These scientists are organizing the 5th International Conference on Muscle Energetics involving scientists from the United States, Japan, Europe, Canada, and Australia. The Conference will be held in Burlington VT, USA, hosted by the University of Vermont. The goal of the conference is to bring together scientists interested in presenting and discussing their recent contributions to the field of muscle energetics, especially in relation to the molecular basis of human cardiac and skeletal muscle diseases. Based on the responses to announcements, 150 participants are anticipated, approximately half American, compared with 66 (1977) and 95 (1984) at previous meetings held in Vermont. The Conference plan, based on the success of previous meetings, includes both oral and poster presentations in order to foster a mix of established scientists and young investigators. Seven oral symposia will be offered covering the following topics: Structural Biology of Muscle, Structural Dynamics of Myosin and Actin, Thin Filament Regulation, Thick Filament Regulation, Muscle Energetics, Structure-Function Relationships in Muscle Disease, and Physiological Genomics/Muscle Proteomics. In addition to daily discussion of posters, a final session will be devoted to issues raised at posters in relation to critical issues discussed at the oral sessions, with the goal of achieving a consensus as to what has been accomplished and what new directions will be most fruitful. The meeting has been advertised through a variety of means; responses to initial email notices indicate 120 are interested in attending. Key U.S. and foreign participants have been selected as Chairs of the sessions. A summary of the Proceedings of the Conference will be published in the Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility. Partial support is requested to defray travel and accommodation expenses for 64 speakers (full support for 10 organizers and speakers); partial support is requested to defray meal and other expenses for all attendees. Half of the anticipated costs of the Conference will be covered by revenue from other sources. This Conference encompasses a broad group of scientists focusing on the mechanisms underlying contractility and its regulation in cardiac, skeletal and smooth muscle, from the view point of muscle mechanoenergetics.
