The Past is Prologue: Learning from the Past and Applying to Solve New Problems

The 2009 Gordon Research Conference on Drug Metabolism will focus on current and developing research increasing our understanding of the metabolism and disposition of drugs and xenobiotics. The conference will develop what has become a successful theme of complementary sessions covering topics of most interest to the drug metabolism community presented by leaders in the filed from academia, industry and regulatory communities. The theme for the 39th Gordon Research Conference on Drug Metabolism will be "The Past is Prologue: Learning from the Past and Applying to Solve New Problems". The goal is to adapt our knowledge in the pursuit of addressing current and future issues. The program will follow the traditional GRC Drug Metabolism format with a keynote lecture Sunday evening, 4 morning sessions with 4 speakers each, 3 evening sessions with 3 speakers each, and Wednesday evening 6 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows will make oral presentations selected from the outstanding posters submitted. Participants are encouraged to submit poster presentations, with the sessions organized by Vice Chair Ken Thummel. Topics will range from the regulation of cytochrome P450, the role of enzyme inactivation during reactive intermediate formation, how we can effectively apply our developing understanding of the complexity of reactive intermediate formation and potential risk for toxicities, the developing interplay between metabolism and transporters as we better appreciate the interdependence, the overlap in substrate/inhibitors and the development of in vitro and in vivo models, an appreciation of the role of non-Cytochrome P450 enzymes and develop the overall theme towards impacting clinical outcomes in pharmacokinetics including drug interactions and variability in population response.

Social activities are an important medium for informal interactions and will include the annual Industry vs. Academia softball game (bring your glove, if possible) on Tuesday afternoon. In addition, returning to the theme of the "The Past is Prologue", tennis on Monday afternoon and golf outing planned for Wednesday afternoon.