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, MD, 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)(AAAS), an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists(RCOG), 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.
Mechanism Research on Epigenetic Regulation of Reproductive Development from model animals to human beings
Mechanisms research of genetic and epigenetic regulation is a prerequisite guarding health from origin of life. Multilevel epigenetic precise regulation are involved in cell lineage differentiation, cell fate determination, and intergenerational transmission, determining whether genes can function effectively. However, due to the diverse regulatory mechanisms, complex environmental factors, significant inter-species differences, limited embryonic samples and technological barriers in research, the mechanism of epigenetic reprogramming in human reproductive development has always been an unsolved mystery.
To explore this, we created a single-cell multi omics technologies and research system for human embryos. Specifically, we elucidate the patterns of parental epigenetic memory erasure in primordial germ cells (PGCs) and the rules of intergenerational epigenetic transmission, and map the landscape of embryonic epigenetic remodeling and proposing a new theory on the differential contribution of parental epigenetic information. Further, we revealed the epigenetic mechanisms of initiating embryonic lineage differentiation and defining a human-specific "maternal-embryonic connection preparation state". More importantly, depending on these basic research, we are exploring the implementation of pre implantation chromosome detection and potential assessment based on DNA methylation in embryos, thus providing more etiological diagnostic basis for precise diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as reproductive development disorders and birth defects.
2024 Award Lectures
George Streisinger Award Lecture
Making Connections for a Life in Science
August 18, 2024 | 4:45 - 5:30pm JST
Judith Eisen, PhD
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Award Lecture
Left Side Story – A Tale of Genes, Eyes and Developing Brains
August 19, 2024 | 4:45 - 5:30pm
Steve Wilson, PhD
University College London
Chi-Bin Chien Award Lecture
Mechanisms of Growth in the Vertebrate Skull: Lessons from Zebrafish
August 20, 2024 | 4:30 - 5:00pm
D'Juan Farmer, PhD
University of California at Los Angeles, USA
Block Agenda
*Subject to change. Updated July 24, 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 Early Development, Morphogenesis and Patterning I Cardiovascular Circuits and Behavior |
8:30 - 10:00 Concurrent II Neurobiology I Organ Biology Reproduction: Germline, Sex Determination & Reproductive Health |
8:30 - 10:00 Concurrent IV Neurobiology II Physiology & Metabolism Regeneration |
8:30 - 10:00 Concurrent V Early Development, Morphogenesis and Patterning II Evolution and Comparative Biology Lifespan and Aging |
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| 9:00 | |||||
| 10:00 | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | Coffee Break | |
| 10:30 - 12:00 Plenary 2 |
10:30 - 12:00 Concurrent III Emerging Technologies Cell Biology Disease Models |
10:30 - 12:00 Plenary 5 |
10:30 - 12:00 Plenary 6 |
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| 11:00 | |||||
| 12:00 | 12:00 - 1:00 Luncheon I |
12:00 - 1:00 Luncheon II |
12:00 - 1:00 Luncheon III |
12:00 - 12:30 Closing Remarks |
|
| 13:00 | 1:00 - 2:45 Poster Session I |
1:00 - 2:45 Poster Session II |
1:00 - 2:45 Poster Session III |
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| 14:00 | 2:00 - 3:00 Registration |
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| 15:00 | 3:00 - 4:00 Opening Remarks Keynote Lecture Jie Qiao, PhD |
3:00 - 4:00 Workshops I Alternative Small Fish Model: A Unique Opportunity for Frontier Basic and Applied Research Shaping the Future of Early-Career Zebrafish Researchers Swimming Together Towards a Sustainable Future |
3:00 - 4:00 Keynote Lecture Emi K. Nishimura, MD, PhD |
3:00 - 4:00 Workshops II Emerging Technologies Zebrafish in Education and Outreach Creating a Common Standard: Next-Generation Atlasing in FAIR Research. |
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| 16:00 | 4:00 - 5:30 Plenary 1 |
4:00 - 4:45 Coffee Break |
4:00 - 4:45 Coffee Break |
4:00 - 4:30 Coffee Break |
|
| 4:45 - 5:30 Streisinger Award Lecture Judith Eisen, PhD |
4:45 - 5:30 CNV Award Lecture |
4:30 - 5:00 CBC Award Lecture D'Juan Farmer, PhD |
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| 17:00 | |||||
| 5:30 - 7:00 Opening Reception |
5:30 - 7:00 Plenary 3 |
5:30 - 7:00 Plenary 4 |
5:00 - 6:00 Community Meetings |
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| 18:00 | |||||
| Move to the Banquet Place | |||||
| 19:00 | Dinner on you own | Dinner on you own | Dinner on you own | ||
| 7:00 - 9:00 Banquet |
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| 20:00 | |||||
| 21:00 | |||||
| 22:00 | |||||
Abstract Themes:
- Cardiovascular
- Cell Biology
- Circuits and Behavior
- 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