Registration

Breakfast Meetings:

TOPICAL REVIEW 1: Food Mutagenesis and Dietary Supplements

Description

Speaker: Lynnette R. Ferguson, The University of Auckland Medical School

TOPICAL REVIEW 2: The Mutagenic Hazards of Contaminated Soil and Water

Description

Speaker: Paul A. White, Health Canada

SYMPOSIUM 1: Preserving Chromosome Continuity When DNA Replication Encounters Damage

When DNA replication forks encounter damaged bases or single-strand breaks and gaps (such as those arising as repair intermediates), they can collapse and produce single-sided double-strand breaks (DSBs), which may then lead to chromosomal rearrangements. Several mechanisms prevent such potentially carcinogenic and lethal events from occurring, including translesion bypass synthesis, replication fork restart by homologous recombination, and DSB repair by nonhomologous end joining. These recovery processes are coordinated by the primary damage-response kinases (ATM, ATR, DNA-PK) and cell cycle checkpoint functions. A major focus of this symposium is on the role of the Fanconi anemia pathway in promoting these recovery processes

Chairpersons: Larry H. Thompson, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, John M. Hinz, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Sponsored by Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, Inc.

Mechanisms of Common Fragile Site Instability

Speaker: Tom Glover, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Role of Rad9 in Preserving Genomic Integrity

Speaker: Howard Lieberman, Columbia University

Late Activation of ATM and DNA-PKcs Kinases Upon UV-Induced Replication Stress

What Happens When Crosslinked DNA is Replicated?

Speaker: Laura Niedernhofer, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Fanconi Anemia Proteins and Their Interactions With the Replication Fork

Speaker: Paul Andreassen, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

The Fanconi Anemia Pathway Limits the Severity of Mutagenesis

Speaker: Larry Thompson, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

SYMPOSIUM 2: The Role of MiRNA in Carcinogenesis

There is a growing interest in the role of epigenetic effectors in carcinogenesis. Amongst those small regulatory RNAs, and particularly microRNAs have exploded on the scenes in 2002-2004. MicroRNAs are abundant, small functional single-stranded non-coding RNAs that bind to the 3'UTR of mRNAs serving as translational suppressors. By doing so they regulate the production of proteins and affect many cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, repair and cell death. Thereafter miRNAs play important roles in various stress responses, carcinogenesis and development. The symposium covers the most recent findings on (i) microRNAs in cancer, (ii) etiological roles of microRNAs in genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogenesis and (iii) roles of microRNAome in the inflammatory responses.

Chairpersons: Olga Kovalchuk, University of Lethbridge and Catherine B. Klein, New York University School of Medicine

Co-Sponsored by LC Sciences, LLC.

MicroRNA Genes and Human Cancer

Role of MicroRNAs Alterations in Genotoxic and Non-Genotoxic Rodent Hepatocarcinogenesis

Epigenetic Dysregulation in Breast Carcinogenesis

Speaker: Olga Kovalchuk, University of Lethbridge

MicroRNAs Induced by Inflammatory and Infectious Stimuli

Speaker: Mark Boldin, California Institute of Technology

Hypoxic Stress Regulates a Distinct Class of MicroRNAs

Speaker: Meredith E. Crosby, Yale University

SYMPOSIUM 3: Identification of Antimutagens, Mechanisms of Antimutagenicity, and Implications for Public Policy and Health

Antimutagens offer promise for counteracting exposures to natural or anthropogenic mutagens in our environment. The antimutagenesis literature has been growing extensively in recent years with scientists finally beginning to test the claims of long-used dietary supplements and plant extracts. In addition, the search for new antimutagens is growing, with the initial focus on plants, but a large number of other substances have also been tested. Because of the increasing exposure of the population to a vast array of largely untested dietary supplements, criteria need to be established for the appropriate testing of such agents, especially for antimutagenesis. This symposium describes the limitations of the current literature on antimutagenesis and dietary supplements, addresses the identification of antimutagens, proposes criteria for performing antimutagenesis studies, examines their mechanisms of action, advances guidelines for publishing the results of such studies and debates issues regarding the possible prophylactic use of these substances to moderate the potential effects of environmental mutagens. In particular, the symposium will concentrate on antimutagenesis studies in bacterial and mammalian cell systems, as well as in vivo studies in rodents and in humans.

Chairpersons: Dan D. Levy, U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Daniel T. Shaughnessy, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Identification of Antimutagens

Speaker: Errol. Zeiger, Errol Zeiger Consulting

Mechanisms of Antimutagenesis

Speaker: Daniel T. Shaughnessy, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Antimutagenesis Data and Food Ingredients

Speaker: Dan D. Levy, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

General Discussion

EMS Technology Lunchtime Workshop: Advances in Micronucleus Analysis by Flow Cytometry
(Free Workshop, Advance Registration Required, Lunch Provided, Seating Limited)

Detecting micronuclei (i.e., chromosomal damage) is important because research suggests that exposure to chromosome-damaging agents can increase the risks of birth defects and cancer. Come to this workshop and hear from scientists currently using high speed flow cytometry to reliably measure micronuclei. You’ll hear how to perform more in vivo micronucleus analyses in less time, how flow cytometry provides more accurate and reproducible data, and how you can track micronucleus levels in all species of toxicologic interest. Following the presentations there will be ample opportunity for discussion between speakers and participants.

