A blizzard of stem cells in Santa Fe

The Keystone Symposium 'Stem Cells in Development, Tissue Homeostasis and Disease' was held between 30th January and 4th February 2011 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. The organizers gathered together an impressive panel of speakers to discuss various aspects of stem-cell biology from early development to adult homeostasis, as well as the implications of stem cells for human diseases.     

Environmental epigenomics and disease susceptibility

The Keystone symposium on 'Environmental Epigenomics and Disease Susceptibility' was held in late March 2011 at the Grove Park Inn Resort in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. The meeting helped to define the developing field of 'environmental epigenetics' and the research presented established its role in disease aetiology and susceptibility.     

Plant hormones and signaling: common themes and new developments

About 200 plant biologists convened in Keystone, Colorado, for the "Plant Hormones and Signaling" symposium, which was organized by Joanne Chory, Joe Ecker, and Mark Estelle. The meeting was run concurrently with the "Plant Innate Immunity" symposium organized by Jonathan Jones and Jane Glazebrook. In this report, we summarize the progress in plant hormones and signaling.     

Chromatin and epigenetics in development: blending cellular memory with cell fate plasticity

The epigenetic regulation of chromatin structure and composition has often been studied molecularly in the context of specific DNA-dependent processes. However, epigenetics also play important global roles in shaping and maintaining cell identity, and in patterning the body plan during normal development. Moreover, alterations in epigenetic regulation are involved in many diseases, including cancer. The advances in our understanding of the impact of epigenetics in development and disease were discussed at a recent Keystone symposium.     

Stem cell powwow in Squaw Valley

The Keystone Symposium entitled 'The Life of a Stem Cell: from Birth to Death' was held at Squaw Valley, CA, USA in March 2012. The meeting brought together researchers from across the world and showcased the most recent developments in stem cell research. Here, we review the proceedings at this meeting and discuss the major advances in fundamental and applied stem cell biology that emerged.     

Making new connections

A Keystone symposium held in Taos, New Mexico, 21-26 March 2002 provided the setting for a pioneering gathering of cell biologists and neuroscientists. Under the guidance of organizers Tom Pollard, James Sabry and Carla Schatz, the meeting, entitled 'Cellular Motility and Signaling in the Wiring and Plasticity of Nervous Systems', brought together two groups of researchers that ordinarily rarely connect at scientific conferences. The goal of this new collegial interchange was to fuse expertise on cytoskeletal dynamics with emerging ideas in neuronal development.     

Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology: ‘The molecular basis of cancer’: Organizers: Carol L. Prives and George F. Vande Woude,Taos, NM, 15–21 March 1999

The Keystone Symposium on the Molecular Basis of Cancer was an excellent meeting, which stimulated the exchange of a great deal of information. This report was prepared to organize some of the results that provided new insights into the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. We were unable to report on all of the talks and posters due mostly to our limited capacity to absorb and digest the large amount of results presented at the meeting. We apologize to those whose results were not covered in this report.     

Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology: 'The molecular basis of cancer'. Organizers: Carol L. Prives and George F. Vande Woude, Taos, NM, 15-21 March 1999

The Keystone Symposium on the Molecular Basis of Cancer was an excellent meeting, which stimulated the exchange of a great deal of information. This report was prepared to organize some of the results that provided new insights into the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. We were unable to report on all of the talks and posters due mostly to our limited capacity to absorb and digest the large amount of results presented at the meeting. We apologize to those whose results were not covered in this report.     

2007 Keystone Symposium on Autophagy in Health and Disease

The first Keystone Symposium on Autophagy in Health and Disease was held in Monterey, a scenic city on the Pacific coast in central California, April 15-20, 2007. The symposium brought together approximately 280 participants, from basic researchers to physicians and journalists. The meeting was composed of a joint keynote session with the meeting "Apoptotic and Non-Apoptotic Cell Death Pathways" and eight plenary sessions, covering the molecular mechanisms of autophagy and many emerging concepts and functions of autophagy in organelle degradation, physiological regulation, cell death and survival, and disease. Three afternoon workshops focused on short talks selected from the posters, and a special discussion session led by experts dealt with techniques and concerns regarding experimental detection of autophagy. The symposium highlighted autophagy as a potential therapeutic target in a wide range of diseases, including cancer, microbial infection, myopathies and neurodegenerative disorders.     

