The Chemistry and Biology of Cell Death (Q6)

Cell death can occur through distinct mechanisms, and the signaling pathways leading to these lethal outcomes are becoming established. Although therapeutic strategies targeting specific cell death mediators were introduced over 10 years ago, the breadth of cell death mechanisms should present numerous additional possibilities for drug development. To better understand the Achilles’ heels for targeted therapy we need to comprehend the chemistry behind cell death paradigms. We propose that coupling the breadth of chemical biology with genetic analysis of cell death pathways in model organisms will provide not only a comprehensive understanding, but reveal tractable targets. The 2014 Keystone Symposia meeting on The Chemistry and Biology of Cell Death will address the normal regulation and pathogenic dysfunction of distinct cell death modalities, present updates on clinical trials and new strategies for therapeutic intervention, and highlight chemical biology efforts that are leading to a better understanding of the role that cell death plays in health and disease.