The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on the Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets is the premier scientific meeting focused on the biology of megakaryocytes and the platelets that arise from them. This will be the 4th biennial meeting that was first organized by Steve Watson and Jon Frampton in 2005 to bring together two groups of scientists with complimentary goals and interests.

Our meeting will beginning with the biology of hematopoiesis/megakaryopoiesis and extending to platelet (patho)biology. Presentations will focus on state-of-the-art advances in the formation of megakaryocytes during embryogenesis from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells covering new insights into transcriptional and miRNA and epigenetic regulation of megakaryopoiesis, the biological events and sites of platelet formation, and the disorders that affect megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis, focusing on the myeloproliferative diseases. New receptor systems involved in platelet biology and the insights that they give into clot formation, propagation, stability and resolution will be presented as will a session on established pathways in platelets and how new insights into these pathways have also contributed to our understanding of hemostasis and thrombosis. A session will be devoted to novel new pathways and mechanisms that regulate platelet life-span and/or function. The final session will be devoted to new insights being derived from state-of-the-art genomic and bioinformatics into both megakaryopoiesis and platelet biology and highlight a new pathway in each derived from such studies. This GRC is tied in with a two-day Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) for trainees interested in this field and will give them the opportunity to present their research as well as gain insights from senior academic and industry investigators in this area. The best trainee presentations will also be presented as part of 3 “Hot Topics” sessions at the main conference. One GRS and four GRC poster sessions will be scheduled, giving junior and senior investigators an additional forum to network and exchange ideas. The closing session will include special guests who will speak on topics of interest to both megakaryocyte and platelet researchers.

The GRS and GRC meetings take place from March 19-20th and 20-25th, 2011, respectively, at the beautiful, historic Hotel Galvez, Galveston Island, Texas, located on the Gulf of Mexico. With the unique surroundings of wide beaches and numerous attractions on the island, this will be an exciting and memorable venue for all attendees.