More than 200 academics from all over the world are meeting tomorrow (September 14) at the University of Aberdeen for a three day conference to discuss recent developments in our understanding of an important field of cell biology; one that is of considerable medical significance.
Human and animal cells possess complex and sophisticated mechanisms that allow them to send and receive signals to and from their neighbouring cells. These signals contain important information that allows cells to coordinate their behaviours, and work together to form tissues, organs and ultimately organisms. Understanding how cells signal to one another is important since many common human diseases, such as cancer, are caused by defects in the cell to cell signalling mechanisms.
"Wnts" are one of the most important classes of signalling molecules (small proteins that act as messages between cells) and defects in the machinery that the cell uses to respond to these messages are found in several common human cancers, including colon cancer.
This is the first time that the Wnt Signalling in Development, Disease and Cell Biology conference has taken place in Scotland.
Dr Jonathan Pettit, one of the conference organisers and a senior lecturer at the University, said: “It is a real coup for Aberdeen to be hosting such a prestigious event, which has attracted around 200 academics from America, Europe and Asia, including some of the most distinguished scientists in the field.
“The meeting will allow key scientists working in different areas of the field to come together and discuss their most recent findings.”