9317903 Grodzicker Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories proposes to organize the first open-invitation meeting to be devoted to research on zebrafish. The meeting will focus on the cellular, molecular, and genetic regulation of embryonic development and growth. Because the field of zebrafish research is so new and is expanding so rapidly, this is a perfect time for a general meeting of all the researchers working on zebrafish to share their ideas and experiences and to foster future communication. The meeting at which most zebrafish research laboratories will be represented, will function to educate significantly the investigators in this field, will serve to facilitate the exchange of materials and information about evolving technologies and methodological approaches, and will greatly influence the future directions of research in this field. Enthusiasm within the zebrafish research community for the 1994 meeting is extensive: 350 individuals from over 100 labs in 16 countries are expected, representing both beginning and established investigators. Each participant will have the opportunity to present their work with a poster or in a talk. The scientific content of the meeting will focus primarily on the early embryonic development of the zebrafish. Sessions will be devoted to the following areas of inquiry: (1) gastrulation, body patterning, and morphogenesis; (2) determination of cell fate; (3) development of the nervous system; (4) growth control; (5) organogenesis; (6) genetics and genomics; and (7) gene transfer, gene expression and new methodologies. In addition, a session on community organization will serve to discuss common goals of the zebrafish research community and to establish means for the collection and dissemination of information and research reagents throughout the community. This meeting on zebrafish will have a critical function in the growth and development of this exciting area of vertebrate research. ***
