UMass Amherst Symposium Explores Causes and Treatments of Diseases like Alzheimer’s
April 27, 2007
| Contact: | Angelica LeBoeuf 413/545-0353 |
AMHERST, Mass. – The cause and treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis and Parkinson’s will be the subject of a symposium scheduled for Tuesday, May 1 and Wednesday, May 2 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus Center.
Sponsored by the UMass department of biochemistry and molecular biology, the “Protein Misfolding Diseases Symposium” will present new research on the role of misfolded proteins in the development of these devastating diseases and advances in therapeutic approaches. The symposium is co-sponsored by the Research Leadership in Action Program: the UMass Amherst Office of Research, the Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, the Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute and Art Rosenthal, Ph.D., 1973.
Events scheduled for May 1 include a panel discussion “Therapeutic Approaches to Protein Misfolding Diseases” from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., moderated by Jonathan King, a professor of biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A special seminar at 4 p.m. presented by Jeffery Kelly of the Scripps Research Institute will focus on understanding and treating age onset neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Both events will be held in Campus Center Room 101.
Lectures scheduled for May 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be held in the Campus Center Auditorium. Topics include the molecular basis of diseases like Parkinson’s and the role of stress in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
“Yeast as a Discovery Platform for Protein Folding Diseases” is the title of the keynote address by Susan Lindquist, the 2007 John Nordin Lecturer at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and a professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The address is scheduled for 4 to 5 p.m. and will be followed by a reception.
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