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Motivation |
It is well appreciated that interactions of stem cells with their local growth environment - which is often referred to as the "stem cell niche" - play a crucial role in stem cell organization. However, the details of this regulation are still widely unknown.
In particular, studying "niche" function in vivo is restricted by the complexity of spatial organization as well as by the principle limitation that stem cell - "niche" interaction itself is influenced by the measurement procedure.
These restrictions call for the application of theoretical methods, such as mathematical models as well as of artificial "niches" in which control parameters are well-defined and tuneable. Along these lines, a close link between basic experimental science, theoretical approaches as well as bioengineering is definitely required.
This meeting, which is organized by the Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology of the University of Leipzig, extends a series of previous workshops (StemCellMathLab 2001,
2005, 2007, Leipzig; StemCellMathLab - on tour
2008, London). Providing an atmosphere with a limited number of participants and extensive discussion periods these workshops evaluated as overly productive and stimulating both from participants on the experimental and on the theoretical side.
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Objectives |
The workshop is intended to serve as a platform for leading scientists but also for junior researchers and students from different backgrounds (such as experimental and theoretical biology, bioengineering, bioinformatics and mathematics) to discuss theoretical concepts and quantitative modelling approaches in stem cell research.
This year the particular focus will be the role of the stem cell supporting microenvironment and its potential translation into biotechnological applications. We will discuss the impact of experimental, biotechnological, and modelling approaches for achiving a quantitative understanding of stem cell - "niche" interactions. Herein, the StemCellMathLab'10 will focus on two main aspects:
- General notion and concepts of stem cell supporting micro-environments;
- Experimental methodology, analysis tools, and the translation into biotechnological applications.
Under these headlines a number of different question will be discussed, e.g.:
- Does the concept of ''stem cells'' ultimately include their micro-environmental ''niches''?
- Is the ''niche'' a spatial environment or just an abstract construct?
- How is the ''niche'' interaction with stem cells facilitated?
- What types of experiments/data are available/needed?
- What types of theoretical models are suited and how can they be applied?
- Can the construction of artificial niches help to understand related processes in vivo?
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Structure |
- Two day workshop with a maximum number of 30 participants.
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- About 20 presentations which should contain the researcher's personal view on a selection of scientific theses that are circulated before the workshop.
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- No classical conference style; all presentations will be included in round table discussions with extended time for discussion
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Timeline |
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Application deadline for participation: Feb, 26th 2010 |
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Participation notification/ final list of participants: March 11th, 2010 |
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Meeting: May, 17-18th 2010 |
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Program schedule |
The program is planned to cover six scientific sessions. Each scientific session will contain an introductory talk and a number of short talks.
May 17th 2010
- Session 1: 08.45 - 12:30: What defines a stem cell niche?
- Session 2: 14.30 - 15:45: Modelling the stem cell niche in vitro / in vivo
- Session 3: 16.30 - 18:30: Quantifying the niche
May 18th 2010
- Session 4: 08.30 - 10:30: Engineering the niche
- Session 5: 11.00 - 13:30: In silico approaches
- Session 6: 15.00 - 17:00: Imaging techniques
- Session 7: 17:30 - 19:00: Concluding discussion
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Scientific theses |
It is a major intention of the StemCellMathLab to avoid a classical conference style and to provide sufficient space for stimulating
discussions. Therefore, we would like to arrange the workshop as an extended round table discussion rather than as a sequence of "ordinary" conference talks.
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We invite all participants to prepare (possibly multiple) short discussion contributions. These short talks should be related to one (or
more) of the topics listed below. For each of the topics we formulated a number of scientific questions/theses. The presentations, which are
restricted to a maximum of 10 minutes each(!), should address one or more of the particular questions/theses from a personal, scientific
perspective.
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Based on the number and the topics of the submitted short talks, we will arrange the scientific sessions of the workshop. Additionally to the
short discussion contributions, we plan to have one introductory/overview presentation at the begin of each session, given
by selected participants. We will approach those people in an separate email.
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Although this is not a requirement, all participants are encouraged to submit a contribution for one (or more) session(s). If there are more
contributions than time slots, we will select an appropriate number of contributions. If you think that there are important topics missing in
the list below, your are welcome to suggest your own questions/theses to complement the list.
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- Topic 1 - What defines a stem cell niche?
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Is the niche a real entity or a concept?
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Is there a common (e.g. tissue-independent) definition of a "stem cell niche" and what are defining criteria?
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Are niches pre-existing (static) entities or are they (dynamically) created (defined) by the stem cells themselves?
- There is not just one niche, but a heterogeneous (with respect to life-time, quality, position, capacity, ...) multitude of different niches (even within one tissue).
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- Topic 2 - Modelling the stem cell niche in vitro
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Stromal cultures (LTC-IC, CAFC, ...) are (in-)appropriate niche models. What would be alternative in vitro models?
