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12th Annual Symposium Giovanni Armenise-Harvard Foundation For Advanced Scientific Research June 20-23, 2008 Grand Hotel Bristol Stresa, Lago Maggiore
Cancer: From Genes and Proteins to Pathways and Therapeutics
The Foundation Mission
Stresa stretches along the western shore of Lago Maggiore like a kilometer-long perennial border. Visitors stroll waterfront parks where palm trees and hydrangeas mingle with Japanese maples and magnificent conifers. Grand hotels with ornate facades line the inland side; on the other are postcard-perfect views of the three Isole Borromee. The air is scented with jasmine and flowers are blooming everywhere. More than 80 participants converged on Stresa for the 12th Annual Symposium of the Giovanni-Armenise-Harvard Foundation, held June 20-23 at the Grand Hotel Bristol. The theme for this year was “Cancer: From Genes and Proteins to Pathways and Therapeutics,” and the setting was more fitting than one might think. To the uninitiated, gardens appear to be all about growth. But true gardeners know that the real secret is controlling growth. Without judicious trimming and pruning, invasive plants run wild, stealing nourishment and light from others, and the garden suffers and may ultimately die. And this is essentially what happens when cancer cells escape normal control and proliferate in humans and other creatures. The program grouped 21 oral presentations into three sessions: basic findings about pathways and mechanisms involved in tumor development, insights from model systems, and news about drug development and cancer treatment. “This meeting is about how basic science moves us closer to the clinic,” said Ed Harlow, head of the department of biological chemistry and molecular chemistry at HMS, who presented an overview of the conference during the closing session. Twenty-three poster presentations covered similar ground during a well-attended session on Saturday afternoon. Harlow said the conference talks were much like the excellent meals enjoyed by the participants: a series of courses, showcasing many flavors and combinations, which sparked lively conversations. Recurring themes included gene discovery, cell metabolism, systems-level analysis of complex phenomena, epigenetic control of gene activity, using genetic information to improve treatment, and evolving perspectives on the stem cell theory of cancer. Harlow praised keynote speaker Hans Clevers for offering up “a whole meal” instead of a single course. Clevers, who was initially interested in immunology, made what Harlow called “an extraordinary series of discoveries about how cells grow and divide in intestinal crypts.” As a result, Harlow said, he has secured a place as “one of the world’s leaders in stem cell research.” On hand for the proceedings were Count Giovanni Auletta Armenise and HMS Dean Jeffrey Flier, participating in his first Armenise-Harvard symposium since being named dean in July 2007. Members of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Scientific Advisory board and Italian Scholarship Advisory Committee also participated. U.S. scientific delegates came from Harvard Medical School and three affiliated hospitals in Boston. Italian delegates traveled from 13 Italian universities and research institutes, some as close by as Milano and others as far south as Napoli and Palermo. Two multinational pharmaceutical companies were also represented. Speakers and delegates included young scientists who have benefited from Junior Faculty Grants and Career Development Awards supported by the Foundation. Since last year’s symposium, four HMS junior faculty have received new support: Chenghua Gu, Tom Bernhardt, Monica Colaiacovo, and Johan Paulsson. Past grant recipients Marcia Haigis and Adrian Salic presented posters at this year’s conference. Two new Career Development Awards, which help outstanding young Italian researchers establish independent laboratories following post-doctoral training abroad, have been made to Rosa Bernardi and Nico Mitro. Bernardi joined six other Career Development Awardees for dinner with Count Auletta during the Stresa gathering. In addition to promoting scientific research in Italy, the Foundation has also supported extraordinary reporting opportunities for Italian journalists who cover the science beat. Alice Andreoli and Silvia Bencivelli, who report for broadcast and print outlets, are the latest recipients of the annual Science Writer Fellowships. They participated in the symposium, joined previous winners for a science writing workshop in Milano on June 23rd, and later travel to Boston to research stories of their choosing at HMS.Symposium Pages
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About
the Symposium
