) for sexual reproduction. While GSCs are technically unipotent (giving rise exclusively to gametes), they maintain latent totipotency, ultimately producing the zygote from which all somatic cells of the body will develop. Thus, further understanding of GSC biology will shed light on important aspects of cell biology, cell fate specification, genetics, and epigenetics, whilst also underpinning our ability to prevent or cure a wealth of human and animal diseases. Furthermore, our rapidly improving ability to manipulate these cells in vitro holds promise for major advancements in reproductive technologies, regenerative medicine, and treatments for infertility and genetic disorders. The biannual Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Germinal Stem Cells aims to bring the world’s leading scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and clinicians together to focus exclusively on GSCs, their origins, their sex-specific maintenance and function, the generation of their progeny via gametogenesis and, finally, the scientific advances in GSC biology that will lead us towards innovations in the culture, propagation and manipulation of GSCs for clinical applications. This proposal seeks partial funding for this critical meeting, along with its accompanying trainee-led Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). The GRC/GRS Germinal Stem Cell Meetings will take place at the Rey Don Jaime Hotel, Barcelona, Spain on April 27th to May 2nd April 27/28th, respectively. The location of this meeting in Europe, close to a major international airport, optimizes travel from across the globe, as reflected by previous participation (35% USA, 40% Europe, 25% Asia/Australasia). The specific aims are: (1) To convene an international and diverse group of up to 200 researchers to share the latest innovations in the field, with equal focus on the most impactful recent fundamental research findings and on the latest innovations and cutting-edge technologies that can be used to address the questions that remain in the field; (2) To define the current state of the field with respect to translating our basic research findings, leveraging the potential of GSCs for improving fertility in aging individuals, and for those not capable of producing healthy gametes of their own; and (3) To continue to enhance diversity and inclusion in our field by proactively encouraging participation by junior faculty and trainees from historically excluded BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities, as well as those with disabilities. To achieve these aims, a program of 9 plenary sessions and 4 poster sessions will allow leaders in the field, rising stars, and trainees to interact in an informal setting that optimizes interactions and encourages younger participants to engage in critical discussions with leaders in the field. An open forum Power Hour will be convened to address the challenges faced in our scientific community and to seek new ways to improve diversity and inclusion in our field. The accompanying GRS) allows 60 trainee participants to discuss their research in an informal setting, network, and acclimatize to the environment of an international meeting ahead of the full GRC convening.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-12

Project Summary The ability to precisely detect biomolecules and measure their dynamics is central to our understanding of the origins of debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and is a prerequisite for designing more effective treatments. However, biomolecules are typically a few nanometers in size, which makes them difficult to observe with optical methods. One of the primary ways to overcome this challenge is to add labels, such as fluorescent tags, that make them visible. This has opened the field of single molecule analysis, with the significant advantages of allowing rare events to be observed, solution heterogeneity to be understood, and molecular dynamics to be monitored without synchronization of molecular dynamics in an ensemble. At the same time, chemical tag or genetic modifications can alter a biomolecule’s function and how it interacts with its environment. Furthermore, fluorescent labels have limited lifetime (photobleaching), time-resolution (finite fluorescence lifetime) and require additional assay preparation steps that are time-consuming and costly. Given that this area of research is wide open for exploration, we believe that there is room for knowledge exchange and augmenting technologies that will evolve into a set of techniques that will become the new standard within academia, pharmaceutical industry alike. The aim of this inaugural Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is to maximize the exchange of ideas among these techniques, look at their common issues and solutions, and help with commercialization efforts so that the world can see their benefits faster. Specifically, we propose to implement the organization of this inaugural GRC through the following Specific Aims: (Aim 1) To create the first-ever forum that brings together the top scientists from across the globe in the field of label-free biomolecule sensing technologies, and (Aim 2) To educate and inspire the next generation of scientists that will move this field further, paying particular attention to creating opportunities for historically underrepresented students and postdocs. Through implementation of these Specific Aims, this 2025 GRC will bring together a broadly multidisciplinary community, including nanotechnology, plasmonics, biophysics, biochemistry, and biology to create new label- free technologies of single molecule sensors. Rather than focusing on applications, it will be focused on technology – how do you build new kinds of label-free single molecule sensors, and how do you improve their performance far beyond the state-of-the-art. We have also taken many steps to create a welcoming, inclusive community that removes barriers for historically underrepresented groups, women scientists, early career researchers and minorities. Data on trainee participation and feedback on how their participation helped their career post-conference will also be collected to ensure the long-term sustainability and impact of this new GRC.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-11

PROJECT SUMMARY. This proposal requests partial support for a meeting on the Immunology of Fungal Infections as a part of a Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) to be held in Ventura, CA, from January 19-24, 2025. The broad and long-term goal of this conference is to bring together leading researchers in this rapidly expanding field to foster cross-disciplinary discussions and collaborations. The meeting is designed to further our understanding of antifungal immunity with the aim of developing new insights for controlling human fungal pathogens. The 2025 conference will include a GRS for trainees held immediately prior to and in conjunction with the GRC. The specific aims of this meeting will be to convene over 50 leading experts who will present unpublished data and insights within the field of fungal immunology, (2) to highlight advances in immunotherapies and vaccine strategies against fungal diseases, (3) to discuss the role of the mycobiota in early life development, susceptibility to fungal infections, allergic and atopic diseases, and neoplasia, (4) to highlight neglected research areas and develop strategies to prioritize these gaps in research, and (5) to elucidate the relationship between fungal pathogens and frontier areas of immunological research, including signaling and stress pathways, fungal and host metabolic processes at sites of infection, and the role of neuro-immune crosstalk in antifungal immunity. The program will be structured into 9 sessions that cover host and fungal factors that determine innate and adaptive immune responses and fungal disease outcomes, emphasizing both basic and translational research. Afternoon poster sessions will permit all participants to contribute to these topics with the most meritorious abstracts chosen by the conference Chairs and Vice-Chairs for oral presentations. Every effort will be made to encourage participation by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the GRC. In addition, the GRS will be specifically aimed at trainees, allowing them to present their research and interact in a relaxing and supportive environment. Every effort will be made to promote gender parity, to recruit, support, and highlight individuals that belong to minority groups that have been historically underrepresented in biomedical research, and to accommodate persons with disabilities. The significance of this application lies in the essential forum provided by the GRC and GRS to bring together and synergize members of the global research community working on the immunology of fungal infections, which remains a highly understudied area. The GRS will have the added value of helping to train and energize the next generation of researchers in the field. The health relatedness of this application is that the presentations, scientific exchange, and discussions will help to define the important questions relating to basic science as well as those necessary for the development of novel strategies for immunotherapy. With the high levels of mortality and morbidity associated with these devastating illnesses, the latter are urgently needed.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-11

