The
annual Montagna Symposium on the Biology of Skin
(MSBS) was initiated at Brown University in 1950
by Dr. William Montagna. The Symposium grew from
the need to communicate investigative work in cutaneous
biology and to provide a link between basic scientists
studying the skin in man and animals and the clinically
trained scientists in investigative dermatology.
Since then, over 5,000 scientists, physicians, and
students from around the world have attended the
annual Symposium, which address a single major topic
in cutaneous biology.
In
1965, the Symposium moved to Oregon Health & Science
University with Dr. Montagna when he became Director
of the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center. The
meetings were held at Salishan Lodge on the Oregon
coast for nearly 20 years. From 1979 to 1992, the
Symposium was directed by Kirk D. Wuepper of
Oregon Health & Science
University. Dr. David Norris and Dr. Wuepper
co-chaired the Symposium
in 1991 and 1992 at Snowmass Village, Colorado. Dr.
Norris assumed directorship of the Symposium for
the 1993 meeting "Genetics of Skin Diseases."
The
2003 Symposium brought a closer affiliation of MSBS
with the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID)
and a celebration of the leadership of David Norris,
who serves as Chair Emeritus and member of the
MSBS Board of Directors.
In 2004, Molly Kulesz-Martin
assumed directorship of the Symposium with co-chair
Jackie Bickenbach and oversaw a move back to Oregon
for the meeting “Cancers of Skin." As the Montagna
Symposium enters its seventh decade, it continues
to fulfill
its mission to bring together basic scientists, clinicians,
and young investigators to explore the frontiers
of dermatology.
