Normal Breast Biology and Its Relationship to Breast Cancer Initiation and Progression

The 2022 Gordon Conference in Mammary Gland Biology will focus on the normal biology of the mammary gland and its relationship to tumorigenesis and progression to metastasis. A comprehensive understanding of normal mammary gland biology provides an opportunity to identify the earliest molecular and cellular events that lead to breast cancer – where the disease is viewed as "caricature" of normal development gone awry. Gaining insights into these early events provides a unique opportunity to develop innovative strategies to characterize the molecular interactions and genetic underpinnings of cancers and identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. By bringing together a diverse collection of scientists to tackle emerging scientific problems bridging the breast cancer, prevention and risk factors, lactation and mammary development fields, this meeting generates a unique and creative atmosphere that spurs innovative thinking and collaborations and contributes to important scientific advances each year.

The program will also include short talks selected from abstracts, providing opportunities for presentation of outstanding work by junior investigators and trainees. Talks will be selected, whenever possible, to balance the program with normal mammary gland development, breast cancer initiation and its progression. Speakers and poster presenters are asked to include as much unpublished work as possible. The GRC is explicitly designed to promote dissemination of new knowledge, foster discussion and unfettered exchange of ideas and to stimulate new concepts and knowledge and promote collaborations. Plentiful time will be assigned for questions after each oral presentation to encourage further discussion.

Opportunities to attend the "Power Hour" and informal "Lunch with the Expert" sessions and "Under the tree discussions" where trainees and senior investigators meet to discuss science, as well as opportunities and challenges in the context of career development, will guide them towards successful career transitions as the next generation of mammary gland and breast cancer biologists. The Mammary Gland Biology GRC will be preceded by the highly successful Mammary Gland Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) in which graduate students and post-doctoral fellows present their work in a forum prior to the arrival of their mentors. Students and post-docs are encouraged to apply to both meetings.