TORONTO, Nov. 4 /CNW/ - The 8th Transgenic Technology meeting took place
for the first time on the North American continent in Toronto on October
27-29, 2008. The conference was attended by over 400 international delegates
from 27 countries from five continents.
The first TT meeting was organized in Sweden in 1998, and since then it
has become the most relevant international forum to discuss new techniques,
developments and projects within the field of transgenesis. Since TT2007 in
Brisbane, Australia, the TT meetings are organized on behalf of ISTT - the
International Society for Transgenic Technologies (www.transtechsociety.org)
that was founded shortly after TT2005 in Barcelona, Spain. These meetings
attract and gather both leading scientists, students and technical specialists
and have a special emphasis on the technological aspects of transgenic
research including generation and analysis of genetically modified mice. These
animal models are developed to better understand, and eventually find,
treatments and cures for devastating human diseases.
Lluis Montoliu, Research Scientist at CNB-CSIC (Madrid, Spain) and
President of ISTT said, "The TT2008 meeting brought together scientists and
experienced technicians from all over the world working with the generation
and analysis of genetically modified animals serving as models of human
diseases. The meeting triggered lively and most interesting discussions that
will profoundly impact this field. This was a historic conference that will be
remembered for years. All delegates felt engaged with the topics presented and
were a fundamental part of the success of the event. Founding figures of these
technologies were honoured (Charles Babinet, Anne McLaren, Andrzej Tarkowski)
and awarded (Brigid Hogan) thereby acknowledging their pioneering and
outstanding contributions to the younger generations, and bringing together
the past, present and future of the animal transgenesis field. At the ISTT, we
are very proud of and grateful to Kristina Vintersten, Marina Gertsenstein,
Andras Nagy and their local organizing team for their impressive work and
success of this meeting."
TCP was one of many proud sponsors for this event. In addition,
twenty-two people from all over the world attended a two-day course on
Tetraploid Embryo Complementation Assay hosted by TCP's Transgenic Core
immediately following the meeting.
About:
The Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics is a $69 million, state-of-the-art
facility in the heart of Toronto's Discovery District that enables
groundbreaking research and discovery with the goal of advancing human health.
Through the modeling of disease, the TCP seeks cures and treatments in areas
such as diabetes, cancer, musculoskeletal disease, metabolic disease,
neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular and renal disease, and stem cell
and regenerative medicine. The TCP is a unique collaboration among four
founding Member research hospitals: Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Michael's
Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children and University Health Network.
www.phenogenomics.ca
Mount Sinai Hospital is an internationally recognized, 472-bed acute care
academic health centre affiliated with the University of Toronto. It is known
for excellence in the provision of compassionate patient care, innovative
education and world-leading research. Our Centres of Excellence are the Samuel
Lunenfeld Research Institute (www.mshri.on.ca); Women's and Infants' Health;
Surgery and Oncology; Acute and Chronic Medicine; and Laboratory Medicine and
Infection Control. Mount Sinai Hospital brings together people with Bright
Minds and Big Hearts to provide The Best Medicine. www.mtsinai.on.ca
St. Michael's Hospital is a large and vibrant Catholic teaching and
research hospital in the heart of Toronto. Fully affiliated with the
University of Toronto, it is home to more than 100 clinician researchers and
more than 25 scientists who utilize a bench to bedside model - directly
applying research findings to patient care. Our 4,800 staff and 600 physicians
are renowned for providing exceptional patient care. St. Michael's Hospital is
the designated adult-trauma centre for downtown Toronto and a major tertiary
and quaternary referral centre for Ontario. Specializing in the areas of heart
and vascular disease, trauma, diabetes comprehensive care, neurosurgery,
musculoskeletal disorders and specialized complex care, St. Michael's Hospital
leads with innovation, and serves with compassion. For more information,
please visit www.stmichaelshospital.com.
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), affiliated with the University
of Toronto, is Canada's most research-intensive hospital and the largest
centre dedicated to improving children's health in the country. As innovators
in child health, SickKids improves the health of children by integrating care,
research and teaching. Our mission is to provide the best in complex and
specialized care by creating scientific and clinical advancements, sharing our
knowledge and expertise and championing the development of an accessible,
comprehensive and sustainable child health system. For more information,
please visit www.sickkids.ca. SickKids is committed to healthier children for
a better world. www.sickkids.ca
University Health Network incorporates Toronto General, Toronto Western
and Princess Margaret Hospitals. The scope of research and complexity of cases
at University Health Network have made it a national and international source
for discovery, education and patient care. It has the largest hospital-based
research program in Canada, with major research in cardiology,
transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious
diseases and genomic medicine. University Health Network is a research and
teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto. www.uhn.caThe "International Society for Transgenic Technologies (ISTT)" is a
non-profit making Society, with the following aims:
- To foster and encourage knowledge generation, discussion, training
and education, and the diffusion of the technologies and specific
research used for the genetic modification of animals, in particular
those aimed at generating and/or analysing transgenic and mutant
animals as particularly useful experimental models in the biology,
biomedicine and biotechnology disciplines.
- To act as a meeting point and debate forum for all professionals and
students in the field, including scientists and specialists,
personnel from relevant companies and, in general, any individuals
with an interest in the generation and/or the analysis of transgenic
animals.
International Society for Transgenic Technologies (ISTT)
Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia (CNB-CSIC), Madrid (Spain)
www.transtechsociety.org
For further information: Janet LeClair, Communications Specialist,
Toronto Centre for Phenogenomics, T: (647) 837-5841, Email:
janet.leclair@phenogenomics.ca