Chairperson: Dorothea Torous, Litron Laboratories

Sponsored by Litron Laboratories

Application of the Peripheral Blood Micronucleus Assay to the Beagle Dog

Speaker: James T. MacGregor, Toxicology Consulting Services

Flow Cytometry Based Micronucleus Assay as an Investigative Toxicology Tool

Speaker: Leslie Recio, ILS, Inc.

Detection of Elevated %MN-RETs in Bloods of Infants and Mothers Following Prenatal AZT Exposure

Speaker: Jack B. Bishop, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Using Flow Cytometry to Measure Micronuclei in Mice Exposed Transplacentally and Neonatally to AZT and Other Antiretroviral Agents

Speaker: Robert H. Heflich, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Practical Threshold for Micronucleus Induction Observed for Low Doses of Mitomycin C, Ara-C and Colchicine

Speakers: Stephen D. Dertinger, Litron Laboratories

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Mouse Bone Marrow

Speakers: Ljubica S. Krsmanovic and Patricia Escobar, BioReliance Coporation

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Rat Bone Marrow for Midronuclei Using the CD71 MicroFlow Technology

Speaker: Ronald D. Fiedler, Pfizer Inc.

EMS Technology Lunchtime Workshop: Advances in Bioinformatics Methods for the Analyses of Global Gene Expression Networks and Pathways (Free Workshop, Advance Registration Required, Lunch Provided, Seating Limited)

Automatic Information Extraction From Scientific Literature and Pathway Analysis for Toxicology

Chairperson: Sanchita Bhattacharya, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Supported in part by Genomatix Software GmbH and Ariadne Genomics, Inc.

The Challenge of Bioinformatics

Speaker: Sanchita Bhattacharya, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Multiple Lines of Evidence - A Systems Biology Approach to Microarray Analysis. Combining Experimental Data, Literature and Sequence Analysis to Study Gene Regulation

Speaker : Sheila Sanders, Genomatix Software Inc.

Automatic Information Extraction From Scientific Literature and Pathway Analysis for Toxicology

Speaker: Anton Yuryev, Ariadne Genomics, Inc.

Gene Expression Signatures that Predict Responses to Environmental Exposures

Speaker: Rebecca Fry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Questions and Discussions

Atlanta Community Outreach Events

The EMS will host 40-50 students and their mentors from Universities and Colleges in the greater Atlanta area to attend a portion of our meeting on Sunday afternoon. Students from local Atlanta colleges will arrive at about 11AM and depart about 6:30 PM. There will be a luncheon, with speakers developed for these students followed by a scientific symposium to honor the work of Marvin S. Legator. The following is luncheon and afternoon itinerary for the visiting students. In addition to the luncheon and Legator Symposium, these students and their mentors will also attend the plenary session, and poster session for Sunday afternoon.

Marvin S. Legator Student Luncheon
(Event for invited local students and mentors; by invitation only)

This luncheon is part of an EMS outreach program for minority and disadvantaged students. The luncheon honors the strong commitment Dr. Legator demonstrated for environmental justice for communities of people who lacked the power to protect themselves from environmental hazards. Historically Black Colleges and Universities are invited to send about 10 students who are interested in careers in science. The students from each participating University and College in the greater Atlanta area will be accompanied by two or three of their faculty.

Chairpersons: Joginder Nath, West Virginia University and Jonathan B. Ward, Jr., University of Texas Medical Branch

Sponsored by the Marvin S. Legator Memorial Fund, University of Texas Medical Branch

Welcome and Orientation

Speakers: Joginder Nath, West Virginia University and Jonathan B. Ward, Jr., University of Texas Medical Branch

Careers in Research

Speaker: James Gentile, Research Corporation

Opportunities for Young Scientists in the EMS

Speaker: David M. DeMarini, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

SYMPOSIUM 4: The Research Legacy of Marvin S. Legator

This symposium honors one of the founding members of the Society, Dr. Marvin S. Legator, who was a well known advocate for the rights of people to live in clean, healthy environments. This symposium focuses on the three research themes in environmental toxicology that Dr. Legator helped to develop: the integration of in vivo metabolism as an element in genetic toxicology, the development of genetic biomonitoring in human populations, and the development of community-based environmental toxicology research.

