Mechanisms that Underpin Redox Biology

The Gordon Research Conference on Oxygen Radicals is designed to provide chemists, biochemists, biologists, cell biologists, clinicians, and other biomedical scientists with state-of-the-art knowledge on the basics of redox biochemistry and biology. Since its inception in 1981, this conference has focused on the fundamental chemistry, biochemistry and biology of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species and how these species interact with key cellular systems, e.g. thiols, cellular signaling cascades, and gene expression. Recent advances in our understanding of the role of free radicals and related oxidants in biology and medicine have extended the scope of this field to place it at the cutting edge of translational research. In the 16th Gordon Research Conference on Oxygen Radicals, the program will reflect our growing understanding of how these species dictate the basic redox biology of cells, tissues, and organisms.

The program will include talks on the basic chemistry of the transient and quasi stable species of redox biology, their role in cell signaling, and how they are involved in the mechanisms of disease. The conference will explore new advances in our understanding of the biochemistry of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide and how these species control basic cell metabolism, initiate cell signalling cascades, and lead to gene expression. In addition both the re-emerging role of iron in biology, mitochondria as sources for reactive oxidant species, and the new understanding of the NOX enzymes (e.g. in inflammation) will be highlighted. How these species interplay with the thiol systems of cells will be an underlying theme. This conference will bring together researchers from a variety of disciplines to further our fundamental understanding of this rapidly evolving field. Attendees have traditionally been from diverse fields including biochemists, chemists, physicians, and biologists.

In addition to talks by invited speakers, the program will include 6-8 short talks by attendees that are chosen from their submitted poster abstracts. Attendees are encouraged to submit poster abstracts with their applications for consideration. Applications from graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are especially encouraged and will be given strong consideration.