FASEB SRC: The Protein Phosphatases Conference

ABSTRACT This application requests support for the 2022 edition of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Summer Research Conference on Protein Phosphatases. This conference will be the 16th edition of a recurring series of bi-annual meetings, the sole meeting in North America on this topic held

continuously since 1990. Its 2020 edition had been awarded funding from NCI through R13 CA247237 (scored 26) but unfortunately the conference had to be cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the grant was returned to the NCI. We are planning now to re-organize it in 2022 as the first merger between

the two longest-standing world phosphatase conferences: the FASEB protein phosphatase and the Japanese Association for Protein Phosphatase Research (JAPPR) Conference (at its 15th edition in 2022). The conference will provide an intense yet collegial environment for researchers to discuss and explore cutting-edge

areas of current research on protein phosphatases and their roles in cellular biology and human pathology. The 2022 conference aims to 1) present the most current work on the structure, regulation and function of the protein phosphatases with particular attention to their roles in human disease; 2) highlight major achievements and new

approaches, generate conduits to integrate them with other fields of research, and fuel interest in phosphatases as drug targets; and 3) to renew and refresh the community of phosphatase researchers engaging new and junior scientists and facilitating ties and collaboration between the FASEB and JAPPR phosphatase research

communities. To achieve this, the 2022 conference is designed to cover the whole range of phosphatase science from basic to translational. Several scientific sessions are focused on the biochemistry and cell biology of some of the more than 1000 forms of these complex enzymes. Sessions dedicated to the role of protein phosphatases

in diverse systems and organs—e.g. the nervous and immune systems- provide ideal platforms for cross- discussion of findings in normal vs pathological tissues and organs. Cancer will be a cross-cutting theme of the conference and will also be especially featured in two sessions and in the keynote lectures. Recent novel

approaches have been progressively improving druggability of phosphatases, with multiple agents now in advanced clinical trials. Thus, another cross-cutting theme will be therapeutic targeting of phosphatases. Speakers will include experts from academia and industry, and talks on late-breaking advances and short talks

selected from submitted abstracts will be given by new investigators, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and those from outside the field with a goal of increasing representation by women and minority scientists. The Omni Resort in Palm Springs provides a secluded venue that fosters informal interaction, discussion, and

collaboration between the expected 150 participants. Altogether, the impact of the 2022 FASEB Conference on Protein Phosphatases will be to augment our understanding of fundamental protein phosphatase biology and pave the way for development of new therapies targeting phosphatases to improve human health.