Chairpersons: Joginder Nath, West Virginia University and Jonathan B. Ward, Jr., University of Texas Medical Branch

Sponsored by the Marvin S. Legator Memorial Fund, University of Texas Medical Branch

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker: Joginder Nath, West Virginia University

The Legacy of Marvin Legator

Speaker: Jonathan B. Ward, Jr., University of Texas Medical Branch

Insights Into the Molecular Basis of 1,3 Butadiene-Mediated Mutagenesis

Speaker: R. Stephen Lloyd, Oregon Health Sciences University

Biomonitoring of Exposure to Chemical Carcinogens

Speaker: Radim J. Sram, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Prague

Protecting Communities from Environmental Hazards

Speaker: Devra Davis, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Discussion

SYMPOSIUM 5: Epigenetics: The New Genetic Frontier

Traditional research on the combined effects of the environment and genetics on individual variation in disease risk examines the relationship between disease susceptibility, environmental exposures and germline mutations in the coding and promoter regions of genes. Such research efforts have highlighted the importance of genotype in human diseases. However, it is now becoming clear that a full understanding of environmental interactions with the genome will require epigenetic mechanisms to also be taken into account. Human epidemiologic studies provide strong evidence that prenatal and early postnatal environmental factors influence the adult risk of developing a variety of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and even behavioral disorders like autism and schizophrenia. The speakers in this symposium will present mounting evidence, that environmental influences during early development are linked to adult disease phenotypes through modifications of the epigenome. The use of novel strategies that target the epigenome in the treatment of human diseases are also discussed.

Chairpersons: Randy L. Jirtle, Duke University Medical Center and Hilde E. van Gijssel, Valley City State University

DNA Methylation: An Interface Between the Social Environment and Our Genomes

Speaker: Moshe Szyf, McGill University

Epigenetic Mechanisms in Memory Formation

Speaker: J. David Sweatt, University of Alabama

Epigenetic Targets for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer

Speaker: Allen Yang, USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center

Epigenetics of Non-Targeted Radiation Effects

Speaker: Igor Koturbash, University of Lethbridge

SYMPOSIUM 6: Nanoparticles Toxicology

Nanomaterials play an increasingly important role in commercial products for human use. The chemistry and structure of nanoparticles is highly complex and diverse, but certain classes of nanoparticles can pass through the normal tissue and cellular barriers, some of which reach the cellular nuclei and DNA. This symposium reviews the evidence that nanoparticles may reach somatic nuclei and presents the physico-chemical properties that may be associated with their toxicity.

Chairpersons: Fanqing Frank Chen, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Nancy A. Monteiro-Riviere, North Carolina State University, Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics

Toxicogenomic Analysis of Nanoparticles

Speaker: Fanqing Frank Chen, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Concepts of Nanotoxicology

Speaker: Gunter Oberdorster, University of Rochester

Airborne Nanoparticle and Oxidation

Speaker: Don Lucas, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, LBNL

Nanotoxicity Evaluation Platforms

Speaker: David W. Hobson, H&H Scientific Services, LLP

Dermal Exposure to Nanomaterials

Speaker: Nancy A. Monteiro-Riviere, North Carolina State University, Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics

Correlating the Physical and Chemical Properties of Nanoparticles to Their Biological Activity

Speaker: Vicky Colvin, Rice University

Nanotechnology for Health and the Environment: How Did We Get Here and Where are We going?

Speaker: Sally Tinkle, National Institutes of Health Sciences

Discussion

PLENARY LECTURE: Tumor Suppression, DNA Damage and Growing Old: Does the End Justify the
Means?

Speaker: Gerald I. Evan, University of California, San Francisco

Poster Session I and Exhibits (Poster Assignments)

Committee Meetings:

2008 Program Committee (First Meeting)
Baker Room

SYMPOSIUM 7: Women in Science: The Engine Behind Discovery

The new Special Interest Group (SIG) focusing on women's issues (broadly encompassing women's health research topics as well as career development for women in science) was recently proposed and developed. The new SIG, "Women in the EMS" (WEMS), will focus on women's issues within the EMS as well as broader issues that women face in scientific careers. For our first formal get-together at the Atlanta meeting we are very excited to have Dr. Thea Tlsty from UCSF as our keynote speaker. Following Dr. Tlsy's talk, we will have three short talks from other inspiring EMS women. To conclude the event, a panel of all the previous speakers plus two additional EMS women, together representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds, will lead a discussion on topics that were noted to be of relevance to women in the EMS, based on recent surveys of WEMS members.

Chairpersons: Janice Pluth, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and
Glenda Gentile, University of Arizona

Sponsored by the Office of Research on Women's Health, NIH

Early Epigenetic and Genetic Events in Carcinogenesis

Speaker: Thea D. Tlsty, University of California, San Francisco

Atrazine Effects on Human Menstrual Cycle

Speaker: Wendie A. Robbins, University of California—Los Angeles

Biomarker Studies in Minority Women

Speaker: Nina Titenko Holland, University of California—Berkeley

A Test of the Lipophilic Mutagen Hypothesis of Breast Cancer

Speaker: Kathleen A. Hill, The University of Western Ontario

Panel Discussion