The field of vascular biology has experienced an explosion of information in recent years. In light of this wealth of information there is an increased need for discussion and interdisciplinary exchange of ideas. Vascular biology has evolved over the past decade as a major cross-disciplinary field that impacts on a wide number of major human diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes, stroke, and hematological disorders. More recently, inflammation has emerged as a critical topic in vascular biology with major implications for vascular disease and with important intersections with vascular development and genetics, including in the emerging field of vascular regeneration. Vascular inflammation is an emerging topic in vascular biology. Vascular diseases with a large public health impact such as hypertension and atherosclerosis have significant inflammatory and immune components. In addition, vascular inflammation impacts on angiogenesis, stem cell biology, regeneration, and vascular differentiation. Therefore, the sixth NAVBO Developmental Vascular Biology Workshop, now including a genetic component, will be held concurrently with the first ever NAVBO Vascular Inflammation Workshop. This joint conference will bring together scientists with the common interest of understanding the process of blood vessel formation in development and how this information pertains to pathological states. The program was developed to include the latest unpublished information in traditional topics of interest in both o these fields and to integrate novel, emerging themes in each area and at the intersection of these previously diverse areas. In this application we request funds to partially support both of these interdisciplinary, international workshops, which will bring together investigators from the academic, and private sectors, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students from diverse fields of study for four days of intense discussion and study. The conference will be held at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA from October 19-23, 2014. We have assembled a roster of speakers that reflects the leaders in developmental biology, genetics, and inflammation as those issues pertain to the vasculature. In addition, approximately half of the speakers at the workshops will be chosen from submitted abstracts in order to capture the latest unpublished work in these disciplines. The majority of abstract presentations will be from early stage investigators and trainees. It is our aim to foster a high-level exchange of ideas among a diverse group of investigators, including investigators directly involved in translational research. We have included joint sessions on translational biology and vascular therapeutics to facilitate interactions among researchers involved in basic and clinical/translational research. The conference seeks insight into possible new therapeutic approaches for amelioration of a broad spectrum of pathological states, including developmental defects, hypertension, cancer, myocardial infarction, and stroke.
In the planned workshops, scientists will present their new discoveries in developmental biology, inflammation and vascular genetics to other colleagues and their trainees. They will also openly discuss the impact of these discoveries on our current understanding of how blood vessels are formed, organized and maintained as well as the malformation of blood vessels and vascular diseases. Interactions among researchers involved in basic and clinical/translational research will be fostered and the outcome of these interactions may provide insight into new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of vascular pathologies at large. (End of Abstract)
