This is a proposal for support of the Prenatal Programming and Toxicity (PPTOX) Conference, to be held in Chicago, IL Sept 30-Oct 3, 2020. PPTOX refers to the burgeoning research field that addresses the crucial developments during early life, where cells and organs become fully functional, thus laying the groundwork for optimal functions of the mature organism. Exposures to environmental toxins during this critical period can permanently perturb normal functionality of organs and systems, leading to increased disease susceptibility throughout life. PPTOX studies this interaction at the mechanistic and population level across a broad spectrum of environmental pollutants to improve our understanding of the root causes of diseases and thus our ability to develop intervention strategies. The 2020 PPTOX-VII conference has been organized in a logical series of sessions that will permit the conference theme to unfold over the course of four days thus permitting significant cross-fertilization of ideas and concepts by the meeting's end. The Conference will begin with a robust, half-day Trainee Workshop that brings new participants together followed by an opening Keynote Lecture for all participants. A series of state-of-the-art plenary lectures, short talks from submitted abstracts and open discussions on key issues in perinatal programming, toxicity and health outcomes will be presented over the next three days. There will be two poster sessions for submitted research from meeting attendees. In addition, there are plans to broadcast the sessions via an online platform for participation by out of state and overseas registrants who cannot attend the sessions in person. PPTOX's multidisciplinary approach and the link to research strategies and decision-making on preventable hazards make this conference a unique and innovative endeavor.
This is a proposal to organize the seventh conference on Prenatal Programming and Toxicity (PPTOX-VII), to be held in Chicago, IL, Sept 30 ? Oct 3, 2020. The PPTOX research field addresses exposures to environmental toxins during the perinatal critical period when cells and organs become functional, thus reprogramming structures to increased disease susceptibility during adulthood. We plan to present new research findings across a range of organs and exposures, examining both mechanisms and populations and discussions research strategies and interventions that will propel the field during the next decade.