Project Summary The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) in 2025 will convene at the Four Points Sheraton / Holiday Inn, Ventura (CA), USA from Feb 23-28, 2025. This successful series of GRCs has been driving new interdisciplinary thinking on innate immunity since its inception in 1997. It is held every other year and is recognized as the premier meeting of this field. AMPs are found across all domains of life and critical in resolving infections, controlling microbiota, and contributing to diverse host functions. The GRC program is divided into lecture sessions and poster sessions. One important objective of the 2025 conference is to promote an integrative view of AMP roles in the immunity and physiology of organisms by bringing together scientists from different AMP communities that often evolve separately. We expect this to propel the field in cross-cutting directions by leveraging recent interdisciplinary knowledge. The themes of sessions have been designed accordingly. The conference will begin with new research on the multiple functions of AMPs. A keynote lecture by Tomas Ganz, one of the founders of the field, an internationally renowned chair of the first GRC conference on AMPs, will present a remarkable example of this multifunctionality. Additionally, this opening session will illustrate the diversity of new AMP functions through two recent discoveries. Other sessions also include AMP discovery and design, interactions of AMPs with antibiotics, AMP in the biology and ecology of microbes, AMPs in infectious diseases, AMPs in non-infectious diseases, evolution of resistance to AMPs. Short talks will be selected from key posters, with attention to include junior and student level scientists, as well as scientists from the different genders and underrepresented minority populations that encompass ethnicities and other diverse attributes. Ample time for organized discussion and informal interaction amongst participants will be included. We will have a Power Hour™ with two women Chairs designed to address issues of women in science, diversity and inclusion, in an open forum for discussion and mentoring. An innovative aspect of this meeting is the pre- conference forum for graduate students and post-docs to exchange new data and ideas in a comfortable setting of peers (GRS). As with past meetings in this GRC series, the 2025 conference promises to provide a unique forum for deep scientific exchange on the fundamental biology of AMPs in immune functions and resolution of infections, in their diverse therapeutic applications, and in the larger biology of AMPs in the host across multiple kingdoms of life.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-11

SUMMARY Partial support is requested for a second Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Sex Differences in Immunity. The conference will be held on March 29 – April 4, 2025, at the Four The Sex Differences in Immunity GRC/GRS is an international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. This is the only GRC/GRS dedicated to sex differences, and the focus on translational immunity, equity and inclusiveness is timely given growing appreciation that biological sex, Points Sheraton in Ventura Beach, California, near the Los Angeles International Airport. meaning the differences between males and females caused by differential sex chromosome complement, reproductive tissues, and concentrations of sex steroids, impacts the The conference and seminar programs include a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, focusing on the latest developments in sex differences in immunity ranging from infectious diseases and autoimmunity to immuno-metabolism, aging-immunity, and neuro-immunity. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. The GRS is a two-day conference that proceeds the GRC and is dedicated to showcasing and promoting the research of early career scientists (graduate students and post- docs). In addition to cutting-edge scientific presentations, the GRC/GRS have designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, a power hour dedicated to addressing challenges to achieving equity in science among women and all underrepresented groups, and free time and communal meals to allow for informal networking with leaders in the field. functioning of the immune system and disease susceptibility and trajectory. Through intentional consideration of representation and inclusion, the 2025 GRC/GRS will promote the involvement of underrepresented minority individuals at all levels of the meeting. Requested funds will provide partial registration and travel support for invited domestic and international discussion leaders and speakers as well as for trainees and early-stage investigators. Our hope is that this conference will contribute to the growth and the nurturing of a new scientific community engaged in sex differences research to enhance the rigor and the impact of scientific endeavors. We believe that these goals are aligned with the core mission of the NIH to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. In particular, they align well with NIAID’s mission to conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases and NIA’s mission to support research on health and well-being in aging populations.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-10

This award partially supports the 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and associated student-run Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Micro and Nanoscale Phase Change Phenomena to be held in Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center, Pomona, California on January 11-17, 2025. As the fifth conference in the series, this GRC under the theme of Phase Change Phenomena in a Decarbonizing World will feature a diverse group of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, with talks that concentrate on the latest developments in the field and define its most promising future directions. The goal is to present the latest in fundamental research, build the research community in the general area of micro and nanoscale phase change, inspire meaningful applications in decarbonization, and recommend on the most promising future research directions. The venue provides a unique forum where graduate students, postdoctoral associates and other junior researchers can interact informally with established members of the field. Early-career researchers will also be able to present their work, interact with each other, and participate in mentoring activities during the associated GRS, organized and run entirely by students and postdocs, as well as through poster presentations at the GRC. The GRC “Power Hour” is a forum designed to address challenges faced by women and all underrepresented groups in science and to discuss issues such as unconscious bias and overcoming barriers to inclusivity, as well as to provide mentoring to junior female scientists. Processes involving phase change are critically important in a wide variety of electrification and decarbonization technologies. This GRC and associated GRS are focused on fundamental mechanisms governing phase change processes and how these mechanisms interact to prescribe how component technologies and systems can be designed and run in a decarbonizing world. Topics within the conference include processes occurring at the three-phase contact line, the thermodynamics and kinetics of phase change materials and thermochemical energy storage media, the design of materials and surfaces using advanced manufacturing techniques that can control phase change, advances in the simulation and numerical modeling of phase change processes, machine learning and artificial intelligence methods for characterizing and predicting phase change mechanisms, new and novel experimental methods for measuring the extent of phase change, and phase change processes occurring in novel refrigerant working fluids relevant to decarbonization. The 2025 GRC will bridge this gap between heat transfer experts and other scientists from important relevant disciplines. In addition, the significant time allotted for discussions within the GRC structure will foster collaborations amongst diverse researchers to rapidly accelerate understanding and provide a unified knowledge base. Early-career and established researchers in the field alike will be encouraged to participate in the talks and poster sessions, which will enhance their diversity and intellectual capacity. We anticipate that by fostering this multidisciplinary research community, the GRC will become the premier meeting in micro and nanoscale phase change processes. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-09