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In vitro systems are (not) able to capture / to represent the in vivo features of stem cell niches.
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Which regulatory factors of niche function (e.g. metabolics, biomechanics, ...) have to be represented in in vitro systems?
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- Topic 3 - Quantifying the niche
- Which methods for quantifying niche function are available (in vivo/in vitro, cellular/molecular, ...)?
- How do available methods help to quantify/understand the stem cell - niche interaction?
- Can we characterize the (potential) heterogeneity and/or the (potential) dynamic features of niches?
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- Topic 4 - Engineering the niche
- What techniques for the construction of "artificial" niches are available?
- What are the limitations of synthetic/(bio)engineering approaches?
- Bioengineered "artificial" niches are superior/inferior to classical in vitro cultures.
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- Topic 5 - In silico approaches
- (How) can mathematical/theoretical models help to enhance our understanding of (stem) cell biology?
- (How) can we capture different levels of description (molecular, cellular, biomechanics, population / individual cell level, ...) in modelling approaches?
- Scale-bridging vs. simple, stochastic vs. deterministic, population vs. agent-based models - what is appropriate / necessary?
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- Topic 6 - Imaging
- What can we measure/quantify using imaging methods; what can we expect to be measurable in the near future?
- Can we generalize from observations of small samples of individual cells?
- Is in vivo imaging a realistic/reliable option for studying cellular behaviour in situ?
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Please send us the topic and the title of your suggested contribution(s) as soon as possible, but before Friday, April 30th!
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Registered participants
* junior investigator (PhD student / young post-doc ) |
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| Bornhaeuser, Martin* | Dresden, Germany |
| Clarke, Geoff* | Toronto, Canada |
| Cross, Michael* | Leipzig, Germany |
| Efroni, Sol* | Bar Ilan, Israel |
| Essers, Marieke* | Heidelberg, Germany |
| Galle, Joerg* | Leipzig, Germany |
| Giangcreco, Adam* | London, UK |
| Glauche, Ingmar* | Dresden, Germany |
| Griessinger, Emmanuel* | London, UK |
| Hoppe, Philipp* | Munich, Germany |
| Krinner, Axel* | Leipzig, Germany |
| Lauffenburger, Doug* | Cambridge, USA |
| Lemischka, Ihor* | New York, USA |
| LoCelso, Cristina* | London, UK |
| Loeffler, Markus* | Leipzig, Germany |
| Lutolf, Matthias* | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Moore, Kateri* | New York, USA |
| Nazareth, Emanuel* | Toronto, Canada |
| Oostendorp, Robert* | Munich, Germany |
| Palmer, Megan* | Cambridge, USA |
| Pompe, Tilo* | Dresden, Germany |
| Rocheteau, Pierre* | Paris, France |
| Roeder, Ingo* | Dresden, Germany |
| Scherf, Nico* | Leipzig, Germany |
| Schroeder, Timm* | Munich, Germany |
| Tajbakhsh, Shahragim* | Paris, France |
| Vilne, Baiba* | Munich, Germany |
| van der Wath, Richard* | Crawley, Australia |
| Waskow, Clauda* | Dresden, Germany |
| Werner, Carsten* | Dresden, Germany |
| Yaromina, Ala*s | Dresden, Germany |
| Zandstra, Peter* | Toronto, Canada |
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Costs and accomodation |
There is no registration fee for the meeting.
Accomodation is provided for all participabts from Sunday, May 16th until Wednesday, May 19th 2010 in the Cavalier's House of the castle Schloss Eckberg. Rooms and suites in the Castle are available upon request (price difference has to be covered by the participant).
Participants (including invited speakers) will have to cover their travel costs on their own.
However, there is a small number of travel grants availabe for junior researchers (Phd students / Post-doc within three years after finishing the PhD). Please apply for travel grants within your general application.
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Social program |
- Conference dinner (Monday, May 17th) in the castle "Schloss Eckberg".
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- Conference dinner (Tuesday, May 18th) in a wine restaurant in Dresden-Blasewitz.
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Workshop venue |
The workshop extends over the course of two days (Monday, May 17th, 9.00 to 22.00, Tuesday,
May 18th, 9.00 to 19.00) and will be hosted in the castle Schloss Eckberg, Dresden.
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Organisation |
The workshop is jointly organized by:
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GWT-TUD GmbH
Gesellschaft für Wissens- und Technologietransfer der TU Dresden
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Support |
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- Blood Cell Fund, Loma Linda, CA USA
- EuroSyStem - The European Federation for Systematic Stem Cell Biology
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++ Actual Flight Situation ++ |
- The areas of ash concentration are mainly at low levels in the vicinity of Iceland, and according to the forecasts are not expected to cause any disruption to air traffic during the next 24 hours. (last update: 2010-05-14)
(more detailed informations are provided by EuroControl and Lufthansa)
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