The Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research (PCMR) Interest Group in partnership with Johnson & Johnson is organizing a one day Symposium titled “An integral view of the science of pigmentation, Skin Biology, and Melanoma” beginning at 8:30 am on Friday, June 22, 2012 in Building 45, Natcher Building Auditory and Balcony B, on the NIH campus.
 
The meeting is open to public, however, pre-registration is required. For registration, please send an email to Julio C. Valencia, MD (valencij@mail.nih.gov) by Monday, June 18th, 2012.

Invited speakers include:

• Melissa Harris, Ph.D. (NIH)
• Murray Brilliant, Ph.D. (Marshfield Clinic, WI)
• Connie Lin, PhD. (J&J)
• Richard Spritz, M.D. (University of Colorado – School of Medicine)
• Edward De Fabo, M.D. (GWU)
• Nikiforos Kollias, Ph.D.
• Sewon Kang, M.D. (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine)
• Steve Rosenberg, MD. PhD (NIH)
• Paul Chapman, M.D (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)
• Nicholas P. Restifo, M.D. (NIH)
• Yardena Samuels, Ph.D. (NCI)
• Meenhard Herlyn, D.V.M. (Wistar Institute, PA)
• Julio C. Valencia & Stacie Loftus (NCI, Co-Directors PCMR-SIG)
• Manpreet Randhawa (J&J)

During the almost 16 year life of our Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research Interest group, we have become an open and organized forum for scientists and physicians with interests in investigating the different biological aspects that are involved in pigmentation, melanoma and allied fields. As of today, our group has over 90 members from NIH and from throughout the world. Every day, our goal is to have a clear path to the dynamic challenges in our field many of them considered global issues such as the effects of increased risk of ultraviolet radiation exposure. Because of this and other developments, we would like to invite you to join us at this Symposium, to update us on your recent work and to know more about our scientific achievements, organization and history.

At this Symposium, the morning sessions will deal with development and differentiation, while the afternoon sessions will be about various topics of Melanoma (both clinical and basic). As you will see in the agenda, several prominent NIH researchers such as Yardena Samuels, Glenn Merlino, Nick Restifo and Stephen Rosenberg have agreed to present lectures on their work at this Symposium.  Our goal is to forge collaborations and attract interest into the science of pigmentation and melanoma.

Julio C. Valencia, M.D.
Staff Scientist, Pigment Cell Biology Section
Director, Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research Interest Group – NIH
Laboratory of Cell Biology, NCI

Individuals with disabilities who need Sign Language Interpreters and/or reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Mary H. Conway (conwayma@mail.nih.gov) 301-594-7008 (v) 301-480-5982 (f).