Dear Colleagues,
it is our great pleasure to invite basic and physician scientists interested in the field of kallikrein-related peptidases to attend the 3rd International Symposium on Kallikreins and Kallikrein-related Peptidases, to be held in Munich, Germany, August 30 – September 2, 2009.
Tissue kallikrein (KLK1) and the kallikrein-related peptidases (KLK2-15), which are all clustered in one locus on human chromosome 19, have recently been intensively analyzed with respect to substrate specificity, identification of natural substrates, body distribution, biological function in the physiological and patho-physiological state, and many more. Since several of the members of the KLK protease family (and their inhibitors) are key players in patho-physiological processes, structural, functional, and regulatory studies may help to develop new strategies to prevent and treat disorders to which individual members of the KLK protease family contribute significantly.
The IKS2009 meeting will deal with state-of-the-art research concerning various aspects of the kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) family to be presented in an Opening Session featuring a talk by Prof. Robert Huber (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry) and in 10 Plenary Sessions. The symposium will include oral presentations selected from proffered abstracts, a young investigator session, and poster presentations with on-site-discussions.
Our main objective is to organize a symposium which brings together basic and clinical research aspects of KLKs, stimulates intense discussions between basic and physician scientists, and which, at the end, will improve our understanding of the biological functions and pathophysiological role of KLK protease family members in various disease states, including cancer. In addition to presenting the latest developments in the field, a major purpose of the meeting is to foster informal discussions and interactions between senior and young scientists and to stimulate new collaborations, e.g. during the catered poster sessions and the congress dinner.
Munich (München), home to about 1.5 million people, is the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany's major cultural centers. Munich is also one of Germany's most festive cities, and its location, at the foot of the Alpine mountains and surrounded by a series of beautiful lakes, is certainly idyllic. Moreover, it can be easily reached by plane, train or car, has a modern infrastructure and is also a very safe place. The Munich Oktoberfest, the largest public beer festival in the world, will start on September 19th, 2009, two weeks after the symposium, which may be a further motivation to visit the upcoming symposium.
We are looking forward to welcoming you and your colleagues in the beautiful city of Munich in August/September 2009.
Yours sincerely,
Manfred Schmitt (President)
Viktor Magdolen (Chairman of the Program Committee)
Christian Sommerhoff (Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board)
Hans Fritz (Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee)
Images courtesy www.muenchen.de