Message from the Program Chair
Paul Monga, MD

The next Annual Meeting of the American Society for Investigative Pathology will be held in New Orleans, LA at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from April 18-22, 2009, in conjunction with Experimental Biology 2009. The scientific meeting will include diverse and exciting program constituted by symposia, workshops and special sessions.  Many of the sessions have been developed in conjunction with our guest societies including the American Society for Matrix Biology, the  American College of Veterinary Pathologists, the Pulmonary Pathology Society, the International Society for Analytical and Molecular Morphology, the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories, the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology, and the Italian Pathology Society.

Topics for symposia and award lectures include biology of aging, stem cells in lung development and disease, cancer stem cells, circulating tumor cells, interdisciplinary approaches to liver disease, miRNA in health and disease, genomic models of human disease, resolving cell death and inflammation, epigenetic pathogenesis of cancer, Wnt signaling, pathology and genetics of neurodegeneration, genetically engineered mouse models and the mechanisms of tumorigenesis in the phakomatoses,.  These events will feature invited talks by leaders in the field including Nobel Laureate Oliver Smithies.  In a continuing tradition, there will also be several symposia focused on various aspects of vascular biology that will cover autophagy, inflammation and vascular remodeling. Some of the symposia include autophagy in cardiac and vascular pathobiology, patrolling vascular interface by leukocytes and molecular mechanisms and dynamics of leukocyte breaching the tissue barriers. 

In keeping with ASIP’s commitment to support junior investigators and trainee members, the ASIP program at EB2009 will also include special sessions such as the career development workshops and winning in the granting process in pathology. There will also be special sessions to showcase trainee research. Finally, a large number of awards will be presented for outstanding trainee research.  There will be an additional session entitled ‘Achieving Work Life Balance’, which is organized by ASIP Committee for Career Development, Women and Minorities. As in the past, a vital component of the program will include abstract-driven minisymposia and poster sessions. We encourage submission of your abstracts to ASIP topic categories covering a broad range of research areas in experimental pathology.  The program committee is looking forward to receiving many abstracts that will contribute to the success of this exciting meeting in New Orleans.