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Conference Information
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Registration

Abstract Submission

Getting There

Organizing Committee

Places To Stay

  The Western Region Islet Study Group will hold its third annual meeting at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle, Washington beginning on Friday, September 19th and ending Sunday, September 21st, 2003. Registration takes place from 3 to 6 PM on Friday (location to be determined). The program runs from 7 AM to 5 PM on Saturday and from 7 AM to Noon on Sunday (actual schedule to be determined) at the Bell Harbor. Both sessions are preceded by breakfast from 7 to 7:45 AM.
About the Conference
In the past few years, there has been an increasing emphasis on improving our understanding of ß-cell biology as a necessary step towards developing a definitive therapy for both type-1 and -2 diabetes. To further facilitate progress and cooperation in the area of ß-cell biology, the idea of starting a Western Region Islet Study Group (WRISG) was proposed in the summer of 2000 to bring together up to100 participants at an annual meeting to meet and exchange ideas. A strong emphasis on the participation of young investigators at the graduate and postgraduate level was proposed. An organizing committee was chosen of established researchers in basic islet and diabetes research from 6 geographically dispersed centers namely Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver, and a membership database compiled centrally. The inaugural meeting of the group was held September 28th-30th 2001 at the Marconi conference center near San Francisco and was attended by 72 islet researchers from the western U.S. and Canada. The second meeting was held at the Victoria Conference Center in Victoria B.C. from Nov 1-3rd, 2002 and was attended by 86 researchers. Both meetings were a remarkable success, and provided an excellent program of presentations primarily by students and fellows as well as ample time for interaction among attendees. The 3rd annual meeting of the Western Region Islet Study group is planned for September 19th - September 21st, 2003 at the Bell Harbor Conference Center in Seattle, Washington. We anticipate a continuing increase in participation as evidenced by the first two meetings.

As with our last meeting, six topic areas will be covered:

  1. Embryological development of the endocrine pancreas.
  2. Postnatal islet development - ductal cells, progenitor cells, islet neogenesis.
  3. Islet beta cell survival and apoptosis.
  4. Regulation of proinsulin synthesis and insulin secretion.
  5. Islet cell biology - granule biogenesis, granule transport, exocytosis, islet cell contact.
  6. The islet in type-1 & -2 diabetes - pathology and novel therapeutic approaches.

The meeting will center around 6 scientific sessions of 2 hours each covering the above topic areas. Oral presentations of 20-minute duration will be delivered from abstract submissions reviewed and selected by the organizing committee. A strong bias will be made towards young investigators in the selection process.

Outside of the main program there will be one keynote address by either a major scientific figure or an individual representing the academic / industrial interface and informal discussion groups. Facilities will be provided for job seminars if requested and a bulletin board for positions vacant and wanted will be displayed. The primary goal of the meeting is to bring together as many of the young investigators in the islet research field within the region as possible and to foster communication and collaboration between these individuals and their supporting groups. It is intended to be more than just a conference. The WRISG meeting will be an important step in catalyzing further development in the field and unifying researchers for the task ahead: to involve the next generation of research consortia and strong liaison between academia and industry.

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Bell Harbor International Conference Center
The conference center is located on the Bell Harbor Bell Street Pier and offers 100,000 square feet of waterfront meeting and banquet space. From the Bay Auditorium fashioned after the United Nations, to the rooftop plaza with sweeping views of Seattle and Mt. Rainier, Bell Harbor sets the stage for history making occasions for groups from 10 to 2000.

http://www.bellharbor.org/

Founded in 1869, the City of Seattle is located in the State of Washington on Puget Sound, 113 miles (182 km) from the U.S.-Canadian border. Seattle is a commercial, cultural and advanced technology hub of the U.S. Pacific Northwest and a major port city for trans-Pacific and European trade. Surrounded by mountains and water, the greater Seattle area features picture-perfect views and abundant recreational opportunities year-round.

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Meals
The following meals are included with your registration fee:
  • Friday, September 19th - Welcome Reception
  • Saturday, September 20th - Breakfast, lunch at the Bell Harbor Conference Center & relaxing dinner downtown
  • Sunday, September 21st - Breakfast and lunch at the Bell Harbor Conference Center.