Project Summary The 2025 Gordon Research Conference on Epithelial Differentiation and Keratinization (GRC-EDK) is the leading international meeting in the field of epithelial biology. Since its inception in 1979, the biennial GRC-EDK has contributed to scientific advances and shaped therapeutic approaches for treating skin conditions. For over four decades, the GRC-EDK has had a high level of attendance, the consistent participation of world-renowned experts in the field, and highly favorable reviews from conference attendees. The 2025 GRC-EDK conference is entitled "Epithelial Development, Aging, Disease, and Regeneration Across Cells and Systems" and will take place in Ventura Beach, California, from June 1-6, 2025. The 2025 GRC-EDK will celebrate its 46th year, continuing its tradition of addressing cutting-edge basic questions in epithelial biology and ways of translating these discoveries into disease treatment. It will showcase recent conceptual and technological advances comprising stem cell biology, regenerative medicine, cancer, immunity, aging, epigenetics, skin diseases, novel single-cell and spatial transcriptomics technologies, and global genomics. GRC-EDK also acts as a platform to support the careers of a full range of investigators, including women and men, young investigators, and investigators from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. More than 15% of the invited speakers are from fields beyond the immediate scope of the conference, 85% did not present at the previous meeting, and over 30% of speakers will be selected from abstract submissions to ensure plentiful opportunities for junior faculty and trainees. The relatively secluded location for the 2025 GRC-EDK and the allocated informal afternoon periods are chosen to maximize the potential for in-depth scientific discussions, mentoring, and the initiation of collaborations among conference participants. The power hour is an important part of the GRC-EDK meeting and will encourage discussions on overcoming discrimination and facilitating diversity and inclusion in the scientific community. The commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists will continue with the 6th Gordon Research Seminar on Epithelial Differentiation and Keratinization (GRS-EDK), scheduled at the same location and just before the main conference from May 31-June 1, 2025. This seminar is organized by and for trainees and offers a supportive environment for presenting research, networking, and fostering collaborations. A career mentoring panel at the GRS-EDK will address key topics such as career development, choices between academia and industry, and the critical importance of diversity in science. Taken together, the 2025 GRC/GRS-EDK exemplifies the NIAMS institute's strategy with the following main objectives: (i) to advance pioneering research in skin biology, (ii) to facilitate the transition of scientific discoveries to clinical practice, and (iii) to support the professional development of early-career scientists and trainees to sustain innovation in the field.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2024-09

ABSTRACT Cartilage supports skeletal development from embryos to adulthood. It also serves as an essential skeletal component of a functional adult skeletal system. Cartilage malformation or degenerative cartilage disease, most notably osteoarthritis, significantly affects the lifespan, quality of life, and productivity of a large proportion of the population world-wide. As life expectancy rises, the personal and economic consequences of these conditions are expected to increase. Since there is an unmet need for treatment and prevention of cartilage diseases, linking expertise from different research disciplines and career stages is of utmost importance. This is a request to support the 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and associated, preceding Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Cartilage Biology and Pathology, which will be held at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center, Pomona, California, March 22-28, 2025. The GRC will cover broad basic and translational research topics with the theme of “Genes, Molecules and Mechanics in Musculoskeletal Tissue Development and Disease”. The overall goal is to foster collaborations that will ultimately lead to novel treatments. The 2025 conference is the 11th in the series and owes its success to three major principles. First, it is the only conference that brings together basic science researchers, clinician-scientists, and biomedical engineers to cover a broad spectrum of cartilage biology, pathology, and other disciplines relevant to cartilage research. Second, the program emphasizes unpublished cutting-edge findings, state-of-the-art technologies, and open discussions. Third, it is open to researchers at all career stages and encourages mentoring, networking, and collaboration among young, and senior investigators. The 2025 Cartilage GRC will highlight recent advances and challenges in understanding cartilage biology and disease. The program alternates between formal presentations, poster sessions and informal discussions. Attendance is limited to 200 participants to promote collegial interactions. Established scientists and talented new investigators will report and discuss their most recent exciting findings and provide insights into challenges towards understanding cartilage biology, disease, and therapeutic approaches. Interdisciplinary collaborations are fostered through a broad base of session topics in an intimate environment, promoting discussion among those in different areas of research and career stage. For example, bioengineers and clinicians will benefit from learning about how tissues develop so that those principles can be applied to engineering and regenerative treatment strategies. The preceding GRS, run by and for trainees, provides a forum for trainees to present and discuss their work among their peers, building confidence for discussion and networking. In addition, the GRS includes a mentoring panel, where trainees are provided with information on career paths, grant writing, and other career topics. We expect the 2025 GRC/GRS on Cartilage Biology and Pathology to empower researchers across disciplines to make significant progress toward understanding cartilage biology and improving human health.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-09

