Mechanisms and Modifiers

Atherosclerosis causes most heart attacks, strokes and limb amputations. It is now the #1 cause of death throughout the world. The 2015 Atherosclerosis Gordon Research Conference will focus on disease mechanisms and modifiers. Stan Hazen and Klaus Ley are putting together a program with nine sessions focused on:

• Microbiota in cardiometabolic diseases
• IL-1 in atherosclerosis
• New targets for treatment of atherosclerosis in clinical trials
• High density lipoprotein
• Shear stress as a modifier and determinant of lesion site
• Preclinical and clinical tools for imaging atherosclerosis
• Post-MI myocardial inflammation
• New players from innate immunity
• Genetics of atherosclerosis

Rather than providing a comprehensive overview of current research on atherosclerosis, we are trying to focus on new and emerging areas as well as new targets that have been validated and are now in late-phase clinical trials.

The atherosclerosis Gordon conference enjoys a worldwide reputation, and brings together participants from all career levels and from a variety of backgrounds for high-quality, intensive discussions of research at the frontiers of knowledge in atherosclerosis. Deliberate selection of a wide variety of participants has enabled a cross-fertilization among scientists from different disciplines that is unusual in other forums. It is the goal of the conference organizers that nearly every person attending the conference participates either as a speaker, discussion leader or poster presenter.

Promoting interactions among young investigators, trainees and established investigators has been a strength of this Gordon Conference, and we will continue to foster this tradition. For every session, one to two speaking slots will be left open for late-breaking developments and selection of talks from the submitted abstracts. This latter effort will particularly target participation from more junior investigators and trainees. Prizes in the form of registration and/or travel funds will be given for the highest-rated posters in the student and fellow categories. Throughout the conference, interactions between senior and young investigators will be promoted in both formal and informal settings. The overall goal of the conference organizers is to provide extraordinary opportunities for learning and for developing relationships and collaborations. This year, for the first time, we have a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) preceding the GRC. The GRS is run by students and postdocs. Mete Civelek and Jie Li are putting together an exciting program.

The organizers Stan Hazen and Klaus Ley look forward to welcoming you to the Sunday River Resort from June 21-26, 2015.