Mechanisms of Cell Division with Special Emphasis on Cancer

Proliferation of cells represents one of the most fundamental biological processes. The core cell cycle machinery that drives cell proliferation has been conserved from yeast to humans. Proper spatial and temporal control of cell division is essential to allow normal organismal development, and to maintain physiological homeostasis. Abnormal and uncontrolled cell proliferation leads to several pathological states, most notably cancer. Despite decades of research, our understanding of mechanisms governing cell proliferation in normal tissues and in cancer remains very incomplete. The 2017 Gordon Research Conference on Cell Growth and Proliferation will provide a venue to present the most recent discoveries in the field. Leaders in the field will discuss their unpublished work involving cutting-edge approaches and topics, such as studies of normal stem cells and cancer "stem cell-like" cells, analyses of cell populations at a single cell resolution, elucidating the links between cell proliferation and cell metabolism, as well as the roles of non-coding RNAs and epigenetic modifications in regulating cell proliferation. The Conference will focus on abnormal cell proliferation in cancer. Speakers will discuss a range of topics from the use of mouse cancer models to cell cycle-focused targeted therapies for cancer patients. The talks will also cover other aspects of cancer cell proliferation, including aberrant chromosome separation and aneuploidy, proteolysis and cancer, as well as DNA damage and cancer. Because of the emphasis on novelty, the Chairs plan to select approximately half of the talks from submitted abstracts. Hence, the Chairs invite Principal Investigators and trainees from academia and industry to register and submit their most recent work. We also encourage students and post-docs to attend the associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) that will immediately precede the research conference. This seminar will offer a great opportunity for networking with other trainees and with Principal Investigators, and to give oral presentations.