Bridging Scientific Disciplines to Understand Biomineral Formation in Breadth and Depth

Biominerals are formed in many multi- and uni-cellular organisms. One of the most noticeable and intriguing characteristics of biominerals is the variety of morphologies, sizes, and shapes seen in organisms, which are completely different from their synthetic counterparts. Under programmed genetic and cellular control these composite materials assemble into hierarchical structures and play crucial roles throughout the lifetime of the organism. In human, biominerals have significant impact on health and if formed in a wrong place or at a wrong time lead to pathology and cancer. Biominerals represent a window to evolution and the history of Earth and have reciprocal and intimate relationships with their environment. Biomineralization has inspired material scientists and engineers to design and develop materials with elaborate structures and desirable physical and mechanical properties for biomedical, dental and industrial applications.

The objective of the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Biomineralization 2022 is to bring together early career and established scientists from around the globe with diverse backgrounds and a variety of expertise including but not limited to biology, physics, geology, chemistry, engineering, environmental sciences, dentistry and medicine. Speakers and poster presenters will share a broad spectrum of state-of-the-art topics to cover genetic, molecular and cellular mechanisms of formation, structure and function of biomineralized tissues. Interactions of biominerals with the environment, impact on health and disease, as well as the translational aspect of biomineralization in tissue engineering will also be covered.

Held for the fifth time in conjunction with the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), the 2022 GRC will focus on 1) bridging the scientific disciplines to interrogate and understand biomineral formation in breadth and depth, 2) identifying universal scientific principles and mechanisms that are common among different mineralized tissues, 3) identifying the most advanced in situ, in vitro and in vivo strategies for the study of mineralized tissues, and 4) continuing to explore scientific principles for the purpose of material fabrication and translational research.