Project Funding Details

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The biennial Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on the Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets brings together current leaders, junior investigators and trainees working on the development and disorders of the megakaryocyte lineage. It is the premier international meeting in the field. Our scientific mission is to bridge the gap between researchers working on different aspects of the lineage, i.e. hematopoietic stem cells, megakaryocytes and platelets. This mission is more relevant than ever, as the interdependence between each cell type becomes increasingly clear, e.g. the role of megakaryocytes in stem cell development, and the impact of inflammation on megakaryocyte growth and platelet production. The overarching, aim of the GRC is to allow current and emerging leaders of the field to communicate unpublished data, thereby educating colleagues, promoting discussions and fostering collaborations. Specifically, the aims are to: 1. Highlight the extraordinary progress being made in our understanding of platelet function in the context of hemostasis, thrombosis, and inherited/ congenital platelet disorders. Talks will cover the state-of-the-art on platelet surface receptor function and control of coagulation, intracellular signaling, the development of new targets for antiplatelet therapy, and immense progress in diagnosis and treatment of platelet function disorders. 2. Discuss the latest unpublished research on the engineering of devices and approaches to evaluate platelet function and how platelets can be used in therapy and as diagnostic tools. 3. Evaluate newly described mechanisms of megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production. It is increasingly apparent that platelet production is a complex multifactorial process controlled by super enhancers as well as the bone marrow microenvironment. In a dedicated session, we will discuss this unique interplay between the megakaryocyte lineage and other cells in the bone marrow environment. 4. Discuss studies that push the field into new directions, including updates on new regulators of hematopoiesis and thrombopoiesis, new technologies to study platelets on a single cell level and in high throughput functional omics, and a dedicated session to discuss newly identified critically influential roles for platelets in metastatic cancer, and megakaryocytes in leukemias and myeloproliferative disorders. To optimize interaction between researchers, and based on feedback from past conferences, we have designed most sessions so that they feature talks on both platelets and megakaryocytes. We also decided to continue with a new format that was first implemented in 2017, with the incorporation of 11 short talks to be selected from abstracts embedded within each of the main sessions (eliminating the dedicated hot topics session). The strengths of applying cross-disciplinary approaches to research questions will be emphasized throughout the whole meeting, and both basic science and translational aspects of the field will be discussed.

NARRATIVE Platelets are produced by megakaryocytes in bone marrow, and are essential to forming clots to seal damaged vessels and initiate wound healing as well as being critical in pathogenic processes underlying cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled inflammation, coagulopathy and tumor metastasis. Alterations of platelet count or function can place patients at risk of thrombosis or hemorrhage and perturbation of the bone marrow can lead to megakaryocytic dysfunction and disruption of platelet production. The goal of this conference is to improve our understanding of molecular pathways that control and modulate megakaryocyte production of platelets, their function and enhance our ability to prevent and treat hematological and cardiovascular diseases.