Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells and Regeneration - PROJECT SUMMARY This application seeks partial support for the upcoming Society for Muscle Biology (SMB) conference entitled, Skeletal Muscle Stem Cells in Development, Regeneration, and Adaptations , which will be held July 19-24, 20256 in Victoria, BC, Canada. This will be the 13th edition of this conference since 1998 focusing on skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) and the 2nd sponsored by the SMB. This biennial meeting has traditionally been operated by FASEB, but shifted in 2024 to be organized under SMB to allow the organizers and participants more autonomy. This change facilitates a more robust and vibrant conference and a greater focus on supporting trainees. We expect approximately 125 attendees from around the world with at least ~60% junior researchers. No other scientific meeting has a primary focus on MuSCs. The need for a conference with this focus is demonstrated by the steady increase in attendance since the meeting's inception and the consistently excellent post-meeting evaluations provided by meeting attendees. This meeting attracts all leading MuSC researchers from around the world, further demonstrating its value for established and future leaders in the field. The overall objectives of this meeting include to: 1) provide a comprehensive analysis of recent discoveries in the field, with the goal of understanding the regulatory mechanisms controlling normal and abnormal functions of MuSCs in muscle development, homeostasis, regeneration, hypertrophy, aging, and myopathy; 2) create and foster an interactive environment for the exchange of ideas and unpublished data, so as to hasten discoveries and facilitate new and existing collaborations; 3) provide opportunities for junior investigators to present their work and network with senior investigators; and 4) facilitate career development of all career stages by ensuring representation in all aspects of the conference program. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Peter Zandstra, a renowned engineer and stem cell biologist. Scientific sessions are planned, presenting 48 speakers (23 confirmed invited speakers and at least 25 selected from submitted abstracts) at all career levels. Session topics include: (i) Molecular regulation of MuSCs; (ii) Spatial and modeling innovation in MuSC analysis; (iii) MuSC epigenetics and transcriptional regulation; (iv) Engineering and translating muscle stem cells; (v) MuSC dynamics during development and muscle regeneration; (vi) MuSC niche biology; and (vii) MuSCs and other cell interactions in disease. Invited speakers have been selected for their scientific excellence, with particular attention to discipline, encompassing all trainee levels and geographical diversity. Speakers are explicitly required to present unpublished work, to ensure scientific discussion is at the forefront of the field. We will have poster sessions, each preceded by a “posters blitz” where poster presenters will give a one-minute talk to highlight their work, and career-oriented workshops and “meet-the-speaker” breakfast and lunch sessions. This meeting will provide a forum to foster discussion and cross-fertilization from diverse areas of research, to advance our understanding of muscle regeneration and aid in the development of therapeutics.
