Funding is requested to support the next meeting of the National Neurofibromatosis Foundation International Consortium for the Molecular and Cell Biology of NF1 and NF2 to be held June 1-4, 2003 at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado. Beginning with the first meeting in 1985, these conferences have served as the catalyst for many of the fundamental discoveries that have contributed major insights into these important diseases of the nervous system. These meetings provide a regular forum to bring together molecular and cell biologists, geneticists, clinicians, and others familiar with NF1 and NF2 to share their latest research findings and experiences. Moreover, these meetings have proven to be exceptional opportunities from scientists and clinical researchers to form new collaborative ventures. NNFF Consortia have been instrumental in the rapid advances in the molecular understanding ofNF 1 and NF2, including the cloning of the responsible genes, establishment of diagnostic tests, exploration of protein functions, development of anima models, and creation of a network of patients and clinicians to facilitate clinical trials. Given the rapid scientific progress and subsequent translation to clinical practice, it is necessary to hold these meetings annually to promote synergy, facilitate collaboration, and enable translational research. The 2003 Consortium meeting has been organized as an open meeting that will be advertised to the general scientific community. Each of six platform sessions will be co-chaired by two experts in the field who will guide discussion of the presented work and its relevance to the overall session topic. These sessions will also include invited speakers from the NF research community and other presentations to be selected from submitted abstracts. Participation by junior investigators will be encouraged and the organizers anticipate, on the basis of previous Consortium meetings, that a substantial percentage of the speakers will be young investigators. Speakers will be instructed to allow time for open discussion among all participants. In addition, loner talks by two keynote speakers who are leaders in scientific fields or emerging technologies that are directly relevant to NF research will be incorporated into the scientific sessions. Two poster sessions will also be held which will allow investigators to present abstracts not selected for one of the oral sessions. In addition to updating investigators working on NF 1 and NF2 on the latest research developments, this meeting will help to identify critical gaps in our knowledge as well as strategies and collaborations to address them. An improved understanding of the molecular basis of NF1 and NF2 will play an essential role in developing improved therapies for the complications of these disorders and has broad implications to the fields of developmental neurobiology and cancer research.
