Diverse Regulators of Health and Disease

Over the past few years, the proteoglycan community has rapidly laid the foundations for translating novel fundamental processes regulated by proteoglycans into potential diagnostics, devices, commercial products and therapeutics. The 2014 Gordon Conference on Proteoglycans will present cutting-edge research on the multidisciplinary approaches of translational proteoglycan research. The early discovery process will be addressed by topics on novel analytics, such as glycomics, to identify structure/function relations for proteoglycans. Similarly the latest findings in proteoglycan homeostasis (synthesis/turnover) will be revealed. The impact of proteoglycans on cell signaling and phenotype will be a unifying theme linking numerous sessions focused on cell biology, stem cells, development, and animal genetic models. These mechanisms will be further evaluated from the prospective of pathophysiologic process including: cancer, inflammation, glycosaminoglycan storage diseases, tissue engineering, as well as normal functioning and diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive, neural, muscular and skeletal systems. The latest efforts at translating these findings to diagnostics and therapeutics will be highlighted. The conference will bring together national and international investigators at all career levels and provide a highly relaxed and exceptionally collegial environment to promote cross-disciplinary collaborations and to maximize open dissemination of ideas between all participants. The truly unique camaraderie of the proteoglycan communities provides an unparalleled opportunity for young scientists to network with senior investigators. The accompanying Gordon Research Seminal provides synergistic career-development opportunities for young investigators.