ABSTRACT
Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled Exosomes, Microvesicles and Other
Extracellular Vesicles, organized by Drs. Clotilde Thery, Andrew Hill and Susmita Sahoo. The conference will
be held in Banff, Canada from March 9-13, 2021.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including various sub-types such as exosomes, microvesicles and others, are
membranous nanovesicles containing bioactive molecules such as lipids, proteins, RNA and metabolites
derived from the cell of their origin. As EVs can carry cell-specific signatures, they can be important
components of pathophysiological conditions and may serve as disease biomarkers or therapeutic entities.
This program was designed to communicate and disseminate cutting-edge findings regarding extracellular
vesicles (EVs) to an audience of researchers and to foster robust interactions among them. This conference
will emphasize groundbreaking science on the biological aspects and clinical utility of EVs, the evidence for
EVs as biomarkers of disease, and the role of EVs in human disease pathogenesis and their corresponding
therapeutic utility. The conference will include presentations from distinguished international leaders and
researchers in the field of EV biology. Characterization, tools and technologies, as well as diagnostics and
therapeutics, will guide oral and thematically grouped poster presentations. As a relatively new feature, panel
discussions at the end of some sessions will allow young investigators additional opportunities to interact with
the speakers and obtain a comprehensive understanding of each session topic. Moreover, workshops on the
focused aspects of EV research will provide young researchers with a unique opportunity for in depth
interaction with the experts. It is anticipated that this conference will present new scientific knowledge
including new methodologies and technical approaches to study EVs. One final goal is for new collaboration
opportunities and networking opportunities to be forged by participants attending this conference.