Secretory and Endocytic Pathways in Health and Disease

The 2016 Gordon Conference on Protein Processing Trafficking and Secretion will feature cutting-edge research on the cell biology of the secretory and endocytic pathways, with fundamental implications that address many areas of human health and development. Invited talks will cover a wide range of topics including the biology of PCSK9, PC1/2s, cathepsins and other important proteases; Regulated Intramembrane Proteolysis; generation of endosomes and multi-vesicular bodies; the sorting and trafficking of dense core vesicles; inter-organelle communication and autophagy; and the mechanisms of neuropeptide secretion. A strength of this Gordon Conference is the multidisciplinary nature of the research reported, drawing on methodological advances in areas ranging from high-throughput genetics and proteomics, to enzymology and super-resolution microscopy. Attendance by under-represented minorities, students, postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty, and faculty from primarily undergraduate institutions is highly encouraged.

In addition to the 31 invited talks, approximately 12 short talks will be presented by Conference participants selected on the basis of submitted abstracts. All applicants are therefore encouraged to submit a brief abstract describing their work and to indicate whether they would like their abstract to be considered for one of the short talks. For full consideration, applicants interested in presenting a short talk should submit their application by June 6, 2016. Alternatively, ample space and time will be afforded for the presentation and discussion of posters by all Conference attendees.

The Conference will be preceded by the third affiliated Gordon Research Seminar, in which students and postdoctoral researchers will have the opportunity to present their work in talks and posters and to build collaborations and informal networks with their peers prior to the arrival of senior investigators. Klaudia Brix (Jacobs Univ) will present the keynote address and a Mentoring Component will feature technical advances to study secretory and endocytic pathways. Interested trainees can find more information on the associated GRS web page (see "Related Meeting" section below).