From stem cells to human development
Organisers: Paola Arlotta, Ali Brivanlou, Olivier Pourquié and Jason Spence
Date: 23 - 26 September 2018
Location: Wotton House, Surrey, UK
This meeting represented the third in our highly successful series of events focussing on human developmental biology. Since the initiation of this series, in 2014, we have witnessed huge progress in this field, with more and more researchers turning to stem cell and organoid systems to investigate development and organogenesis in vitro, as well as increased analysis of human embryos and tissues to understand how these processes occur in vivo. Technological advances such as genome editing, single cell sequencing and improvements in tissue engineering now allow us to delve more deeply into the conserved and divergent processes underlying human development. Such knowledge is essential to underpin translational research into developmental disorders and to develop cell and tissue therapies.
As previously, this meeting brought together researchers working on a diverse set of questions – from early cell fate choices in the human embryo to tissue organogenesis in all three germ layers, from epigenetic and other mechanisms underlying stem cell pluripotency and differentiation to methods for visualising and analysing the entire human embryo. Despite this breadth of interests, the scientists involved were united by common challenges associated with working with human cells and tissues, and by a common goal to understand the similarities and differences between human development and that of other species. As well as talks from invited speakers and selected delegates, the meeting also included a discussion session on the ethical and legal challenges of working with early human embryos, cells and organoid cultures – and how we as a community should address these.
Topics:
- Early embryogenesis and germline development
- Ectoderm lineages including neural development
- Mesoderm lineages
- Endoderm lineages
- Visualising, mapping and quantifying human embryogenesis
- Tissue engineering
Organisers & speakers
Ali Brivanlou The Rockefeller University, USA
Olivier Pourquié Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA
Jason Spence University of Michigan, USA
Silvia Cappello Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Germany
Alain Chédotal Institut de la Vision, France
John Dick Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Canada
Tracy Grikscheit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, USA
Neil Hanley University of Manchester, UK
Prisca Liberali* Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Switzerland
Melissa Little Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia
Robin Lovell-Badge# The Francis Crick Institute, UK
Matthias Lutolf Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
Alfonso Martinez Arias University of Cambridge, UK
Alexander Meissner Max Plank Institute for Molecular Genetics, Germany
Antoon Moorman Academic Medical Centre, The Netherlands
Malin Parmar Lund University, Sweden
Kathrin Plath University of California, Los Angeles, USA
Alex Pollen* University of California, San Francisco, USA
Emma Rawlins The Gurdon Institute, UK
Mitinori Saitou Kyoto University, Japan
Christine Seidman Harvard Medical School, USA
Christopher Walsh Harvard Medical School, USA
Aryeh Warmflash* Rice University, USA
Fiona Watt King’s College London, UK
James Wells Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, USA
# Discussion leader.
Registration packages
The fees include;
- Registration and meeting costs
- 3 nights’ accommodation (Sunday to Wednesday) in an en-suite room with single occupancy
- All meals (Sunday lunch to Wednesday lunch inclusive), coffee breaks and one reception drink each evening throughout the meeting
- Use of the leisure facilities at Wotton House
- Delegate pack and programme
It is expected that all attendees will stay for the duration of the Meeting.
| PhD students /postdocs | Academia | Industry | |
| From 1 – 22 June 2018 | £745 | £850 | £1,025 |
Thanks to generous support from the Wellcome Trust, we may be able to offer some financial support for travel costs to applicants from low and middle income countries (see here for a list of eligible countries). If you would like to apply for support, please email us at dev18meeting@biologists.com detailing your likely travel costs.
Venue
Wotton House
De Vere Wotton House hotel, near Dorking in Surrey, is an estate like no other. Built in the 17th century, the house was once the seat of the Evelyn family, and is set in sweeping grounds of over 13 acres – including Italian gardens, manicured lawns and Roman-style temples.
Wotton House boasts a mix of original features and 21st century style, and the entire venue has recently been refurbished. Amenities include a gym, heated pool and spa, as well as superfast WiFi throughout the hotel and free-flowing refreshments within the conference area. All meals will be provided in the 1877 Restaurant.
Wotton House is located under an hour’s drive from both Gatwick and Heathrow Airports, with fast train connections from Dorking Station to London.
Meeting photo
Meeting gallery
From stem cells to human development
23 – 26 September 2018
Wotton House, Dorking, UK
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