Program

Keynote Speakers

Emi K. Nishimura, MD, PhD

The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan

Emi K. Nishimura is a professor at The University of Tokyo. She is known particularly for her studies on the identification of melanocyte stem cells, the mechanism of hair follicle aging, melanoma-genesis, and cell competition of epidermal stem cells during homeostasis and aging and its physiological significance. She is a dermatologist, MD PhD with her post-doc training at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and obtained her professorship at Kanazawa University in 2006, at Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 2009, and at The University of Tokyo in 2021. Dr. Nishimura was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2022.

Searching for principles of tissue regeneration and ageing in mammalian skin

The skin is an excellent tissue to study tissue homeostasis since the cellular fate can be traced and the functional level evaluated in a real time manner. The epidermis is an ancient tissue that separates an organism from the outside world from the onset of multicellular organisms and functions as a barrier throughout life. The mammalian hair follicle, on the other hand, is an evolved form of fish scales that is a mini-organ specialized to grow hair. We have studied mammalian hair follicles as a model for understanding organ regeneration and aging and cancer development and found that melanocyte stem cells, the reservoir of pigment cells in the skin, take different fates under different kinds of genotoxins. Stem cells that had obtained DNA double strand breaks undergo seno-differentiation to be depleted, causing hair graying. Yet that depletion can be completely blocked through distinct signaling pathways by carcinogenic genotoxins. Further, the induction of hair graying was antagonistic to the development of melanoma in animal models, demonstrating that hair graying is not just an unpleasant phenomenon. On the other hand, in the epidermis, we found that stem cell depletion can be prevented through accelerated cell competition for epidermal homeostasis. In sum, our studies have revealed that the epidermis and its appendages such as hair follicles have distinct principles for tissue integrity and ageing. Finally, I will briefly introduce our unique strategies for stem cell maintenance to achieve healthy longevity.

Jie Qiao, PhD

Medical Center for Human Reproduction, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China

Jie Qiao is an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Vice President of the China Association for Science and Technology, Executive Vice President of Peking University, Director of Peking University Health Science Center. She is also an Academician of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (IHM), an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and a Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

As a renowned scholar in reproductive medicine in China and worldwide, Jie Qiao has endeavored to unravel the mystery of human reproduction for more than 30 years. She has achieved many theoretical and technical breakthroughs in the systematic study of gametogenesis and embryo development, infertility causes and clinical treatments, and the protection and preservation of female fertility. Jie Qiao has generated impactful science on new pre-implantation diagnosis (PGT) methods, significantly improving the efficiency of clinical practice for inherited diseases. She is also committed to using cutting-edge evidence to inform the construction of the maternal and child public health system and help translate science into policy action to improve women's and children's health throughout their life cycles.

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Block Agenda

*Subject to change. Updated April 1, 2024

	Saturday 8/17	Sunday 8/18	Monday 8/19	Tuesday 8/20	Wednesday 8/21
	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
8:00
		8:30 - 10:00 Concurrent I	8:30 - 10:00 Concurrent II	8:30 - 10:00 Concurrent III	8:30 - 10:00 Concurrent IV
9:00
10:00		Coffee Break	Coffee Break	Coffee Break	Coffee Break
		10:30 - 12:00 Plenary 2	10:30 - 12:00 Plenary 4	10:30 - 12:00 Plenary 6	10:30 - 11:30 Community Meetings
11:00
					11:30 - 12:00pm Closing Remarks
12:00		12:00 - 1:00 Luncheon I	12:00 - 1:00 Luncheon II	12:00 - 1:00 Luncheon III
13:00		1:00 - 2:45 Poster Session I	1:00 - 2:45 Poster Session II	1:00 - 2:45 Poster Session III
14:00	2:00 - 3:00 Registration Opens
15:00	3:00 - 4:00 Opening Remarks Keynote Lecture	3:00 - 4:00 Workshops I	3:00 - 4:00 Keynote Lecture	3:00 - 4:00 Workshops II
16:00	4:00 - 5:30 Plenary 1	4:00 - 4:45 Coffee Break	4:00 - 4:45 Coffee Break	4:00 - 4:45 Coffee Break
		4:45 - 5:30 CNV Award Lecture	4:45 - 5:30 Streisinger Award Lecture	4:45 - 5:15 CBC Award Lecture
17:00
	5:30 - 7:00 Opening Reception	5:30 - 7:00 Plenary 3	5:30 - 7:00 Plenary 5	5:15 - 6:45 Plenary 7
18:00
19:00	Dinner on you own	Dinner on you own	Dinner on you own
				7:15 - 10:00 Banquet
20:00
21:00

Abstract Themes:

• Cardiovascular
• Cell Biology
• Circuits and Behaviour
• Disease Models  
• Early Development, Morphogenesis and Patterning 
• Emerging Technologies
• Evolution and comparative biology
• High throughput whole organism research
• Infection & Immunity 
• Lifespan and Aging
• Neurobiology
• Organ Formation & Function
• Physiology & Metabolism
• Regeneration
• Reproduction: Germline, Sex Determination & Reproductive Health
• Stem Cells
• Toxicology & Environmental Assessment