Upcoming Medical Conferences in Galveston

Biotherapeutics and Vaccines Development Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Jan 06 - 11, 2019 at Hotel Galvez and Spa, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description : Critical Quality Attributes to Advance Therapeutics and Vaccines from Candidate Selection to Drug Product Biotherapeutics and vaccines play a critical role in improving public health globally. They are being developed for acute and chronic clinical indications that cover the spectrum from infectious diseases to oncology, including respiratory/auto-immune, cardio-vascular, gastro-intestinal and neurological disorders. The development of biologics, from candidate engineering and selection, through expression, purification, formulation, analytical characterization and finally delivery to patients, is a highly inter-disciplinary scientific field. This field lies at the interface of Immunology, Virology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Bio-Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Protein Chemistry, etc., and is governed by critical expectations of key regulatory agencies, viz., US FDA, EU EMA and Japan PMDA. The mission of this new GRC is to assemble subject matter expert (SME) scientists from each of these fields to collectively tackle the highly inter-disciplinary fundamental scientific challenges underlying the development of biotherapeutics and vaccines. Unlike other conferences, which tackle the continuum of development in a piecemeal fashion, e.g. separate purification or formulation/analytics streams, this GRC assembles all SMEs together in a cross functional meeting that reflects the inter-disciplinary scientific/engineering challenge of biotherapeutic and vaccines development. Expression and purification strategies often impact drug product critical quality attributes, whose influence cascades into the bio-physical measurements, interpretation of data and decision-making by formulation, analytical, delivery and process design experts. Moreover, while diverse constructs are under clinical development, the same construct, e.g., monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), can be applied as therapeutics and prophylactics. Given the prolific clinical development of mAbs, cross-learning is of paramount importance to facilitate non-incremental advances in this field. In addition to mAbs, development of other molecular constructs, e.g., bi-specifics, peptides, fusion proteins, antibody-drug conjugates etc. will be discussed. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Immunology of Fungal Infections Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Jan 12 - 13, 2019 at Hotel Galvez and Spa, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description: The incidence of fungal infections is rising and is a serious threat to public health, yet this problem is relatively under-appreciated by the press, the public and funding agencies. Some fungal infections are highly lethal and disproportionately affect vulnerable patients such as neonates and transplant and cancer patients. The requirement for immune-based therapies and novel antifungal drugs to counteract these worrying trends is, therefore, greater than ever. Recent advances in the fungal immunology field have led to an increasing awareness of the impact of commensal fungi on the mucosal immune system, as well as the intricate fungal evasion mechanisms that promote disease. Yet, there remains a wealth of questions as to how fungi invade host tissues and how the immune system responds to this invasion. In this Seminar, the upcoming next generation of fungal immunologists from around the world will be brought together to present cutting-edge ideas and novel insights that help us to understand the mechanisms underlying fungal-host interactions, the molecular pathways that promote protection against fungal infections, and how this information might be exploited in the clinic. The program will promote discussion on these topics and will conclude with a final training session on communicating research to journal editors, the public and grant committees. This meeting is an ideal opportunity for early-career researchers in the fungal immunology field wishing to present their new research, expand their network of contacts, and receive informal career advice from senior faculty and rising stars within the field, who will be present as Discussion Leaders. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Immunology of Fungal Infections Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Jan 13 - 18, 2019 at Hotel Galvez and Spa, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description: The 2019 Gordon Research Conference the Immunology of Fungal Infections focuses on leading advances in our understanding of the challenges that fungi impose on the immune system. This meeting – the 5th in its series – has become the must-attend venue for immunologists and medical mycologists to discuss how the immune system response to the challenge of fungal pathogens as well as how the fungus responds to the assault of innate and adaptive immune responses. In this meeting, we include a focus on investigations using of NextGen sequencing and big data approaches, state of the art advances in fundamental immune processes controlling fungal infections and development of new strategies for immunotherapeutic control of these pathogens in humans. Other sessions will focus on important current issues regarding mechanisms of fungal immunity, including innate fungal recognition; pathogen-associated molecular patterns and corresponding pattern recognition receptors; adaptive immune responses and their regulation; impact of immunodeficiency and immunomodulation on fungal pathogenesis and susceptibility; how the host microbiome and metabolic states drive immunity; human immunogenetics, immunopharmacology and translational immunotherapy (checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells) and vaccination strategies. We have also added a new session focusing on the microbiology of different fungal microbes, which will help bring together microbiologists and immunologists attending the meeting. We will also have a session to highlight the “next generation" of promising young investigators in the field. This meeting has become a melting pot for perspectives gained from researchers from different traditions with a common interest in fungal infections. Conference Topics: • Next-Gen Advances in Fungal Immunology: Genomes and Beyond • Immunity to Fungi in Humans: Bench to Bedside • The Microbiology of Fungi: What Immunologists Need to Know • Fungal Infections at Mucosal Surfaces • Fungal Adaptation to the Immune Response • Pulmonary Immunity to Fungal Infections • Adaptive Immunity to Fungal Infections • Advances in Innate Immunity to Fungal Microbes • Young Investigator Presentations Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Directed Cell Migration Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Jan 19 - 20, 2019 at Hotel Galvez and Spa, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description: The 2019 Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Directed Cell Migration provides a unique forum for postdoctoral trainees and graduate students to present and discuss new results and cutting-edge ideas. Cellular dynamics and migration is a fundamental process not only underlying morphogenesis, development and homeostasis; but also implicated in a variety of diseases. As a result, the field has evolved into a truly transdisciplinary one and our program will feature latest developments across the entire spectrum. The goal of the GRS is to generate engaging dialogue between early career scientists and leaders in the field of cellular migration. The highlight of our program consist of two stimulating keynote talks by established field leaders and an interactive and lively “Ask the PI” panel session. This will provide the participants ample scope to network with the community for both scientific and career-related mentoring. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Directed Cell Migration Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Jan 20 - 25, 2019 at Hotel Galvez and Spa, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description: Cell migration is essential for immune surveillance, wound healing, and the development of multicellular organisms. Cancer cells inappropriately engage the migration program to spread throughout the body. The objective of this meeting is to bring together an international group of junior and senior scientists who share an interest in directed cell movement to present their latest discoveries, foster new collaborations, and facilitate new ways of thinking about the process. Our invited speakers are selected from topics ranging from cancer metastasis to leukocyte guidance to embryonic development to neuronal pathfinding to wounding and regeneration and will emphasize novel, unpublished results directly related to how cells regulate their movement. Bringing together this diversity of cell types and approaches facilitates the identification of general principles of directed movement beyond the details of the individual systems. Our program includes a mixture of established cell migration labs, rising stars in the field, and experts from other disciplines who have something new to say about the underlying machinery and logic of cell movement. Young investigators will be encouraged to present and discuss their findings at the GRC in a supportive environment through the invitation of 20 additional speakers, selected from submitted abstracts, and by participation in the poster sessions. Throughout the conference, interactions between senior and young investigators will be promoted in both formal and informal settings. To further promote the participation and development of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, the meeting will be preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) that is organized by trainees. Not only does this give an opportunity for more trainees to orally present their work and network with one another, but we have found from previous meetings that this activates the trainees to be more involved in the GRC. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Feb 02 - 03, 2019 at Hotel Galvez and Spa, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description: The Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology aims to unite highly qualified graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and other scientists with comparable levels of experience and education to discuss novel research findings related to the field of exocrine biology. In this informal setting, junior scientists will be able to present exciting unpublished research through talks and posters, foster collaboration and networking, and learn about future career paths through a mentor career panel. This year, the GRS will focus on organ structure and function, first highlighting topics encompassing the world of exocrine gland secretion and secretory products before transitioning to the formation of the structural units that make secretion possible. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Feb 03 - 08, 2019 at Hotel Galvez and Spa, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description: The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology will include cutting edge sessions on exocrine gland development, regenerative and tissue engineering approaches, new insights into organ aging and autoimmune disease, functional relevance of salivary proteins, membrane functions in exocrine glands, salivary gland and head and neck cancer etiology and treatments, and current topics in cell biology of exocrine glands. Invited speakers for the GRC will include eminent scientists from academia, industry and government and talks will include both senior and junior scientists from diverse fields who will present unpublished research findings on subjects of greatest interest to the field. A Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will be held just prior to the GRC that will invite only speakers who are graduate students and postdoctoral associates in a wide variety of laboratories worldwide. In addition, poster sessions will be held daily at the GRC and GRS to enable all attendees to present and discuss their data in an open forum. The overall goals of these two meetings are to disseminate the newest findings, foster scientific exchanges and engender research collaborations in exocrine biology, moving the field forward into the future. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Physical Science of Cancer Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Feb 09 - 10, 2019 at Hotel Galvez, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description: The Gordon Research Seminar on Physical Science of Cancer is a unique forum for graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists with comparable levels of experience and education to present and exchange new data and cutting-edge ideas. Cancer initiation, development, and progression involve alterations in cell fate, which are regulated in part by the physical context of cancer. Developing experimental and computational methods to explore the implications of cell fate transitions in cancer is critical to advance our understanding and ability to therapeutically target processes such as epithelial to mesenchymal transition, tumor-associated alterations in the stroma, and cancer dormancy and relapse. At the intersection of cancer biology and physical sciences, this meeting will focus on approaches to measure, model, and predict physical regulation of cell fate in cancer. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Physical Science of Cancer Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is organized by Gordon Research Conferences (GRC) and will be held from Feb 10 - 15, 2019 at Hotel Galvez, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Conference Description: Aberrant physical context is a hallmark of cancer that includes altered tissue and extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture, physical properties of cells, mechanical cues, and transport processes due to convection and diffusion. These changes are not static, but vary over space and time ultimately influencing the evolutionary dynamics underlying cancer heterogeneity. Importantly, physical features of the cancer are not passive bystanders, but actively regulate the many molecular changes that are currently being explored by precision medicine in the clinic. New scientific approaches are needed to better understand how the physics of cancer impact disease development, progression, and therapy. Indeed, a progressively clearer understanding of cancer complexity can be gained by using experimental models that allow recapitulation and monitoring of the specific physical cues and forces inherent to cancer across multiple levels (molecular, cellular, tissue level) and in real time. Furthermore, multi-scale computational models (continuum to cellular to molecular) enable quantitative, testable predictions of physical coupling among cells and microenvironmental conditions on the macroscopic scale. This GRC on Physical Science of Cancer will provide a forum to discuss how the physical properties of cancer can be measured, modeled experimentally, and computationally predicted. These concepts and approaches will be presented in the context of challenges and opportunities in the field. Presentations by global leaders in cancer biology/oncology will provide a broad framework of the current status of cancer research including immunology, precision medicine, and cancer evolution. Engineers, mathematicians, chemists, and physicists will provide perspectives on how physical sciences technologies and approaches advance insights related to the multiscale mechanics and forces of cancer, spatiotemporal dynamics of cell-microenvironment interactions, imaging approaches, and computational methods. The collective contribution of these diverse fields will ultimately advance our understanding of the functional coupling between the biochemical and physical properties of cancer and advance clinical care and treatment. Conference Sessions: • Systems Biology of Cancer • Physical Considerations of Cancer Invasion and Migration • Interfacing the Metabolic and Physical Microenvironment of Cancer • Biophysical Regulation of Cell Fate Decisions by the Glycocalyx • Physical Sciences Considerations of Immunooncology • Structural and Mechanical Properties of the Tumor ECM • Nuclear Mechanics and Mechanotransduction • Precision Medicine and Cancer Evolution in Clinical Trial Design • Metastasis and Dormancy Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.

Translation Machinery in Health and Disease Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) is organized by Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and will be held from Feb 16 - 17, 2019 at Hotel Galvez and Spa, Galveston, Texas, United States of America. Course Description: The Gordon Research Seminar on Translation Machinery in Health and Disease is a unique forum for graduate students, post-docs, and other scientists with comparable levels of experience and education to present and exchange new data and cutting edge ideas. The focus of this meeting is the local translation - meaning protein synthesis which occurs in a specific location within a cell, such as at a neuronal synapse. In addition to basic mechanisms mediating local translation, the meeting will also focus on understanding the dysregulation of local translation in various disease states. Additional details will be posted as soon as they are available.