Conference Description
2021 is the 20th biennial meeting of the Phagocytes Gordon Research Conference. It will bring together scientists from around the world to discuss the most recent advances in the field. Invited speakers will present their latest unpublished research related to the many facets of phagocyte biology and their ever-expanding role in health and disease. Featured cells types include neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, and microglia. Topics will include the role of phagocytes in cancer and infection, the impact of outside influences such as aging and the microbiome on phagocyte responses, and the neuroimmuno axis. Cutting edge imaging and novel animals models will reveal novel molecular mechanisms of phagocyte function. The program is designed to encourage vigorous discussion and the free exchange of ideas. Thus, each scientific session will be chaired by a prominent researcher who will highlight recent progress and knowledge gaps related to each topic and guide subsequent discussion. As participation of junior scientists is a key goal of the meeting, the conference will also include interactive poster sessions for presentation of ~100 posters. Short podium talks and “poster previews”, chosen from the submitted abstracts, will provide additional visibility for junior scientists. The collegial atmosphere of this conference is exemplified by the shared meals, and the substantial time provided for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings to promote interactions between attendees at all levels. The overall environment is therefore designed to provide multiple opportunities for learning and for the development of exciting collaborations.
To facilitate the participation of students and postdoctoral fellows, the conference will be preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). The Phagocytes GRS is planned by and for trainees and proves an opportunity for our future leaders to present their research via presentations and posters in a supportive and interactive environment. The GRS has been well received and adds substantial value to the Gordon Research Conference experience for these junior investigators.
The topics, speakers, and discussion leaders for the conference sessions are displayed below. The conference chair is currently developing their detailed program, which will include the complete meeting schedule, as well as the talk titles for all speakers. The detailed program will be available by June 24, 2021. Please check back for updates.
The Tumor Myeloid Microenvironment
Discussion Leaders
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Dianne Cox (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USA)
Speakers
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Miriam Merad (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA)
Innate Immunity from a Cancer Perspective
Discussion Leaders
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Miriam Merad (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA)
Speakers
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Dmitry Gabrilovich (Wistar Institute, USA)
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David Entenberg (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USA)
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Catherine Hedrick (La Jolla Institute for Immunology, USA)
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Toby Lawrence (King's College London, United Kingdom)
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Discussion Leaders
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Silvia Uriarte (University of Louisville, USA)
Speakers
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Alison Criss (University of Virginia, USA)
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Serge Mostowy (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom)
The Cytoskeleton and Membrane Trafficking in Phagocytosis
Discussion Leaders
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Roberto Botelho (Ryerson University, Canada)
Speakers
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Jennifer Stow (Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland , Australia)
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Nils Gauthier (IFOM - The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Italy)
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Stefan Linder (Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany)
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Florence Niedergang (Institut Cochin, France)
The Cell Biology of Phagocyte Responses
Discussion Leaders
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Rene Harrison (University of Toronto, Canada)
Speakers
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Spencer Freeman (The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada)
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Lee-Ann Allen (University of Missouri, USA)
Outside Influences on Phagocyte Function
Discussion Leaders
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Gustavo Menezes (Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil)
Speakers
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Andres Hidalgo (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Spain)
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Attila Mocsai (Semmelweis University, Hungary)
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Ruth Montgomery (Yale University School of Medicine, USA)
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Niki Moutsopoulos (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, USA)
The Neuro-Immune Axis
Discussion Leaders
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William Nauseef (University of Iowa, USA)
Speakers
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Robyn Klein (Washington University School of Medicine, USA)
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Amanda Sierra (Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Spain)
Inflammasomes and Autophagy
Discussion Leaders
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Daniel Irimia (Harvard Medical School, USA)
Speakers
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Ben Croker (University of California, San Diego, USA)
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Vojo Deretic (University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, USA)
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Hal Hoffman (University of California, San Diego, USA)
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Eric Pearlman (University of California, Irvine, USA)
The Inner Workings of Dendritic Cells
Discussion Leaders
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Katherine MacNamara (Albany Medical Center, USA)
Speakers
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Ana-Maria Lennon-Duménil (Institut Curie, France)
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Adriana Mantegazza (University of Pennsylvania, USA)
The GRC Power Hour™
Organizers:
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Dawn Bowdish (McMaster University, Canada)
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Natalie Thiex (South Dakota State University, USA)