2007 Keystone Symposium on Autophagy in Health and Disease

The first Keystone Symposium on Autophagy in Health and Disease was held in Monterey, a scenic city on the Pacific coast in central California, April 15-20, 2007. The symposium brought together approximately 280 participants, from basic researchers to physicians and journalists. The meeting was composed of a joint keynote session with the meeting “Apoptotic and Non-Apoptotic Cell Death Pathways”, and eight plenary sessions, covering the molecular mechanisms of autophagy and many emerging concepts and functions of autophagy in organelle degradation, physiological regulation, cell death and survival, and disease. Three afternoon workshops focused on short talks selected from the posters, and a special discussion session led by experts dealt with techniques and concerns regarding experimental detection of autophagy. The symposium highlighted autophagy as a potential therapeutic target in a wide range of diseases, including cancer, microbial infection, myopathies and neurodegenerative disorders.     

Shedding light on bioscience. Symposium on Optical Imaging: Applications to Biology and Medicine

This dynamic symposium, held on 11-16 February 2003 in Taos, New Mexico, was the first Keystone meeting to focus on optical techniques and their use in biology and medicine. It was organized by D. Becker, D. Farkas and S. Fraser and attracted almost 100 participants from both academia and industry. Fluorescence imaging and its applications, ranging from nano-bioscience to small-animal imaging and imaging of disease progression in humans, were the main topics, with opportunities for further discussion in the cantinas of the town and on the ski slopes of Taos mountain.     

The heart's Da Vinci code: a Renaissance at Keystone

At a recent Keystone symposium on "Molecular Pathways in Cardiac Development and Disease" in Colorado, significant advances in the understanding of heart development were discussed. The identification and isolation of cardiovascular progenitors, their modulation by secreted factors, and some tantalizing insights into cardiac regeneration were some of the highlights of what was characterized by some as a renaissance in cardiovascular development.     

Wellcome Trust/EBI 2009 Meeting Report – Perspectives in Stem Cell Proteomics 22–23 March 2009, Wellcome Trust Conference Centre,Hinxton, UK

This report summarises the recent “Perspectives in Stem Cell Proteomics” meeting that was held at the Wellcome Trust Conference Centre, Hinxton, UK in March 2009. The aim of the meeting was to explore the current status of proteomics in stem cell biology. Several themes encompassing technological and biological studies demonstrated the close relationship that must exist between the two communities in order to maximise our understanding of stem cell behaviour. Highlights included new methods for induction of pluripotent stem cells, new data sets regarding protein expression and phosphorylation dynamics in differentiating cells and the potential for future exploitation in a therapeutic setting.     

RNA silencing in Monterey

The tenth annual Keystone Symposium on the Mechanism and Biology of Silencing convened in Monterey, California, in March 2011. Those seeking some West Coast sunshine were, unfortunately, met with incessant precipitation throughout the meeting. Nevertheless, attendees were brightened by enlightening and vigorous scientific discussions. Here, we summarize the results presented at the meeting, which inspire and push this expanding field into new territories.     

A Keystone for ncRNA

A report on the Keystone symposium 'Non-coding RNAs' held at Snowbird, Utah, USA, 31 March to 5 April 2012.     

What lies at the interface of regenerative medicine and developmental biology?

At a recent Keystone Symposium on 'Developmental Biology and Tissue Engineering', new findings in areas ranging from stem cell differentiation, embryonic pattern formation and organ regeneration to engineered cell microenvironments, synthetic biomaterials and artificial tissue fabrication were described. Although these new advances were exciting, this symposium clarified that biologists and engineers often view the challenge of tissue formation from different, and sometimes conflicting, perspectives. These dichotomies raise questions regarding the definition of regenerative medicine, but offer the promise of exciting new interdisciplinary approaches to tissue and organ regeneration, if effective alliances can be established.     

