7th Annual Mini-Symposium on Metals in Biological Systems
Presented by The Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Center for Metals in Biological Systems
December 2, 2011
| 1:00 p.m. Power Center Ballroom (Power Center building) |
Welcome AddressDr. David W. Seybert
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| 1:15—4:15 p.m. Power Center Ballroom |
Seminar Speakers1:15-1:55 p.m.—Dr. Eckard Münck, Department of Chemistry Carnegie Mellon University 2:00-2:40 p.m.—Dr. Thomas J. Meade, Department of Chemistry Northwestern University 2:45-3:25 p.m.—Dr. Yuri Gorby, Marine Environmental Biology, College of Letters Arts and Sciences University of Southern California 3:30-3:50 p.m.—Dr. Jun Wang, Vascular Medicine Institute Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine 3:55-4:15 p.m.—Kristen Kruszewski, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Duquesne University |
| 4:30—6:00 p.m. Mellon Hall Lobby (Richard King Mellon Hall building) |
Poster PresentationsPoster Session, Judging of Posters; Refreshments will be served |
About the Mini-Symposium on Metals in Biological Systems
Environmental effects of metal ions are of concern, especially in western Pennsylvania, and many researchers are actively addressing this aspect here in Pittsburgh.
The Mini-Symposium on Metals in Biological Systems provides a forum for researchers and educators with expertise that spans from synthetic chemists to environmental toxicologists to biomedical scientists, who are at the interface of chemistry and biology to meet and discuss topics of common interests.
This venue fosters new collaborations and friendships between scientists with a complementary skills and goals. It engages next generations of scientists into the current and emerging problems. One of our goals is to provide a platform for diverse audience to share exciting new findings. In addition to the plenary lecture sessions, extensive poster sessions for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students are held to facilitate discussions in an open atmosphere. Exemplary posters presented by undergraduate students are recognized through awards.
About the Center for Metals in Biological Systems
Metal ions play important roles in the functioning of all forms of life, from unicellular organisms to multicellular animals. Metal compounds are often used as therapeutics in treating diseases, diagnostic purposes to detect abnormalities in tissues, or to provide structural supports, e.g., stents. The roles of metal ions in life processes are uniquely balanced; they are often located at the heart of a variety of molecular machines, to conserve energy, to cope with toxic materials, or to provide signaling to initiate or terminate important reactions.