Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

The scientific fields of cell biology and systems biology each seek to develop more effective therapies to treat important human diseases such as cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, but each field approaches this problem differently. Cell biology aims to understand in-depth the specific molecules that cells use to control specific processes, which can for example reveal new molecules in cells to target with therapeutic drugs. In contrast, systems biology aims to understand how cellular processes and groups of molecules interact with one another to produce outcomes that scientists and physicians can observe. Remarkably, scientists from each of these fields - cell biology and systems biology - have made remarkable advances in the last 10 years, fueled in part by technological advances. However, at present the lack of knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) between cell biology and systems biology researchers in Canada is stymying the pace of scientific discoveries by researchers in these fields. To bridge this gap in KTE, we propose to hold a unique set of scientific sessions with both cell biology and systems biology researchers, the Organelle Dynamics and Systems Biology Joint Scientific Sessions. These sessions will be held during the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences 2017 annual conference, which will for the first time hold two joint themes in parallel: cell biology and systems biology. Each of these concurrent themes will attract to top scientists and trainees in each respective field from around Canada and beyond. Organized within this larger conference, the unique Organelle Dynamics and Systems Biology Joint Scientific Sessions (for which CIHR funds are being sought), will thus readily allow KTE between researchers these different fields of cell and systems biology, thus catalyzing interdisciplinary collaboration across Canada and propelling forward research aimed at improving health outcomes for Canadians.