Biology of Host-Parasite Interaction 2008 Grodon Research Conference

Gordon Research Conference on 'Biology of Host-Parasite Interactions' Salve Regina University, Newport RI, June 22 - 27, 2008. The 2008 Host-parasite Interactions GRC conference will focus on the latest findings on molecular aspects of protozoan organisms and how these relate to human diseases such as (but not limited to) malaria, toxoplasmosis, African and American trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, giardiasis and entamoebiasis. <P> The aim of the meeting is to define current state of this dynamic and exciting field and to discuss and set future research agendas. The focus on human diseases and the identification, validation and characterisation of new therapeutic targets clearly places the conference within the mission of the NIH and particulalry of the NIAID. <P>Participation by graduate students and post-docs is particularly encouraged and a third of the talks will be selected from the abstracts. Some sholarships for graduate student/post-doc attendance will be made available and individuals from minority groups are encouraged to apply. This conference promises to adhere to the spirit of the Gordon Research Conferences by promoting the free and friendly exchange of information and ideas. <P>The key areas to be covered are: Vector Biology (Discussion Leader: Jose' Ribeiro (NIH) Parasite Development (Discussion Leader: Stephen Beverley, WASHU, St. Louis) Epigenetic Regulation and gene expression (Discussion Leader: Gloria Rudenko, Oxford, UK) Invasion and Organelle Biogenesis (Discussion Leader; Dominique Soldati, Geneva, Switzerland) The 'OMICS': Interfacing function and genomics (David Roos, U-Penn) The Parasite RNA World (Discussion Leader:) Shulamit Michaeli (Bar-Ilan University, Israel) Biochemistry and Drug Discovery (Discussion Leader: Margaret Phillips, UT-Southwestern) Hijacking the Host Cell (Discussion Leader: David Sibley,WASHU, St. Louis) Frontiers in parasite imaging (Discussion Leader: Markus Engstler, Munich, Germany)<P> The 2008 Host-parasite Interactions GRC conference will focus on the latest findings on molecular aspects of protozoan organisms and how these relate to human diseases such as (but not limited to) malaria, toxoplasmosis, African and American trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, giardiasis and entamoebiasis. The aim of the meeting is to define current state of this dynamic and exciting field and to discuss and set future research agendas. The focus on human diseases and the identification, validation and characterization of new therapeutic targets clearly places the conference within the mission of the NIH and particularly of the NIAID.