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Silk Proteins and the Transition to Biotechnologies

Gordon Research Conference

Impact of Natural and Synthetic Silk-Based Materials on Technology Development in the Biomedical Field and Beyond

July 9 - 14, 2023

Chairs

and

Vice Chairs

and

Bryant University

1150 Douglas Pike

Smithfield, Rhode Island, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Conference Description

The Silk Proteins and the Transition to Biotechnologies 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scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.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 a diverse range 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.

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	Nanostructures, Molecular Assembly and Mechanical Properties of Silk Macromolecules Discussion Leader:
7:40 pm - 7:45 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:10 pm	"Wet Dehydration During Acid-Induced Silk Gelation - Implications for Spinning and Biomaterials Fabrication"
8:10 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:40 pm	"Structure, Property and Function of Silk Nanofibrils"
8:40 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 9:10 pm	"Combing Biophysical Methods to Understand Spider Silk Formation"
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Artificial (Recombinant) Silks Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:35 am	"Production and Applications of Artificial Spider Silk"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:15 am	"Scaling and Commercializing Spider Silk: Lessons Learned"
10:15 am - 10:25 am	Discussion
10:25 am - 10:55 am	Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:25 am	"Interfacial Self-Assembly of Silk Fibroin Coatings for Biomedical Applications"
11:25 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 11:45 am	"Trabecular Hybrid Scaffolds Based on 3D Printed Titanium and Silk Fibroin for Time Zero Load Bearing and Osteointegratable Implants for Bone Critical Defects"
11:45 am - 11:50 am	Discussion
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	"Directed Self-Assembly of DNA-Spider Silk Protein Hybrids on Surfaces"
12:00 pm - 12:05 pm	Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:30 pm	Poster Previews
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 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
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Biochemistry, Biocompatibility and Chemistry with Silk Discussion Leaders: and
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 8:05 pm	"Green Processing of Silk Materials Towards Sustainability"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:45 pm	"New Strategies for Covalent Modification of Silk Fibroin"
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	Discussion
8:55 pm - 9:25 pm	"Engineering Silk Fibroin Networks for Responsive Biomaterials"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Silk Purification: Quality Control Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:35 am	"The Use of Silk Fibroin in a Microneedle Array Patch for Influenza Vaccines"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:15 am	"Engineering Silk Scaffolds: Fine-Tuning the Structure of Lyophilized Silk for Biological Performance"
10:15 am - 10:25 am	Discussion
10:25 am - 10:55 am	Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:25 am	"Silk for Stabilising Emulsions"
11:25 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 12:05 pm	"Structural Evaluation of The Pyriform Silk Repetitive Domain"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Probing Rapid Self-Assembly of MaSp1 From Soluble Protein to Hierarchical Fiber"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Advanced Processing Strategies Discussion Leaders: and
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 8:05 pm	"Bioinspired Biomaterial Composite for All-Water-Based High-Performance Adhesives"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:40 pm	"Use of Self-Assembled Recombinant Biopolymer Inspired by Spider Silk for Industrial and Biological Applications"
8:40 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	"Micro-Mechanical Cutting of Silk Fibers"
8:55 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm	"Spider Silk Nanomembranes Mimic the Basement Membrane"
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Tissue Engineering with Silk Discussion Leaders: and
9:00 am - 9:05 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:35 am	"Developing Strategies to Systematically Investigate Biomaterial Degradation and Bioactivity In Vivo"
9:35 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:15 am	"Molecular Design of Spider Silk Bon SILKome Databse and The Natural Spinning Mechanism"
10:15 am - 10:25 am	Discussion
10:25 am - 10:55 am	Coffee Break
10:55 am - 11:25 am	"Silk: Untangling A Sticky Situation on The Road to Hierarchical Protein Processing"
11:25 am - 11:35 am	Discussion
11:35 am - 11:45 am	"Sustained Delivery of Antiviral Protein Griffithsin and Adhesion to a Biological Surface by a Silk Fibroin Scaffold"
11:45 am - 11:50 am	Discussion
11:50 am - 12:00 pm	"Tunable Light-Actuated Composites of Silk Fibroin and Gelatin for Tissue Engineering and Flexible Biodevices"
12:00 pm - 12:05 pm	Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	"Bioengineered Squid-Inspired Proteins: Functionality, Materials, and Sustainability"
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm	Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm	General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Optical and Electronic Sensors with Silk Discussion Leaders: and
7:30 pm - 8:00 pm	"Silk in High Technology"
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm	Discussion
8:10 pm - 8:40 pm	"Materials and Platforms for Flexible Multimodality (Sense and Actuate) Cell and Tissue Interfaces"
8:40 pm - 8:50 pm	Discussion
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm	"Engineering Bombyx Mori Silk into High-Energy Water-Responsive Materials"
9:00 pm - 9:05 pm	Discussion
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm	"Silk Based Electroconductive Biomaterials for Nerve Cell Stimulation"
9:15 pm - 9:20 pm	Discussion
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	General Discussion
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; Discuss Future Dates and Venue; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Regulatory and Commercialization for Silk-Based Materials Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:10 am	Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:10 am - 9:40 am	"Bio 3D, 4D Printing Using Silk Fibroin"
9:40 am - 9:50 am	Discussion
9:50 am - 10:20 am	"Saving Voices with Silk: The First FDA-Cleared Regenerated Silk Device for Long-Term Voice Restoration"
10:20 am - 10:30 am	Discussion
10:30 am - 11:00 am	Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:30 am	"Hurdles to Overcome in Translating Promising Academic Work into A Commercial Medical Device – A Story on Silk-Based Ligament/Tendon Grafts"
11:30 am - 11:40 am	Discussion
11:40 am - 11:50 am	"SILKBIO-KENYA: Exploring the Potential of Silkworm Silk Proteins Fibroin and Sericin for Biomedical Applications in Kenya"
11:50 am - 11:55 am	Discussion
11:55 am - 12:05 pm	"Expanding Spider Silk Properties by Incorporation of Multiple Nonstandard Amino Acids in Recoded Bacteria"
12:05 pm - 12:10 pm	Discussion
12:10 pm - 12:20 pm	"Paper-Based Wearable Patches for Real-Time, Quantitative Lactate Monitoring"
12:20 pm - 12:25 pm	Discussion
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Next Generation Silk-Based Materials – Future Designs and Functions Discussion Leaders: and
7:30 pm - 7:35 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:35 pm - 8:05 pm	"Silk Fibroin Bone Marrow Niches Control Human Hematopoiesis and Platelet Production"
8:05 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:45 pm	"Enzymatically-Crosslinked Silk Fibroin Fydrogels - To Print or Not to Print: That is The Question"
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	Discussion
8:55 pm - 9:25 pm	"Bottom-Up Analysis and Design of De Novo Silk-Inspired Proteins Using Multiscale Modeling and Deep Learning"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R13EB034599. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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