Abstract This proposal requests partial support for an international meeting on Myogenesis as part of the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) series to be held at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort Lucca (Barga), Italy June 7-13 2025. The international meeting on Myogenesis has historically been viewed as one of the preeminent skeletal muscle meetings, attracting speakers and attendees from around the world. A major goal of the 2025 Conference is to identify mechanisms that contribute to both healthy physiological function and, when dysregulated, muscle pathology during aging or disease. Leaders in the field will present recent unpublished data to educate conference attendees while stimulating interactive discussion amongst the group. Additional program events including poster sessions, scheduled social events, local outings, organized mentoring and networking tables at mealtimes, and informal gatherings in the afternoons will ensure maximal levels of interaction between established scientists and junior scientists/trainees: this meeting has historically been rated by attendees as extremely informal and collegial with excellent interactions between trainees and more senior researchers. Thus, we expect the 2025 Myogenesis GRC will provide an ideal scenario to stimulate new breakthroughs in muscle biology and to benefit attendees at every professional level. In addition, four afternoon and evening poster sessions will stimulate interactions between all attendees. We will also provide education, networking opportunities, and career path mentoring to junior scientists through the GRS, a two-day conference program targeting graduate students and postdocs that takes place immediately preceding the GRC. The GRS will conduct four sessions of talks and two poster sessions by graduate students and postdocs. Moreover, during the GRC, 4 sessions of "poster previews" will provide a forum for junior scientists to highlight their work and receive feedback from other participants (approximately 50% of trainees attending will present in this forum). These activities represent a unique opportunity for the next generation of scientists to present their research on myogenesis, interact with their peers, and form new collaborations. Achieving these aims will place the field in a better position to accelerate the advancement of muscle biology and thus the development of new avenues to promote muscle health. The venue of the conference at Il Ciocco Italy offers a relaxing atmosphere conducive to creative thinking and the exchange of ideas that will benefit attendees at every professional level. Thus, we expect the 2025 Myogenesis Gordon Research Conference will provide both a stimulating program and an ideal setting for attendees to advance their understanding of skeletal muscle biology.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-09

This award will partially support for a Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Stochastic Physics in Biology, to be held in Ventura, CA, January 12-17, 2025. The meeting will bring together an outstanding and diverse group of physicists, mathematicians, engineers, and biologists at the forefront of research in the field of Stochastic Physics in Biology. The theme of the conference is “Bridging Theory and Experiments at all Scales.” The conference will address emerging challenges in understanding complex behaviors of biological systems using principles and theories in stochastic physics. The conference is preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), a unique forum for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other junior scientists to present new, unpublished research. The conference and GRS look exciting, timely, and in an area of interest to the POLS program at NSF. The program brings together leaders in the field, including researchers supported by POLS. The conference is organized to optimize collaboration and communication among researchers from diverse disciplines. Sessions foster cross-disciplinary communication, by including speakers from different disciplines, with introductions by discussion leaders that bridge the different disciplines. The program is organized around nine sessions: I; Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics; II: Evolutionary Dynamics; III, Microbial Ecology; IV: Quantitative Physiology and Metabolism; V: Information Processing and Networks; VI: Cell Fate and Development; VII: Machine Learning and Causal Inference; VIII: Microbial Growth and Patterning; and IX: Molecular Organization. The program promotes networking through scheduled and informal discussion times, poster sessions, social hours, and Power Hour ™. Broader impacts of this award include fostering interdisciplinary science, increase the diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) of the Biological Physics Community, and the training and career development for early career researchers. This GRC has a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion and strongly believes they are an integral part of creating thriving communities that advance the frontiers of science for all scientists. GRC provides conference fellowships (such as the Carl Storm Underrepresented Minority and International Diversity Fellowships) to support the participation of U.S. underrepresented minorities. This GRC Stochastic Physics in Biology is committed to developing a diverse program and inclusive conference atmosphere. Participants will be selected to ensure proportional representation of women and underrepresented minorities. Of the 31 invited speakers, 60% are early- or mid-career, and 40% are women. In addition to invited talks, we will select from submitted abstracts another 20+ contributed talks, with a focus on underrepresented scientists and early- career researchers. To increase the participation of women and URM scientists at the meeting, we will reach out to known networks, including (1) the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), (2) the American Physical Society Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (APS-IDEA), (3) Black in Biophysics, and (4) the Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN). The Chair of this GRC conference, Dr. Andrew Mugler, participates in his department’s chapter of the APS Bridge Program, which actively targets admission and preparation of URM graduate students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-08

This grant supports expenses of U.S. graduate students and early career researchers to attend the 2024 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Quantum Science, which brings together top researchers and future leaders in the field quantum information science. The 2024 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Quantum Science will be held on July 28-August 2, 2024 at Stonehill College, Easton, MA. Gordon Conferences have a 50-year tradition of communicating and stimulating the most exciting new research in fields such as atomic, molecular, and optical physics, and quantum information science. The 2024 GRC on Quantum Science session themes include: new applications of quantum advantage; quantum dynamics and information scrambling; interfacing quantum computers with quantum materials; advances in quantum metrology and quantum sensing; and emerging quantum science platforms and applications. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-08

The Specific Aims of the 2024 Neurobiology of the Brain Disorders Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) are to promote dialogue among established and emerging leaders in neurodegenerative disease. The Co-Chairs, Drs. Karen Duff and Chris Shaw, in consultation with past chairs, and the 2026 Vice Chairs (Drs. Hemali Phatnani and Michael Ward) have planned nine oral sessions that will focus on the current and future landscape of research for the major neurodegenerative diseases, including how genetics is informing on disease mechanisms, how genomics approaches (including bioinformatics) are being used to add more mechanistic insight into genetic findings, how biomarkers are being used to understand mechanisms, diagnose and monitor disease and the status of therapeutics, for diseases, including some new therapeutic approaches that are being developed and applied to address unmet needs. In addition to these sessions there be focused sessions discussing the current understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD), FTD (including tau and TDP related dementias), PD (including LBD) and ALS, as well as aging and how it impacts these diseases. The GRC will be preceded by a GRS to facilitate the presentation and discussion of frontier research by trainees. As the Chairs and Co-Chairs place the highest priority on participation by trainees and early-career individuals, short talks will be selected from submitted abstracts to complement invited speakers. We will make every effort to increase the participation of under-represented minorities among conference participants and speakers. Conference participants will interact informally in a collegial atmosphere and have ample free time, providing ideal settings for participants to brainstorm and establish interdisciplinary collaborations. The significance of this GRC is to provide a unique forum for the international community working on the neurobiology of brain disorders, especially AD/ADRD, to discuss the latest advances and the future challenges in the field of neurodegeneration and aging-related brain disorders. The relevance of this application to public health is that the discussions will define the most important questions for AD/ADRD, FTD, PD and ALS, spanning basic biology and disease mechanisms and aid the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The long-term goal of this GRC is to provide a consistent platform for this community to meet every two years to disseminate the most recent discoveries and formulate the most important questions concerning the current state-of-the-art research on age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-08

