The Biology and Physics of Left-Right Patterning
Organisers: Gonca Erdemci-Tandogan and Daniel Grimes
Date: 5 - 8 June 2022
Location: Buxted Park, East Sussex, UK
Left-right asymmetry is a common feature of animal bodies. For instance, the internal organs of vertebrates are highly asymmetric, something which is essential for their functions. Multiple developmental processes – from initial breaking of embryonic symmetry and asymmetric patterning of the embryo, through to asymmetric morphogenesis of the organs – contribute to generating a functional left-right asymmetric animal.
This Workshop aims to bring together scientists from diverse backgrounds, including genetics, developmental biology, physics and computational biology, to understand how left-right asymmetries are generated in animals. Topics include imaging and modelling of the cilia-driven fluid flows involved in breaking embryonic symmetry in some organisms; flow sensation mechanisms; gene regulatory networks that pattern the embryo asymmetrically; and cell biology and mechanics of asymmetric organogenesis. Discussions will also include how defects in left-right asymmetry result in diseases and how mechanisms that generate asymmetries have changed (or stayed the same) through evolution.
1) Diverse mechanisms of symmetry-breaking
2) Cilia and fluid flow in left-right asymmetry
3) Left-right asymmetric patterning of the embryo
4) Left-right asymmetric organ morphogenesis
5) Diseases associated with defective left-right patterning
6) Left-right patterning mechanisms through evolution
Our goal is to provide an opportunity for a diverse group of scientists to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and create an environment that encourages us all to tackle the long-standing questions in left-right asymmetry, as well as to frame the next questions.
Organisers & speakers
Gonca Erdemci-Tandogan University of Toronto, Canada
Daniel Grimes University of Oregon, USA
Jeffrey Amack Upstate Medical University, USA
Martina Brueckner Yale School of Medicine, USA
Rebecca Burdine Princeton University, USA
Miguel Concha University of Chile, Chile
Max Fürthauer Institut de Biologie Valrose, France
Hiroshi Hamada RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Japan
Mustafa Khokha Yale University, USA
Reiko Kuroda Chubu University, Japan
Natasza Kurpios Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA
Susana Lopes NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal
Sigolène Meilhac Institut Pasteur, France
Derek Moulton University of Oxford, UK
Dominic Norris MRC Harwell Institute, UK
David Smith University of Birmingham, UK
Julien Vermot Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, France
Joseph Yost University of Utah, USA
Early-career researchers
We offer 10 funded places for early-career researchers to attend this Workshop along with the 20 speakers. We just ask that you pay for your own travel costs. If you would like to attend please complete the application form and attach a one page CV and a letter of support from your supervisor. If your supervisor would prefer to send the letter directly to us please ask them to email it to workshops@biologists.com
All attendees are expected to actively contribute to the Workshops by asking questions at presentation sessions and taking part in discussions, as well as giving a short talk on their research.
At some Workshops, early-career researchers are given additional responsibilities to promote their involvement, such as:
- Write a daily blog for the Node
- Summarise the previous day’s themes to set the scene for the next day’s sessions
- Propose future directions and collaborations
- Make a short two minute video on their experience at the Workshop
Most of these activities would be carried out in pairs or small groups and often with the
support of more senior scientists present.
About Buxted Park
The Workshop will be held at the beautiful Buxted Park in East Sussex which dates back to the 12th century. The current house was built in 1722 by Sir Thomas Medley and is an elegant Grade II Palladian mansion set in 312 acres of parkland. Over the years it has played host to a number of high profile visitors including William Wordsworth, Winston Churchill, and George V and Queen Mary. Whilst it was a health hydro in the 1960s Gregory Peck, Dudley Moore and Marlon Brando were regular visitors.
Buxted Park is less than 25 miles from Gatwick Airport and 60 miles from Heathrow Airport. There are direct trains taking 1 hour 10 minutes from London Bridge to the village of Buxted which is only a mile away from the hotel.
Buxted Park Hotel
Station Road
Buxted
East Sussex
TN22 4AY
Tel: +44 (0) 1825 733333
Workshop Photos
The Biology and Physics of Left-Right Patterning
5 – 8 June 2022
Buxted Park, East Sussex, UK
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