Welcome

Dear Colleague:

We are pleased to invite you to our meeting on Mitochondrial Biology in Cardiovascular Health and Disease, to be held October 6-7, 2008, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

There has been a resurgence of investigation into the biology of mitochondria. In particular, recent advances in proteomics and imaging technologies have markedly enhanced our understanding pertaining to the molecular and biochemical functioning of mitochondria. This knowledge has, in turn, lead to the realization that the regulation of mitochondrial function, turnover, and content affects various physiological systems.

This conference will bring together leading thinkers in the field of mitochondrial biology to review the most current knowledge of the mitochondrial regulatory program and its role in cardiovascular health and disease.

PRESENTATIONS WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:

·  New advances in understanding the regulatory control of mitochondrial biogenesis and function at the molecular level and its role in both health and disease;

·  The role of altered mitochondrial bioenergetics and metabolism in ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases;

·  The role of reactive oxygen species and their regulation in mitochondrial function;

·  Genetic diseases that modulate mitochondrial dysfunction and their association with cardiovascular conditions, including cardiac hypertrophy and Friedrich’s Ataxia;

· The role of mitochondrial biology in the development of obesity and type II diabetes;

·  New imaging and proteomics technologies and their role in elucidating mitochondrial biology; and

·  Novel therapies targeting mitochondria that modulate cardiac risk factors and may potentially treat cardiovascular disease.

We are grateful for the generous funding by several organizations, which has made this exciting program possible. They include the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the NIH Office of Rare Diseases and the Society of Heart and Vascular Metabolism.

This conference aims to provide a forum for investigators from diverse disciplines to exchange new findings and ideas regarding the role of mitochondria in cardiovascular biology. An additional goal of this conference is that the scientific exchange of ideas will foster research collaborations and stimulate the potential for new translational research opportunities in this emerging field.

We hope you will join us in making these goals attainable and look forward to welcoming you in Bethesda in October.

 

Sincerely,

THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

Robert S. Balaban, PhD / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, DHHS

Toren Finkel, MD, PhD / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, DHHS

Mark Gladwin, MD / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, DHHS

Paul Hwang, MD, PhD / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, DHHS

Daniel P. Kelly, MD / Washington University School of Medicine

Gary D. Lopaschuk, PhD / University of Alberta, Canada

Elizabeth C. Murphy, PhD / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, DHHS

Peipei Ping, PhD / University of California, Los Angeles

Michael N. Sack, MD, PhD / National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, DHHS

William C. Stanley, PhD / University of Maryland, Baltimore

Heinrich Taegtmeyer, MD, PhD / The University of Texas, Houston

Derek M. Yellon, PhD, DSc / University College London, United Kingdom