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Press Release 121709 | |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Institute for Systems Biology Hosts International Peroxisome Research Meeting SEATTLE, WA , December 17, 2009 – More than 70 leaders in peroxisome research from 14 nations around the globe gathered at the Institute for Systems Biology recently to share and discuss advances in the understanding of peroxisomes, which are cellular organelles responsible for the metabolism of fatty acids and ridding the cell of toxic materials. Required for life, malfunctioning peroxisomes cause devastating, and often fatal, neuronal and metabolic disorders in infants and children. "This is the first time in more than a decade that researchers focusing exclusively on peroxisomes have gathered as a group to look at the state of current research," said John Aitchison, PhD, Associate Director of the Institute for Systems Biology and one of the symposium's organizers. "New research technologies have allowed us to learn much more about these organelles in just the last few years, and the time was right to bring everyone together to share findings and advance all our efforts." Unlike most cellular organelles, peroxisomes are very responsive to their environment and they increase or decrease in numbers depending on the abundance of fatty acids or other molecules present in the cell. Because of their varied metabolic and cellular roles, peroxisomes are linked to a number of human health concerns. In addition to inherited disorders that primarily affect children, these include, neuropathology, cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and aging. "We now understand enough about peroxisomes to trigger their production within cells, which allows us to use systems approaches to follow the molecular chain of events which leads to their creation," said Aitchison. "By understanding their function as well as how and why they replicate, we can begin to develop treatments for peroxisomal diseases that are truly devastating for children and their families." Some promising advances in addressing peroxisomal disorders include the development of stem cell transplant treatments that have proven effective, and the increasing use of routine neonatal screening to detect peroxisomal defects early in life. One unique feature of the symposium included an opportunity for researchers to meet with the families of children suffering from peroxisomal disorders. In fact, a donation supporting Aitchison's research from the grandmother of a child who suffers from a peroxisomal disorder served as the catalyst for organizing the conference. At the age of seven months, her granddaughter Chloe was diagnosed with D-Bifunctional Protein Deficiency. Doctors felt that she had only about one year to live. At the age of 18 months Chloe underwent an experimental but promising stem cell transplant that seemed to offer hope for patients with peroxisomal disorders. Chloe responded to the treatment and today, at age two-and-a-half, is making progress physically, mentally and socially. "Chloe is the reason we do this work," Aitchison said. "She and children like her around the world need an answer, and by getting together and sharing information in settings like this, we move closer and closer to providing one." The symposium, which included presentations from almost all of the attendees, was co-organized by Aitchison, Ralf Erdman, PhD, of Ruhr-Universitat Bochum in Germany, Yukio Fujiki, PhD, of Kyushu University in Japan, Richard Rachubinski, PhD, of the University of Alberta in Canada, and Suresh Subramani, PhD, of the University of California, San Diego.About the Institute for Systems Biology The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) is an internationally renowned, non-profit research institute headquartered in Seattle and dedicated to the study and application of systems biology. Founded by Leroy Hood, Alan Aderem and Ruedi Aebersold, ISB seeks to unravel the mysteries of human biology and identify strategies for predicting and preventing diseases such as cancer, diabetes and AIDS. ISB's systems approach integrates biology, computation and technological development, enabling scientists to analyze all elements in a biological system rather than one gene or protein at a time. Founded in 2000, the Institute has grown to 13 faculty and more than 280 staff members; an annual budget of nearly $40 million; and an extensive network of academic and industrial partners. For more information about ISB, visit http://www.systemsbiology.org.
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CONTACT:
Todd Langton Associate Director of Communications and Public Relations (206) 732-1333 
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