Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska Co-Chairs Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology Conference

Associate Dean for Research Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska served together with Dr. Indu Ambudkar from NIDCR, as a Co-Vice Chair at the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology. This year’s event was held at the Hotel Galvez & Spa in Galveston, Texas from February 6 to 11.

In addition to serving as Co-Vice Chair, Dr. Kukuruzinska was also a discussion leader of the opening session, during which three keynote speakers, Drs. Kenneth Yamada, Ray MacDonald and Darlene Dart presented their most recent, unpublished studies. The research presented spanned a wide range of findings in the areas of molecular genetics, cell biology and physiology of salivary and lacrimal glands, as well as the pancreas. During another portion of the conference—the Exocrine Glycobiology portion—Dr. Kukuruzinska presented research from her laboratory on the interplay among protein N-glycosylation, Wnt Signaling and E -cadherin mediated cell-cell adhesion.

This particular conference was one of more than 460 Gordon Research Conferences held each year. The Conferences are designed to provide investigators with a unique, informal, and interactive platform to discuss their current research and future challenges. GRCs are recognized as the leading scientific conferences in the world.

“The meeting was particularly exciting and productive because it promoted extensive interactions among researchers, including those representing different areas of exocrine biology,” said Dr. Kukuruzinska.

She will serve as Co-Chair at the next GRC on Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology in 2013, also to be held in Galveston, Texas. For more information on upcoming conference visit the Office of the Associate Dean for Research blog.