Abstract Animal venoms are complex natural secretions that comprise a mixture of bioactive compounds often referred to as toxins. Although the number of venomous animals is often underappreciated by the general public, venom is in fact one of the most frequently evolved functional traits among animals, with over a hundred independently evolved venomous lineages across the animal trees of life. Despite this diversity, the molecular structure and targets of toxins, which include receptors and voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, are relatively conserved throughout the animal kingdom. These features make venoms extremely successful evolutionary innovations and ideal candidates for discovery and development of therapeutics to treat a wide range of human pathologies. Indeed, there are currently six commercially available venom-derived drug peptides, and venom research is growing exponentially, as evidenced by the increase in venom publications, symposia, biomedical applications, and biotech startup companies. Consequently, the World Economic Forum recently designated Venomics as one of the four most promising frontiers of science, highlighting the socio-economic impacts of these activities. Venoms also represent a significant burden on human health, with World Health Organization classifying snakebite as a “Category A Neglected Tropical Disease” and launching a global strategy for prevention and control of snakebite envenoming. Realizing the full potential of venom and addressing its societal burden remains challenging due to a scarcity of opportunities to create a cohesive research community covering the many diverse facets of venom research, which span health and socioeconomic concerns to essentially all areas of basic and applied bioscience. Hence, no single conference links experts in the basic and applied sciences of venomous animals to those investigating the clinical, physiological and pharmacological applications of venom. The 2024 Gordon Research Conference and Seminar on Venom Evolution, Function and Biomedical Applications (Venoms-GRC/GRS) aims to overcome these hurdles by coalescing an interdisciplinary group of academic and industry professionals to address venom as both a global health problem and a route to innovation in health solutions. Our goals are to evaluate needs and roadblocks pertaining to drug discovery and development, foster cross-sector collaborations that better meet the challenges in development and implementation of novel treatments of envenoming and identify future directions for venom research, enabling the field to grow. The conference chairs are making significant efforts to invite a culturally, ethnically, and gender diverse group of 150 established and younger faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students to the 2024 Venoms GRC/GRS. These scientists bring expertise from a broad diversity of fields, from clinical to ecological to genomics/proteomics, and we made a special effort to invite early career speakers that are emerging leaders in their specialties, Our program will foster a community of experts focused on complementary and integrative topics in venoms, drug discovery and development – key issues that are particularly relevant to the NCCIH.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-07

Project Summary The objective of the 2024 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Biomineralization (‘Revealing the Unifying Principles of Biomineralization through Model Systems’) and the associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS; ‘Exploring Mechanisms Behind Mineral Formation in Biological Systems‘), is to bring together early career and established scientists from around the globe with multidisciplinary backgrounds and diverse expertise in order to bridge the relevant scientific disciplines that are required for understanding biomineral (e.g., teeth, bone, shells, pathological minerals, etc.) formation, function, and application. These fields include, but are not limited to, biology, chemistry, physics, dentistry, medicine, geology, engineering, and environmental sciences. To achieve this objective, the GRC/GRS meeting will focus on three specific aims: Aim 1: Assemble a cutting edge scientific program to: (i) identify universal scientific principles and mechanisms that are common to biomineralization processes in evolutionary diverse organisms, (ii) identify the most advanced in vitro and in vivo model systems, as well as state-of-the-art analytical technologies to study biomineralization mechanisms across scales, (iii) explore scientific principles for the purpose of translational research. Aim 2: Create an environment that will foster fruitful interactions among graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early career investigators with established scientists. The GRS is a key component that will establish a supportive and open community that will continue throughout the GRC. Aim 3: Empower women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to fully participate in the high-quality scientific program through both formal (e.g., invited talks, selected poster presentations, the “Power Hour”) and informal (e.g., shared meals and afternoon activities) opportunities. The proposed program includes 44% female speakers and 46% female discussion leaders. Speakers and poster presenters will share a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art topics to cover genetic, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms of formation, structure, and function of biomineralized tissues. The impact of biomineralization on health and disease, the translational aspects of biomaterials applications, and interactions of biominerals with the environment will also be covered. We will highlight new developments studying the main biominerals (Ca- carbonates, Ca-phosphates, SiO2, Fe3O4), from single-celled prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to increasingly complex multicellular invertebrates and finally vertebrate animals and humans. A particular focus will be on unveiling fundamental biomineralization mechanisms that have been preserved through evolutionary times and understand how they have been adapted to fulfill a multitude of biological functions in a large variety of organisms. As a complement to the presentation sessions, the daily poster sessions are central elements of the GRC and GRS meetings. They will serve to broaden and deepen discussions about emerging topics in the field. About 10-15 poster contributions will be selected for short oral presentations based on quality and with priority being given to early career scientists, as well as those from underrepresented groups.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-07

The award will provide support for graduate students and post-doctoral researchers to attend the 2025 Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) Towards a Comprehensive View of Mitochondrial Biology (March 22-23, 2024, in Ventura, CA). The GRS will precede the associated Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Mitochondria Metabolism and Signaling. These meetings bring together both young and established scientists from various disciplines to explore a broad range of questions related to mitochondrial function, from mechanisms and functions to the development of innovative research tools. The GRS is a unique platform that enables early career scientists to discuss the most up-to-date research through seminars and poster sessions, exchange ideas, technologies, and resources informally, and expand their professional networks. This conference is crucial for the training and professional development of the next generation of researchers and to broaden participation in the field of mitochondrial biology. The GRS program will feature a panel discussion on career choices with accomplished scientists from diverse professional backgrounds. The event also offers career development experience for the co-chairs and organizers, who are PhD students and postdocs. Recent advances in mitochondrial biology, particularly the molecular targets of mitochondrial uncouplers and protonophores, will be the keynote talk of the GRS. Through a synergy of fundamental mitochondrial biology techniques such as patch-clamp methodologies, in silico molecular docking, and high-throughput CRISPR screens coupled with live cell imaging, participants will explore groundbreaking discoveries. The transformative impact of multi-omics strategies and novel mitochondrial genome-editing tools, such as mitoARCUS and mitoDdCBE, will be highlighted, revolutionizing our understanding of mitochondrial genetics and metabolism. Additionally, the expanding spectrum of biological processes governed by mitochondria, ranging from cellular metabolism and epigenetics to immune regulation and signaling, will be discussed, emphasizing the diverse effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on cell fate. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2024 · 2024-07

Non-Technical Summary This project supports the Gordon Research Conference (GRC), Solid State Studies in Ceramics, titled "Merging Atomistic and Continuum Analysis of Defects and Interfaces Across Varying Length Scales” and the corresponding Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), taking place from August 5 to 9, 2024. The GRC conference, and its associated aims to discuss the latest discoveries, advancements, and future directions in the ceramics basic science, ranging from the atomic to the macro scale, spanning from point defects to surfaces and interfaces. Applications of the basic science of solid state ceramics include: energy storage technology (e.g., batteries and solar cells), sensors and actuators, and high temperature structural and protective coatings. This conference is highly committed to the participation of diverse and underrepresented groups. Qualified, US Nationals, speakers, postdoctoral researchers, young graduate student researchers, women, and minorities, all of whom are essential contributors to the conference, are sponsored (including registration and National Travel) through grant funds to foster an environment that is amicable to scientific collaboration and discovery. Broader Impacts: The discussion leaders promote the most provoking and cutting-edge science, and encourage participation of student attendees. An important outcome is that US National graduate students and early career professionals interact with senior experts in an open and shared forum with plenty of time for interaction in smaller groups in between sessions or at meal time. The conference's "Power Hour" on Monday afternoon aims to promote the discussion of challenges that women, and minorities face in science and engineering fields. Technical Summary This project supports the Solid State Studies in Ceramics Gordon Research Conference subtitled "Merging Atomistic and Continuum Analysis of Defects and Interfaces Across Varying Length Scales," and the corresponding Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). The seminar and the conference is held August 5 to 9, 2024, and is designed to discuss the most recent advances in the field of ceramics basic science by bringing together experts across disciplines, including cutting edge microscopy, advanced processing science, and multi scale modeling and simulation, to discuss the latest discoveries, advancements, and future fields directions in the field of ceramics. The support of domestic travel and registration of US Nationals, including key speakers, postdoctoral researchers, young graduate student researchers, women, and minorities, is being used to promote participation of the conference participants. The overall goal is to advance the development of new approaches to create materials with exceptional and unprecedented behaviors by developing a fundamental understanding of the atomistic and nanometer scale interactions with surfaces and interfaces. These behaviors are dictated by multi physical driving forces, which are coupled, both physically and microstructurally. A significant amount of current research in ceramics is integrally connected to its processing and manufacturing, displaying multi physical behavior, and in many cases leading to unprecedented applications. Broader Impacts: This conference is highly committed to the participation of diverse and underrepresented groups. While speakers and discussion leaders were selected only based on their scientific excellence and leadership in the field, a third of the speakers and discussion leaders are female. The discussion leaders are expected to bring out the most provoking and cutting-edge science, and to encourage participation of student attendees. An important outcome is that graduate students and early career professionals interact with senior experts in the field in an open and shared forum with plenty of time for interaction in smaller groups in between sessions or at meal time. It should be noted that we have been able to bring a significant number of international speakers (and attendees), broadening the learning potential of the community. The conference “Power Hour” on Monday afternoon is community event to discuss challenges that women, and minorities face in science and engineering fields. 6891 This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-07

Abstract We intend to request funds to help support the 2024 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Cell Death to be held July 28-August 2, 2024 and its associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) to be held July 26-27, 2024 at the Jordon Hotel at Sunday River, US . The Cell Death GRC is among the most highly regarded international conferences in the cell death community. Participants will give oral presentations, lead discussions or present their work in poster format. In keeping with the intimate spirit of the Gordon Conference, attendance will be limited, and presentations will feature unpublished work at the leading edge of this field. The overall goal of this conference is to expedite progress in cell death research and to use research findings for the development of new anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapies. A secondary goal is to facilitate collaborations among cell death researchers and investigators in complementary basic, translational and clinical fields. The “Power Hour” during the GRC will provide a platform to address challenges trainees at all levels encounter, especially for those who are from under-privileged minority groups. The GRS target audience are students and postdoctoral trainees. The GRS provides trainees with the opportunity to present their work in a more peer-to-peer setting. The GRS will also have a few established faculties from industry and academia who will provide career counseling and advice to the trainees. We believe the GRS will provide the platform to help trainees launch their own independent research career. The aims of this conference are to: 1) gather established experts, junior scientists and researchers new to this field in a setting that supports structured and casual interactions. 2) promote exchange of cutting edge, innovative and unpublished science relevant to the roles of cell death in healthy and pathologic contexts. 3) expedite discoveries that advance mechanistic knowledge on cell death and facilitate clinical opportunities for the treatment and diagnosis of diseases caused by the dysregulation of this process. The major themes of the meeting will focus on: 1) fundamental mechanisms of different cell death modalities, 2) cell death in inflammatory disorders, 3) host-pathogen interactions, 4) the cross-talk between cell death and immunity, 5) Targeting cell death mechanisms in disease, 6) Inflammation and tissue homeostasis. The meeting will facilitate the alignment of recent breakthrough discoveries with the development of new therapies for infections, immunological disorders, and cancers.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-07

