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Sunday, January 29, 2012

Germany 2012 - EMBO Conference: C.elegans Neurobiology, Heidelberg

Research on C.elegans plays an influential role across biology and has been at the forefront of genetics. Genetic analyses in C.elegans have led to advances in understanding many processes conserved throughout the animal kingdom, including establishment of cell polarity, developmental patterning, cell death, RNA interference, ageing, axon pathfinding, neuronal signaling and many others. Evidence of the impact of C.elegans research is the award of three Nobel prizes and a Lasker Award.

Two types of meetings focus on C.elegans research. The International C.elegans meeting, organised once every two years in the USA, covers all aspects of C.elegans research. The large size (over 2000 attendees) and diversity of the International meeting does not allow easy discussion or interactions among groups who share interest in particular research areas. To fill this gap, C.elegans “Topic meetings” are held in alternate years with the International meetings. These are focused meetings on particular aspects of C.elegans biology. Topic meetings provide a vibrant and exciting arena for discussion of current research, and the sharing of new ideas, methods, and reagents.

Each platform session will focus on one area and begin with a Keynote speaker recognized in that area. The remainder of the meeting programme will consist of talks chosen from submitted abstracts, giving students and post-docs opportunities to speak. In the past, competition for talks has been high, giving rise to a very high quality programme.

EMBL Heidelberg, Germany Thursday 14 June - Sunday 17 June 2012