New resources inform study of genome size, content, and organization in nonavian reptiles

Genomic resources for studies of nonavian reptiles have recently improved and will reach a new level of access once the genomes of the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) and the green anole (Anolis carolinensis) have been published. Eleven speakers gathered for a symposium on reptilian genomics and evolutionary genetics at the 2008 meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in San Antonio, Texas. Presentations described results of reptilian genetic studies concerning molecular evolution, chromosomal evolution, genomic architecture, population dynamics, endocrinology and endocrine disruption, and the evolution of developmental mechanisms. The presented studies took advantage of the recent generation of genetic and genomic tools and resources. Novel findings demonstrated the positive impact made by the improved availability of resources like genome annotations and bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). The symposium was timely and important because it provided a vehicle for the dissemination of novel findings that advance the field. Moreover, this meeting fostered the synergistic interaction of the participants as a group, which is anticipated to encourage the funding and creation of further resources such as additional BAC libraries and genomic projects. Novel data have already been collected and studies like those presented in this symposium promise to shape and improve our understanding of overall amniote evolution. Additional reptilian taxa such as the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), and garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) should be the foci of future genomic projects. We hope that the following articles in this volume will help promote these efforts by describing the conclusions and the potential that the improvement of genomic resources for nonavian reptiles can continue having in this important area of integrative and comparative biology.     

Optical properties and structure of tetrapyrroles. A report of a symposium held at the University of Konstanz, FRG, August 12-17, 1984

Many basic life processes such as oxygen transport, electron transport, photosynthesis and plant development, are mediated by tetrapyrroles. It has long been recognized that optical and other physicochemical properties of tetrapyrroles are highly important not only for characterization of the various relevant systems but also to provide a key role in the understanding of their structural and functional aspects. The symposium described below was devoted mainly to recent advances in the optical and molecular properties of biologically important systems, involving both cyclic and open-chain tetrapyrroles. The topics presented and discussed ranged from physics and chemistry to plant biology and medicine. This interdisciplinary character of the meeting conforms with previous symposia also held in Konstanz: Protein-Ligand Interactions (1974) and Transport by Proteins (1978) [see FEBS Lett. (1975) 54, 1-4, and FEBS Lett. (1979) 103, 1-4]. In order to stimulate exchange of ideas, new experimental approaches and techniques, emphasis was placed on the discussions following each presentation, reports of which are also included in the book published. Preprints of the papers presented were distributed some time prior to the symposium. The symposium was mainly supported by the Stiftung Volkswagenwerk and the University of Konstanz. The meeting was based on 29 invited lectures which were divided into four sections.     

A WNTer wonderland in Snowbird

The Keystone Symposium on ;Wnt and beta-catenin signaling in development and disease' was held recently in Snowbird, UT, USA. Organized by Mariann Bienz and Hans Clevers, this meeting covered a wide range of topics, including Wnt protein biogenesis, Wnt receptors and signaling pathways, beta-catenin/Tcf complexes and gene expression, Wnt signaling in development, cancer, stem cell biology and regeneration, and therapeutics that target the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway.     

Exploiting stem cell therapy: The 3rd meeting of stem cell research Italy

The study of stem cells is one of the most exciting areas of contemporary biomedical research. During the 3rd Joint Meeting of Stem Cell Research Italy (June 2012, Ferrara, Italy), scientists from different multidisciplinary areas explored new frontiers of basic and applied stem cell research with key lectures and oral presentations. There was a public debate on ethics during the opening ceremony, specifically on the limits and potentialities of adult and embryonic stem cells. Some scientists presented basic research data showing evolutionary aspects, which could be of interest in understanding specific biological phenomena. Others focused on “dangerous liaisons” between gene transfer vectors and the human genome. Some speakers provided insight into current stem cell therapies, such as those involving human epithelial stem cells for treatment of skin diseases. Other researchers presented data on close‐to‐therapy findings, such as the use of mesenchymal stem cells in brain repair. Of note, during the meeting, spotlights were focused on major issues that have to be considered for GMP stem cell production for cell therapy. In “Meet the Expert” sessions, specialists presented innovative technologies such as a next‐generation sequencing system. Finally, the meeting provided an excellent opportunity for young scientists to show their findings, and to discuss with each other and with internationally recognized experts. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 911–914, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.