PROJECT SUMMARY This grant application requests funds to partially support the 2024 Streptococcal Biology Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and its associated Seminar (GRS). This will be the third meeting of this GRC, which has been highly successful in its prior years of 2018 and 2022. This will also be the 2nd meeting of the GRS, whose purpose is to foster development of the next generation of investigators and invite their active participation and integration into the broader research community. Both meetings will be held at the Grand Summit Hotel at Sunday River, Newry, Maine, USA. The GRS is to be held August 10-11, and the GRC August 11-16. The 2024 Chairs are Drs. Michael Federle and Jan-Willem Veening, who served as Co-Vice Chairs in 2022. Drs. Kimberly Kline and Jose Lemos will serve as Co-Vice Chairs and then will Chair the 2026 meeting. Postdoctoral fellows Luke Joyce and Kristin Huse will Co-Chair the GRS. The GRS/GRC program encompasses a wide range of exciting topics among important human and animal pathogens from the genera Streptococcus and Enterococcus. Topics will include genomics, virulence regulation, antimicrobial resistance, new antimicrobial targets, host-pathogen interactions, clinical findings, microbial communities, and advancing therapeutics. Invited speakers and discussion leaders will address the most current and exciting topics in the field. The overall goal is to bring the world’s leading scientists and the most promising young investigators and trainees together in a collegial and supportive environment. The specific goals are to: 1) provide a forum for the presentation of unpublished, cutting-edge research on streptococci and enterococci and foster formal and informal discussions on how these results advance the field; 2) include investigators and clinicians focusing on diverse streptococcal species and define the impact of these on infection; 3) expand the boundaries of the work of the scientists within this field; and 4) ensure development and integration of young investigators, including those in under-represented groups into the broader research community in a meaningful and interactive way.The collegial atmosphere will include organized discussion sessions during talks and poster sessions and opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, providing an ideal setting for scientists from different disciplines to exchange ideas and foster cross-disciplinary collaborations among peers and the next generation of investigators. Thus, these events will provide a fundamentally important opportunity not currently offered to this field in any other global venue, to bring together leading investigators in a format designed for the free exchange of research results and ideas covering all aspects of streptococcal biology and its relationship to disease. Together with the GRS, the GRC will promote diversity, equity and inclusion and the development of promising young investigators in the field and their integration into the larger research community. In the short term, this will significantly enhance the ability of investigators around the world to address critical problems in streptococcal and enterococcal diseases, while in the long term it will ensure the continued success of their efforts and those of the next generation of investigators.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-07

PROJECT SUMMARY Approximately 30% of human genes encode proteins in the secretory pathway, highlighting its central role in numerous cellular functions, including cellular homeostasis, growth, and development. The secretory pathway controls immunity, metabolism, neurotransmission, tissue integrity, and cellular communication in a multicellular organism. Consequently, it is at the heart of many human diseases, including neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cystic fibrosis, and behavioral disorders like autism and schizophrenia linked to disruptions in the secretory pathway. Furthermore, conditions including cancer, obesity, and endocrine diseases, most notably diabetes, are intricately tied to the proper functioning of this pathway. The Protein Processing, Trafficking, and Secretion GRC will offer topics to synergize the cell biology of protein transport with disease pathology, including the following topics: Protein folding and misfolding in the ER, signaling in the secretory pathway, lipid trafficking, targeted protein degradation, EM-tomography of the secretory pathway, unconventional protein secretion, biomolecular condensation, neurological disorders, autophagy, and modern aspects of the cell biology and pathology of diabetes. The unique combination of topics paired with lectures about novel high-end technologies will fill a crucial gap in the scientific landscape that may promote the therapeutic targeting of these diseases. The conference strongly emphasizes the inclusion of trainees and demonstrates exceptional commitment to their participation. In 2022, 55% of the attendees were students and postdocs (compared to the GRC average of 41%), while only 27% were full professors. Another focus will be on diversity and inclusion to further build on substantial efforts since 2018. The 2022 conference witnessed a balanced gender ratio, with 48.5% female and 51.49% male attendees (compared to 36% female in 2018). In the 2024 conference, our confirmed speakers will comprise 37% women and 7% individuals from underrepresented groups (African American and Hispanic American). We have set up a strategic plan to increase these numbers by 17 reserved speaker slots for short presentations selected from submitted abstracts, prioritizing trainees, investigators from underrepresented groups, and early-stage researchers. The conference venue is Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH. It provides excellent facilities for a low cost. The venue is a pleasant environment free from the distractions of an urban setting, providing ample time and space for informal interactions. Historically, this has resulted in numerous collaborations and extensive networking. For young scientists, this leads to valuable career-long relationships.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-07

Project Summary This proposal requests support for the 2024 GRC and GRS meeting on Chromatin Structure & Function (focus on “Chromatin's Impact on Genome Function Across Size and Time-Scales”) at the Bryant University in Rhode Island from July 6 - 12, 2024. The 2024 Gordon Conference on Chromatin Structure and Function will bring together outstanding international experts to discuss their latest and most exciting research on chromatin as a powerful regulatory platform that shapes genome function. The conference addresses how chromatin-based genome regulation impacts all essential DNA-dependent processes, both at the most fundamental and mechanistic level, and also at the level of disease pathologies, and therefore is highly significant. The field is evolving at a rapid pace due to adoption of novel interdisciplinary approaches, from fields such as genomics, chemical biology, and structural biology. These approaches have enabled new ways to visualize conformation and dynamics from the scale of single nucleosomes and their regulators to the scale of whole chromosomes. Such advances are allowing for in-depth testing of existing models such as heterochromatin spreading using novel synthetic biology approaches as well as the discovery of new mechanisms for major unanswered questions such as dosage compensation. At the same time, it is also becoming clear that many mechanisms discovered in model cells vary in usage based on cell type and therefore at an organismal level, it is critical to understand tissue-specific chromatin regulation. Such tissue specific studies are particularly critical for understanding the origin of various cancers. This conference has a long history of attracting top researchers and new entrants in chromatin research. It has been an important forum for fostering new ideas, and collaborations, and this tradition will be continued in 2024. We will continue to integrate new members into this growing field. A large number of talks will be reserved for early-career scientists and for scientists from under-represented groups, and all applicants will have the opportunity to present a poster on their work. Additionally, “poster previews” will highlight selected posters in short oral presentations. Sufficient discussion time will be scheduled to promote the lively and free exchange of ideas and interpretations and there will be ample time set aside in the afternoons and after the evening sessions for the informal interactions that have always played a key role at this conference. The GRC will be preceded by a GRS which we expect to further enhance interactions and networking among the younger conference participants.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-07

