Tuesday, April 29, 2025
4/29/2025
2024 Membrane Transport Proteins Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar - PROJECT SUMMARY The 2024 Gordon Research Conference on Membrane Transporters titled “New Insights into Structure, Function, and Regulation of Critical Membrane Transport Proteins in Health and Disease” will bring an urgently needed translational focus to research on clinically relevant and highly druggable membrane transporters. Although they account for 10% of the human genome and are critical proteins involved in both highly prevalent (autism, depression, diabetes), as well as orphan and rare diseases (Christianson syndrome, mucoviscidosis and Episodic Ataxia), recent data indicate that membrane transporters represent potential therapeutic targets. The goal in organizing this conference is to link molecular and mechanistic insights on clinically important membrane transporters expressed in different tissues, including carriers, ion channels, and pumps, to physiological function and disease-related dysfunction. The intent is to offer and discuss opportunities for the development of pharmacotherapies targeting transporter dysfunctions in disease states. The program will include talks from both established and early-career researchers and there are speaking slots reserved for students and postdoctoral researchers that will be selected from submitted the abstracts. Nine highly interdisciplinary scientific sessions are bringing together topics, approaches and novel ideas that are not conventionally related. These range from genetics of transporter and ion channels in disease states, to unconventional animal models to study transporters, or approaches such as single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer and transcranial magnetic stimulation. This prevents the perception of a single approach or topic dominating the conference and amplifies opportunities for discussion of new ideas. New topics have been introduced (e.g., lipid transporters, plant, microbe and pathogen transporters, transporter dysfunction in metabolism and obesity, as well as new perspectives from Pharma and Industry). Ample discussion time after each talk, daily posters, and afternoon free time allow for informal discussion, networking and forming new collaborations. In addition, a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Membrane Transport Proteins will be held immediately prior to the conference. The GRS, organized by trainee scientists, will provide an additional forum to highlight research, network with colleagues, as well as to discuss challenges of the early career stages. We have invited a diverse group of speakers and will offer travel awards to underrepresented in STEM scientists who apply to the meeting. Finally, we have secured Dr. Rajini Rao, Professor of Physiology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as the Discussion Leader for the GRC Power Hour. Dr. Rao has been a strong advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and is a well-respected mentor and advocate for trainees.
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