Triplet repeats occur naturally throughout the genome. Triplet repeat disorders result when triplet repeat numbers expand above some critical threshold. How expanded triplet repeats result in a variety of human genetic disorders is a growing field and spans many interdisciplinary fields of study including genetics, pharmacology, biochemistry, cell biology, neurology, and psychiatry.
The goal of the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) in triplet repeat disorders is to provide opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to showcase their work in a collaborative atmosphere. The aim of this event is to provide a forum for young scientists to discuss and to present their innovative, unpublished findings in a supportive environment, to spur stimulating discussions led by recognized leaders in triplet repeat disorders, and to foster the growth of new ideas and form new interdisciplinary collaborations for future research.
| SATURDAY |
| 2:00 pm | Check-In Begins |
| 3:00 pm - 3:15 pm | Introductory Comments by GRC Site Staff / Welcome by the GRS Conference Chair |
| 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm | Keynote Address |
| 3:15 pm - 3:45 pm | J. Paul Taylor (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital)
"Insights into the Pathogenesis of a Polyglutamine Disease Provide Approaches to Therapeutic Intervention" |
| 3:45 pm - 4:00 pm | Discussion |
| 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Poster Session I |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm | Polyglutamine Protein Biology: Gain and Loss of Function Toxicity |
| Discussion Leader: Diane Merry (Thomas Jefferson University) |
| 7:30 pm - 7:45 pm | Christopher Reina (University of Pennsylvania)
"Cellular stress induces nuclear localization of ataxin-3" |
| 7:45 pm - 7:50 pm | Discussion |
| 7:50 pm - 8:05 pm | Lise Munsie (McMaster University)
"The Huntington's Disease protein has a nuclear function in cell stress response" |
| 8:05 pm - 8:10 pm | Discussion |
| 8:10 pm - 8:25 pm | Heather Montie (Thomas Jefferson University)
"Cytoplasmic retention of polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor ameliorates disease via autophagy in a mouse model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy" |
| 8:25 pm - 8:30 pm | Discussion |
| 8:30 pm - 8:45 pm | Carly Desmond (McMaster University)
"Mediation of Huntingtin Nuclear Import Via Karyopherin Beta 2" |
| 8:45 pm - 8:50 pm | Discussion |
| 8:50 pm - 9:05 pm | Austen Milnerwood (University of British Columbia)
"Evidence for augmented extrasynaptic NMDA receptor signaling in a transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease" |
| 9:05 pm - 9:10 pm | Discussion |
| 9:10 pm - 9:30 pm | Structured Discussion |
| SUNDAY |
| 7:30 am - 8:30 am | Breakfast |
| 9:00 am - 9:35 am | Successful Grant Writing |
| 9:00 am - 9:25 am | Margaret Sutherland (NIH/NINDS)
"How to Successfully Navigate the Funding Maze - The Dos and Don'ts for Grant Submission" |
| 9:25 am - 9:35 am | Discussion |
| 9:35 am - 12:15 pm | Pathogenesis and Therapeutics of Polyglutamine Disease |
| Discussion Leader: Harry Orr (University of Minnesota) |
| 9:35 am - 9:50 am | Rebecca Aron (Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, University of California, San Francisco)
"Validation of Potential Genetic Modifiers of Huntington's Disease in Neuronal Cell Models" |
| 9:50 am - 9:55 am | Discussion |
| 9:55 am - 10:10 am | Jill Yersak (Thomas Jefferson University)
"The 11S Proteasomal Activator REGgamma Protects Transgenic SBMA Motor Neurons from DHT-Dependent Cell Death while Enhancing AR Aggregation" |
| 10:10 am - 10:15 am | Discussion |
| 10:15 am | Coffee Break |
| 10:45 am - 11:00 am | Edgardo Rodriguez-Lebron (University of Michigan)
"Optimizing RNAi as potential therapy for Spinocerebellar Ataxias" |
| 11:00 am - 11:05 am | Discussion |
| 11:05 am - 11:20 am | Nobuhiro Fukikake (National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry)
"Pharmacological activation of heat shock transcription factor 1 suppresses polyglutamine-induced neurodegeneration through induction of multiple molecular chaperones" |
| 11:20 am - 11:25 am | Discussion |
| 11:25 am - 11:40 am | Wanda Kwan (Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, University of California, San Francisco)
"Analysis of the Effects of Bone Marrow Transplantation in the YAC128 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease" |
| 11:40 am - 11:45 am | Discussion |
| 11:45 am - 12:15 pm | Structured Discussion |
| 12:15 pm - 12:30 pm | GRS Evaluation |
| (Discuss request for a subsequent GRS; Fill out Evaluation Forms) |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Poster Session II |
| 3:30 pm | Gordon Research Seminar ends. For those attending the associated Gordon Research Conference, please check in at the GRC Office beginning at 4:00 pm. |