Small Molecules:
Skin as the First Line of Defense

The 2010 Montagna Symposium on the Biology of Skin will examine the role of small molecules in skin behaviors such as immune defense, growth and differentiation. Topics will include antimicrobial host defense molecules, inflammatory mediators, neuropeptides, microbial products, microRNAs, and “science driven medicine.” The program will examine cutting-edge scientific discoveries that can make the most of ongoing clinical trials in dermatology; recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology of skin disease; the role of epigenetics; and limitations of genetic approaches to individualized disease therapy. Experimental design and data analysis from cell culture and animal models will be merged with clinical observations that ultimately inform new questions, research directions, and cures.

Invited Speakers and Preliminary Talk Topics

Daniel D. Bikle, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco Vitamin D and immunoprotection
Nicholas M. Dean, Ph.D., Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Small molecule therapeutic technologies/oligonucleotide therapeutics
Richard Eckert, Ph.D., University of Maryland s100 proteins and the skin
Peter Elias, M.D., San Francisco VA Medical Center
Neuropeptides of the skin
William Fenical, Ph.D., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego Biochemical products of marine life and the treatment of skin disease
Richard Gallo, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, San Diego
Anti-inflammatory role of skin flora
Barbara Gilchrest, M.D., Boston University
Oligonucleotide therapeutics
Michel Gilliet, M.D., UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Inflammatory mediators of the skin
Richard D. Granstein, M.D., Cornell University
Neuropeptides of the skin
Bob Hancock, Ph.D., University of British Columbia
Science driven medicine
Heidi Kong, M.D., National Cancer Institute Cutaneous microbiomes
Thomas Luger, M.D., University of Muenster Neuropeptides and immunity
Ralf Paus, M.D., University of Luebeck, University of Manchester Hair follicle innate immune system
Katherine Radek, Ph.D., Loyola University Chicago Acetylcholine in immunity
Jens-Michael Schroeder, Ph.D., University of Kiel AMP discovery
Martin Steinhoff, M.D., Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco Neural signaling in the skin
Xiao-Jing Wang, M.D., Ph.D., University of Colorado Denver Targeted psoriasis PUVA therapy and TGFb
Michael Zasloff, M.D., Ph.D., Georgetown University
Innate immunity
 

Preliminary Schedule of Events

Thursday, 10/7
Welcome reception at 6:00 p.m. followed by keynote talk
Friday-Monday, 10/8 - 10/11
Breakfast served at 7:00 a.m.
Friday-Sunday, 10/8 - 10/10

Talks begin no later than 8:30 a.m.

Friday, 10/8
Poster reception, late afternoon
Saturday, 10/9

Afternoon organized hike along the coast or bus trip to Newport Aquarium
Evening banquet dinner

Sunday, 10/10
Early evening salmon bake on the beach at the home of Diane Baker, M.D. (weather permitting)
Monday, 10/11
Departure follows Monday breakfast

Updated June 29, 2010