Abstract
Humans possess limited regenerative capacity in response to traumatic injury or disease;
however, many animals can regenerate complex tissues, and in some cases, whole
organs. Planarian flatworms are an emerging model with astonishing regenerative abilities
derived from an abundant and experimentally accessible population of pluripotent stem
cells. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of whole-body regeneration and organogenesis
in planarians has important implications for the field of regenerative medicine. To provide a
forum for researchers with a shared interest in the cellular and molecular basis of planarian
regeneration to discuss new research, knowledge gaps, and future directions of the field,
we will be organizing the International Planarian Meeting (IPM) in 2018. The IPM will bring
together scientists from around the world with expertise in a wide range of disciplines and
approaches, including stem cell and regenerative biology, molecular and cellular biology,
developmental biology, parasitology, “omic” technologies, and biomedical imaging. The meeting
will focus on the following areas: (1) in vivo regulation of pluripotent stem cells and cell fate choice;
(2) stem cell-driven organogenesis (3) comparing and contrasting embryonic development and
regeneration; (4) germ cell specification and development; (5) understanding divergent
regenerative abilities amongst flatworms; and (6) using planarians to understand parasitic
flatworms. The IPM also aims to support the career development of junior researchers,
including women, and scientists from underrepresented backgrounds. The IPM is unique in that
all presentations will be selected from abstracts submitted by new investigators and trainees. This
will give young scientists the opportunity to present their research and receive constructive
feedback from their peers as well as leaders in the field. Additionally, all meeting attendees will
have the opportunity to present their work in poster sessions, and the IPM will also host a Career
Development Workshop to help junior investigators and trainees build successful scientific
careers. Support from the NIH for the IPM would help ensure the success of this inaugural
event. Keeping costs low is critical to enabling researchers and trainees from diverse institutions
(from large universities to small liberal arts colleges) to attend this meeting. A successful IPM will
help drive new advances in our understanding of how stem cells can drive tissue and organ
regeneration.
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