There is an urgent need to understand the diverse mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias that lead to sudden death and stroke, which remain major health concerns and place more than 10 million Americans at risk. The 2017 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms, ?The New Basics: Model Systems, Emerging Technologies and Precision Medicine? addresses this need by emphasizing the importance of basic science discovery, the power of model systems and the new technologies that ultimately enable patient-specific, mechanistic approaches to disease diagnosis and treatment. The long-term objective of this meeting is to provide a forum for investigators ? junior, mid-level and senior ? to engage in focused discussion on the latest advances in the field of cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms. The meeting fosters the development of trainees by supporting an associated Gordon Research Seminar on Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms at which trainees present their research findings and engage in panel discussions with mentors on matters of career pathways and professional development.
The specific aims of the conference are: ? To bring together investigators who study the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias from different disciplinary perspectives using state-of-the-art methodologies. In the intense and informal atmosphere of the GRC, such interactions can be transformative to participants? research programs. ? To bridge the gap between basic science and clinical applications by highlighting new discoveries and innovations that are translational while preserving the rigor of basic science and exploiting its potential for creating paradigm shifts. ? To provide the opportunity for lively networking interactions that foster the development of junior investigators as they develop lifelong relationships with each other and with more senior investigators. The GRC provides an unparalleled environment for the development and emergence of the next generation of leaders in our field. ? To highlight neglected areas in our understanding of cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms and to identify and prioritize novel research directions. These goals are closely aligned with the mission of NHLBI. They will be achieved during a five-day intensive meeting in which investigators of different professional levels, disciplines and occupations will present their work, engage in group and individual discussions, and establish relationships and collaborations that will transform current practices and advance our understanding of cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms.

Public Health Relevance

The 2017 Gordon Research Conference on Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms will provide a forum in which cutting edge concepts and new observations on mechanisms and treatment of complex cardiac rhythm disturbances are discussed, at levels of integration ranging from molecule to the patient. The meeting, subtitled ?The New Basics: Model Systems, Emerging Technologies and Precision Medicine,? will focus on key scientific discoveries, relevant to both basic science and the clinic, emphasizing multi-disciplinary approaches to integrating the latest (mostly unpublished) advances in structural biology, genomics, proteomics, stem cell research, cellular and tissue electrophysiology, high-resolution mapping, and computational modeling. The meeting will foster the next generation of investigators as they seek to uncover the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmogenesis and identify pathways to effective treatments for these fatal or debilitating diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Conference (R13)
Project #
1R13HL136006-01
Application #
9256619
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1)
Program Officer
Shi, Yang
Project Start
2017-01-01
Project End
2017-12-31
Budget Start
2017-01-01
Budget End
2017-12-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Gordon Research Conferences
Department
Type
DUNS #
075712877
City
West Kingston
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02892