Welcome to the 2005 International Conference on Gonadotropins and Their Receptors

This Congress provides an in depth review of basic research, clinical research, and novel applications resulting from studies of the hormones and their receptors. The latest work on structure and function of hormone isoforms and of their G protein receptors will be presented. Diagnostic as well as therapeutic applications related to diseases of reproduction as well as cancers are major topics of discussion. This meeting is also meant to provide a forum for workshops and round table consensus discussions of controversial subjects in the field including cancer vaccines and other therapies based on gonadotropins. In addition, consensus meetings will take place on the efforts towards international standardization of hormone isoform assays, nomenclature, and units which are concerns of great importance to clinicians, clinical chemists and to companies producing assay systems. A monograph complete with chapters by each invited speaker as well as consensus recommendation documents resulting from the round table discussions and workshops will be published shortly after the meeting. All accepted abstracts will be published on the meeting web site.

The major goal of the proposed international conference is to provide a forum for state-of-the art presentations and discussions of the gonadotropins and their receptors and to develop a consensus concerning the new clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications of the gonadotropin hormones. Results will be presented and discussed in a variety of formats: lectures, round table discussions, workshops, short presentations, posters, and, importantly, in informal discussions. We especially welcome students and postdoctoral fellows to participate in this conference by submission of abstracts for the poster sessions which are held daily. Underrepresented scientists from minority groups or from countries with inadequate travel resources for scientists are encouraged applying for travel awards. In addition to timely talks and discussions on major research topics, it is also anticipated that this conference will provide an avenue for discussing and debating future directions of the field. Lastly, another goal is to foster interactions and communications of basic scientists, clinical assay developers, clinicians, and veterinarians since this is an area where new research developments can be rapidly translated into clinical practice.