Protein Aggregation: Conformer Diversity

2027 FASEB Science Research Conference

Date and Venue: TBD

Conference Summary
It is widely recognized that protein aggregation and protein misfolding result in many neurodegenerative diseases worldwide. These include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal diseases, systemic amyloidosis, prion diseases, and multiple system atrophy. Recent successes in the treatment of ALS-SOD1 using antisense oligonucleotides offer promise.

However, while the latest FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) modestly slow cognitive and functional decline in early-stage patients by targeting amyloid plaques, these drugs are far from being efficacious, disease-modifying drugs, and come with serious potential risks. 

A better understanding of protein aggregation mechanisms will provide a framework for the discussion about the development of therapies against these devastating and often fatal diseases. This conference will bring together researchers to discuss the latest advances in protein aggregation, protein misfolding, and emerging therapeutic strategies to advance the field.

Attendees will learn about:

  • The structural characterization of amyloids
  • The impact of fibril formation on proteostasis and vice versa
  • The role of phase separation in neurodegenerative disease
  • Machine learning-based structure prediction

Program topics include:

  • How the amyloid shape impacts spreading mechanisms
  • Development of therapeutics
  • The important roles of functional amyloids in bacterial biofilm formation and long-term memory
  • Functional genetics inference of structure 

Workshops:

Meet the Experts "dine-arounds" will offer early-career scientists mentorship opportunities with invited speakers.

A Career Development Workshop will provide early-career investigators with a realistic, nuanced understanding of different scientific career paths by bringing together academic faculty at different stages, scientists from industry, and/or editorial staff from scientific journals.

The NextGen Symposium will provide an outstanding opportunity for students and postdocs to give talks and network in a supportive environment.

Important Dates
TBD

Conference Venue

TBD

Conference Organizers


Sandra Encalada, PhD
Associate Professor

The Scripps Research Institute
San Diego, CA


Carlo Condello, PhD
Associate Professor
University of California, San Francisco

San Francisco, CA


Meytal Landau, PhD
Professor, Lead Scientist
Center for Experimental Medicine (ZEM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)

Hamburg, Germany