Musculoskeletal Science: From Organism to Organelle

The 2010 Gordon Research Conference on Musculoskeletal Biology and Bioengineering will present the latest findings on clinical and basic studies of musculoskeletal tissues. The overall theme of the conference is "Musculoskeletal Science: From Organism to Organelle”, to emphasize the broad scope of the research being performed in this field. Presentations will encompass the study of clinical diseases and injuries relevant to various musculoskeletal tissues, including bone, cartilage, intervertebral disc, muscle, nerve, meniscus, ligament, and tendon. The topics will also cut across multiple scientific areas of study, including cell and molecular biology, biomedical imaging and bioengineering, tissue engineering and biomaterials, systems biology, and the translation of basic research to clinical practice. As in previous years, the conference will bring together an outstanding group of leading clinicians, scientists, and bioengineers. Junior investigators, students, and fellows will have the chance to present their work in poster format, and a number of posters will be selected for oral presentation, with ample time scheduled for discussion. The conference allows many opportunities for collegial interactions with more senior colleagues in an environment that is conducive to formal and informal scientific discourse.

The conference will include sessions on the following topics, although posters presentations in all areas of musculoskeletal research are welcome:

• Clinical aspects of musculoskeletal disease
• Systemic and genetic regulation of the musculoskeletal system
• Epigenetics
• Mechanobiology and Bioengineering
• Non-mammalian models of musculoskeletal development and disease
• Stem cells and tissue engineering
• High throughput analysis and systems approaches
• Imaging of musculoskeletal tissues