WASHINGTON (Oct. 23, 2014) — The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS), in collaboration with the University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” is pleased to host the Fourth International Symposium on Thymosins in Health and Disease in Rome, Oct. 23-25. This meeting will bring together many of the leading researchers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, to report on advances that have been made in the chemistry, biology, and clinical application of the thymosins in health and disease.
“Thymosins have significant promise and may be key to new approaches for the treatment of a number of difficult to treat human diseases, ranging from severe sepsis to neurotrophic keratitis,” said Allan L. Goldstein, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor and Chairman of the Department Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at SMHS and co-chair of the symposium. “Based on recent discoveries in host immunity and regenerative medicine, thymosins, and other biological response modifiers, have already given us additional weapons in the fight against cancer and a number of infectious diseases. This conference will bring together the greatest minds in the field, allowing us to collaborate and look forward to additional breakthroughs.”
Thymosins are a family of biologically active peptides with hormone-like properties that were first isolated in 1966. Since that time, significant progress has been made in understanding the role of these molecules in immunity and the nature of the physiological processes they regulate. Several of these small peptides, such as thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin beta 4, have been synthesized and shown to have important clinical applications. The physiological processes that these peptides affect include stimulation or suppression of immune responses, regulation of actin dynamics and cell motility, neuroplasticity, repair and remodeling of vessels of the heart and other injured tissues, angiogenesis, and stem cell differentiation. Several of these molecules have also been shown to be useful as molecular markers and as potential diagnostics in areas ranging from cancer and infectious diseases to autoimmune diseases and aging.
These experts will review the most current data and focus on recent advances and future prospects for the use of thymosins in clinical medicine. The scientific themes of the symposium will include both experimental and clinical data and the latest molecular, cellular, and gene approaches using combined therapies.
As part of the symposium, the 2014 Abraham White Scientific, Humanitarian, and Public Service Awards, which honor individuals who have made unique contributions to science and medicine, will be presented. Notable past recipients include Nobel laureates Bengt Samuelsson, M.D.; Julius Axelrod, M.D.; Michael Brown, M.D.; Joseph Goldstein, M.D.; and Tim Hunt, Ph.D., in addition to a number of other distinguished scientists. This year, the award will be presented to the following awardees:
- Michael Chopp, Ph.D. and Barbara Ensoli, M.D., Ph.D. will be honored as the 2014 Abraham White Distinguished Scientific Awardees. Chopp is being honored for his pioneering studies and scientific contributions, which have significantly advanced understanding of the role of Thymosin β4 in the treatment of a number of neurological diseases. Ensoli is also being honored for her pioneering studies and scientific contributions, which have significantly advanced understanding of the role of the HIV-1 Tat protein antigen in the development of both preventive and therapeutic HIV vaccines.
- Guido Rasi, M.D., executive director of the European Medicines Agency, will be honored as the 2014 Abraham White Lifetime Public Service Awardee for his lifetime of scientific and medical accomplishments in advancing the development of new pre-clinical models in oncology, including the use of novel combinations of chemo-immunotherapeutic approaches and nanosystem drug delivery.
Leticia Hall-Salam, director of the Office of Continuing Education in the Health Professions at SMHS, and Jessica R. Sa-Reed, lab assistant in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at SMHS, were also instrumental in the organization of this international meeting. Hynda Kleinman, Ph.D., adjunct professor of biochemistry and molecular medicine at SMHS, along with Goldstein, will speak at the symposium.