Project Summary/Abstract The 2024 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Neural Development at the Renaissance Tuscany II Ciocco in Lucca, Italy will bring together scientists who investigate fundamental questions related to nervous system development, using molecular, cellular and organismal approaches. Topics include the genesis of neurons and glia, cell lineages, cell-cell communication including with non-neural cells, neuronal metabolism, and the assembly of neural circuitry. The meeting will also probe the basis for brain evolution from molecular to circuit levels, as well as neurodevelopmental variation and diseases. In line with these diverse topics, speakers employ a range of classical and emerging model organisms including worms, flies, fish, mice, ferrets, and non-human primates. They also use state-of-the art complementary models including iPS and ES cells, organoids, and human tissue. The invited speakers employ diverse approaches including: molecular genetic techniques and genomic approaches such as transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling; single cell mRNA sequencing and lineage barcoding; CRISPR-based manipulations and screens; live-imaging and high-resolution microscopy; neuroimaging and human genetics. The five-day meeting is designed to promote extensive exchanges between junior and senior scientists from diverse career stages and backgrounds. This collegial atmosphere will be fostered through interactions at talks, poster sessions, meals, and informal gatherings during free time. Networking will be promoted with journal editors and members of funding agencies that support research in this field. The conference program includes a diverse range of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. There will also be many short talks selected from abstracts, which will especially feature the most exciting recent work by junior researchers . We encourage applications from diverse researchers across institutions, career stages, countries, and relevant scientific topics, with the goal of having diverse participants to enrich the meeting. A GRS is reserved for trainees only, including undergraduate, PhD students and postdocs; This will precede the meeting, and is organized and run by trainees, and will include sessions on related topics.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-07

Project Summary Archae and Bacteria face a nearly constant onslaught of diverse stressors both expected (e.g., nutrient fluctuations, temperature changes, phage predation, etc) and unknown (e.g., novel antibiotics, unanticipated changes in environment, etc). How they detect and respond to such stressors largely determines their survival in a world of fierce competition. Understanding how microbes respond to stress will elucidate the fundamental principles governing key cellular processes that are conserved from bacteria to humans where they prevent genetic disease and cancer. Determining the response of microbes to stress impacts areas such as biotechnology, ecology, environmental biology, viral tolerance, manufacturing, and the relationships that microbes establish with their eukaryotic hosts. The latest advances in this field will be the subject of the 2024 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Microbial Stress Response to be held July 14-19, 2024 at Mount Holyoke College. bringing together a demographically diverse group of 200 international scientists seeking to understand how microbes sense and respond to unanticipated and ever-changing environments. Attendees are encouraged to present posters of their most exciting research. Emphasis will be placed on new approaches to understanding interactions between microbes and the environment, particularly modern imaging, genetic, metagenomic, and computational strategies for the analysis of bacterial physiology and community structures under conditions of stress and competition. A key feature of this conference is its welcoming and highly interactive environment that brings together investigators at all levels. Invited speakers include established and highly recognized scientists as well as junior investigators with diverse backgrounds. More than 50% of invited speakers are women and 40% of oral presentations will be selected from the submitted abstracts with an emphasis on those by new investigators, postdoctoral scientists, and graduate students. Daily poster sessions will be a major element of the meeting, enabling the dynamic exchange of new results and ongoing work, while promoting interactions between conference participants at every level. Postdoctoral and graduate student participation is further encouraged by the accompanying Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), organized by students, trainees, and early stage investigators for their peers. We anticipate the 2024 Microbial Stress Response GRC will continue the success of its predecessors with cutting edge discoveries unveiled for the first time to a multidisciplinary and critical audience.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2024 · 2024-07

PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal requests support for the 9th meeting of the biennial Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Thiol-Based Redox Regulation and Signaling to be held at the Rey Don Jaime Grand Hotel, Castelldefels, Spain on July 13-14 (GRS) / 14-19 (GRC) 2024. Regulation of protein function through the post-translational modification of specific cysteine residues (thiol oxidation) plays an important role in the response and adaptation to local and global changes in the cellular levels of reactive oxidants. A key challenge for the redox-signaling field is understanding how thiol-based signaling mechanisms facilitate communication between molecules, organelles, cells, and organisms to initiate and coordinate different biological responses to endogenous and environmental stimuli. The 2024 meeting will focus on the various sources and targets of thiol modification. Specific attention will be placed on the consequences of dampening (or upregulating) thiol-based redox signaling across species and disease pathologies. By providing a unique opportunity for extensive interaction between chemists and biologists with expertise in biophysical methods, bioinformatics, and animal and cellular model systems, with clinical researchers and physicians focused on disease processes, this meeting is expected to significantly catalyze scientific progress. While the thematic area of the conference is broad-based, its relevance to specialized NIH institutes is highly significant. Not only is redox toxicity proposed as one of primary mechanisms of chemical-induced pathology in humans, but the broad impacts of redox signaling on aging and age-associated disease are unmistakable. In keeping with the GRC tradition, the 2024 meeting will select and encourage presentations that emphasize unpublished, novel findings, creating a distinctive intellectual experience that adds significantly to the excitement of the meeting. Participants will interact with one another during the invited presentations, the afternoon and evening poster sessions, and at three daily meals. Investigators new to the meeting, junior investigators, trainees, and individuals historically underrepresented in scientific research will be prevalent and welcomed. The associated GRS will provide a small, relaxed forum in which graduate and postdoctoral students present their research and receive constructive advice and encouragement from a few senior investigators who serve as mentors. We intend that together, the GRS/GRC meetings will attract and increase retention of junior scientists in the field of redox biology. We anticipate that the GRC will enhance the education of researchers at all career levels, generate new ideas and collaborations aimed at understanding thiol-based redox regulation and dysfunction, and enable future progress in the prevention, detection, and treatment of a wide-range of human diseases associated with a loss of redox homeostasis.