Insights From Normal Mammary Gland Biology For The Prevention, Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer

June 2 - 7, 2024

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco

Via Giovanni Pascoli

Lucca (Barga), Lucca, Italy

Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The Mammary Gland Biology GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

Breast cancer remains a significant global health challenge. As we are living longer, it is important more than ever to develop new strategies to prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer. To expedite advancements in these areas, a deeper understanding of normal mammary gland biology and its implications for breast cancer is imperative. The 51st edition, of this conference aims to explore insights derived from the study of normal mammary gland biology and their potential application for enhancing breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. With breast cancer affecting millions of women worldwide, comprehending the fundamental mechanisms underlying mammary gland development and function is of utmost importance. We now know that cancer is not solely a disease driven by genetic mutations, but a complex process whereby neoplastic cells influence their ecosystem, which in-turn becomes permissive to tumour development. Investigating the heterogeneity of cells involved in normal breast tissue formation, and understanding their interactions and dynamics during physiological and pathological states can provide valuable insights into breast cancer susceptibility, initiation, and progression. By merging insights from normal mammary gland biology and lactation with breast cancer research, this conference aims to accelerate the development of personalized therapies and improve patient outcomes. The 2024 Mammary Gland Biology Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) wilI provide a platform for researchers, clinicians, and experts from diverse disciplines to share the latest findings, foster collaborations, and drive progress in breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Mammary Gland Biology" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Mammary Gland and Breast Cancer Studies at Scale Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
8:00 pm - 8:50 pm	"Studies of Early Disease and Beyond"
8:50 pm - 9:10 pm	Discussion
9:10 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Cell Types and Cell States in Normal Mammary Gland Development Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:40 am	"Predicting Mammary Tumor Initiation, Progression and Response by (Intravital) Imaging"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:20 am	"Mechanisms of Oriented Cell Division and Fate Decision in the Mammary Epithelium"
10:20 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:05 am	Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:15 am	"Cholesterol Biosynthesis ‘Bridges the KAP1’ to Mammary Gland Development at Pregnancy"
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:30 am	"AP-1 and YAP/TAZ Cooperatively Promote Multipotency Reactivation in Basal-Like Breast Cancer Tumorigenesis"
11:30 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 12:05 pm	"Rank Signaling Determines Mammary Cell Identity and Basal Luminal Crosstalk"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm	The GRC Power Hour™ The GRC Power Hour™ is designed to address diversity and inclusion in the scientific workplace by providing a safe environment for informal and meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages. The program supports the professional growth of all members of our communities, including ethnicity, race and/or gender identity by providing an open forum for discussion and mentoring. Organizers: and
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Lessons From Human Genomic Studies Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:05 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:05 pm - 6:35 pm	"Single Cell and Spatial Profiling of the Breast Cancer Disease Trajectory"
6:35 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 6:55 pm	"Luminal Breast Epithelial Cells from Wildtype and BRCA Mutation Carriers Harbor Copy Number Alterations Commonly Associated with Breast Cancer"
6:55 pm - 7:00 pm	Discussion
7:00 pm - 7:10 pm	"Volumetric Analysis of the Terminal Ductal Lobular Unit Architecture and Cell Phenotypes in the Human Breast"
7:10 pm - 7:15 pm	Discussion
7:15 pm - 7:45 pm	"Genomic Trajectories of Pre-Malignant and Invasive Breast Cancers and Clinical Implications"
7:45 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Normal Mammary Gland Development in Mouse, Human and Other Mammals Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:40 am	"Elucidation of the Mammary Epithelial Hierarchy to Identify ‘Cells of Origin’ of Cancer"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:20 am	"Revisiting the Role of WNT Signaling in Breast (Cancer) Biology"
10:20 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:05 am	Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:15 am	"Comparative Analysis and Induced Tumorigenesis of Normal Human Mammary Cells from Male and Female Donors"
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:30 am	"A Fate Beyond Fat: Adipocyte Progenitors in the Mammary Stroma during Epithelial Expansion and Obesity"
11:30 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 12:05 pm	"Using Non-Traditional Model Species to Investigate Mammary Postnatal Development"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	New Tools and Technologies in Mammary Gland and Breast Cancer Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:05 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:05 pm - 6:35 pm	"Breast Cancer Dormancy: A Link to the Past?"
6:35 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 6:55 pm	"Establishing Conditions for the Generation and Maintenance of Estrogen Receptor-Positive Organoid Models of Breast Cancer"
6:55 pm - 7:00 pm	Discussion
7:00 pm - 7:10 pm	"Immune Modulation in Hippo Pathway Regulated Breast Tumour Microenvironments"
7:10 pm - 7:15 pm	Discussion
7:15 pm - 7:45 pm	"Decoding Aneuploidy: Unveiling the Driver Genes of Basal-Like Breast Cancer Using In Vivo CRISPR Screening"
7:45 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Lactation Biology: New Insights into Epithelial and Immune Cells Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:40 am	"From Voxels to Cells: Leveraging Light-Based Bioprinting for Mammary Tissue Engineering"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:20 am	"Plasticity of the Mammary Gland and its Implications for Lactation"
10:20 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:05 am	Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:15 am	"The Milky Way, A Breast Organoid Journey"
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:30 am	"Senescence is Important for Mammary Gland Involution and Postpartum Breast Cancer"
11:30 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 12:05 pm	"Identifying Factors That Regulate Epithelial Cell Functions during Lactation Using Single-Cell Multiomic Analysis"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Multiomic Analysis of The Breast in Health and Disease Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:05 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:05 pm - 6:35 pm	"Lobular Breast Cancer: Development and Progression"
6:35 pm - 6:45 pm	Discussion
6:45 pm - 6:55 pm	"Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: A Basal-Like to Luminal Transition"
6:55 pm - 7:00 pm	Discussion
7:00 pm - 7:10 pm	"Determining the Molecular Underpinnings of Treatment Response in TNBC Patients"
7:10 pm - 7:15 pm	Discussion
7:15 pm - 7:45 pm	"The Role of the Microenvironment in BRCA1-Driven Breast Cancer Initiation"
7:45 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Normal Development, Targeted Prevention and Treatment Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:40 am	"Novel Cancer Prevention Strategies for Women Carrying Pathogenic Variants in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 Gene"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:20 am	"Breast Cancer Etiologies across the African Diaspora"
10:20 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:05 am	Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:15 am	"Utilizing Hormonal Stimulation to Increase Proliferation of BRCA1-Mutant Premalignant Cells for PARPi Prophylactic Intervention"
11:15 am - 11:20 am	Discussion
11:20 am - 11:30 am	"FABP7 Progenitors are a Targetable Metabolic Root in the BRCA1 Breast"
11:30 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 12:05 pm	"Targeting Progesterone Signalling Reduces Hallmarks of Breast Cancer Risk Through Epithalial-Stromal Remodelling"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm	Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm	Keynote Session: Lessons From Embryonic and Adult Mammary Gland Development Discussion Leader:
6:00 pm - 6:05 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:05 pm - 6:45 pm	"Back to the Future: Links Between Tissue Repair, Reprogramming to an Ambryonic-Like State, and Cancer"
6:45 pm - 7:00 pm	Discussion
7:00 pm - 7:40 pm	"Breast Cancer Metastasis: Act Locally, Think Globally"
7:40 pm - 7:55 pm	Discussion
7:55 pm - 8:00 pm	General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Dinner
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure