Conference: 2nd BMES-SPRBM Conference on Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, San Juan, Puerto Rico, January 3 - 7, 2012

The objective of this application is to seek NSF support for the 2nd inaugural joint Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and the Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine (SPRBM) Conference on Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) (30th SPRBM Annual Scientific Conference) (short: 2nd BMES-SPRBM Conference on CMBE). The first joint conference (2011) on the specific theme of Molecular Imaging and Mechanotransduction was extremely successful. This joint CMBE conference (2012) will expand the scope and be focused the theme of Cell Motility, Matrix, Mechanobiology and Regeneration. As a rising science field the cellular and molecular bioengineering became possible to culture and engineer cells outside the body, and provide intrinsic insights for their role in regeneration. In the mean time, the elucidation of the cellular and molecular basis of life became one of the great achievements of the twentieth century, culminating in the complete sequencing of the human genome. Today we stand in the midst of an amazing convergence, which has created a nexus for bioengineers. Both the BMES and the SPRBM realized that research at this remarkable nexus, Now, the inaugural joint BMES-SPRBM Conference on CBME is the beginning of a new focus of the promising subfield in biomedical engineering and much needed forum for this exciting field. Intellectual merit: The explosions of cellular motility, cellular/molecular functional matrix and the role of mechanobiology and regeneration such as extracellular matrix and the manipulations in vitro and in vivo enables new fundamental regeneration at the cellular and molecular level, as well as providing new monitoring modalities in vivo. Therefore, these lead to the exciting theme of the inaugural BMES-SPRBM joint Conference on CMBE. This application will be first is to provide support to young and junior researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students whose submitted papers have been selected for podium presentation on the basis of scientific merits, and promote minority and women scientists in the field; and second to foster the emergence and growth of the exciting sub-filed of CMBE. The abstracts will be published in a Conference Proceeding, and selected full length papers will be published in a special issue of Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering. The specific aims of this meeting are: (1) delineate the current status of cellular and molecular motility, matrix, mechanobiology and regeneration, in which leaders from the CMBE fields will give an overview of cellular molecular motility, functional matrix concepts and review the current state of mechanobiology and adaptation, as well as their research in molecular/cellular/tissue/ functions and tissue/organ regeneration; (2) brainstorm the emerging field of CMBE with a focus on the role of cellular/molecular mechanics, motility, functional matrix and mechanotransduction with regeneration potentials, which the outcome will be published in a special issue of CMBE; (3) provide training workshop for junior faculty, investigators, and students on grant writing and opportunities; and (4) environment setting. The conference program will include Podium Sessions with invited Keynote speakers and other invited speakers. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior investigators will also be encouraged to submit abstracts. These abstracts will be organized into a poster session with cheese/wine receptions. Nine graduate students/postdoctoral fellows will be selected by the organizing committee to present short talks and six-eight junior investigators will be selected for a Young and Rising Star session. Broad impacts: The rise of engineering in the twentieth century led to profound change for humankind. The advances in biology are equally amazing. It became possible to culture and engineer cells outside the body, and provide intrinsic insights for their role in regeneration. The role of mechanical modulation of cell functions has been an intensive focus in modern biology and bioengineering. The explosions of cellular motility, cellular/molecular functional matrix and the role of mechanobiology and regeneration enables new fundamental regeneration at the cellular and molecular level, as well as providing new monitoring modalities in vivo and in patients.