42nd AMERICAN CYTOGENETICS CONFERENCE
APRIL 19-22, 2012
Begins ~4pm Thursday with a Reception
Ends ~2pm on Sunday
Hyatt Regency on the River Walk
San Antonio, Texas
Meeting Coordinators:
Charleen M. Moore, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Cellular and Structural Biology
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229-3900
Tel: 210-567-3875
Fax: 210-567-3803
moorec@uthscsa.edu
Patricia N. Howard-Peebles, Ph.D.
Cytogenetic Consultant, Howard-Peebles Consulting
323 Wrangler Drive
Fairview, TX 75069
Cell: 214-893-8635
phpeebles@hotmail.com
Program Overview
The meeting will follow the traditional format of plenary sessions in an informal atmosphere and will include presentations from a wide variety of cytogenetic subspecialty areas, including: human cytogenetic disorders, cytogenomic microarrays, cancer cytogenetics, animal cytogenetics, molecular cytogenetics/FISH. Students and young investigators are encouraged to present. There will be several Student Travel Awards.
Invited Speakers and Topics
Dr. Jennifer Marshall Graves, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Title: “Weird Animal Genomes, Sex and the Future of Men.”
Dr. Graves has made numerous contributions to the understanding of mammalian genomic organization and evolution, leading to new theories of the origin and evolution of human sex chromosomes and sex determining genes. She has been a leader in international comparative gene mapping and genomics collaborations.
Dr. Brynn Levy, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
Title: “Embryo and Fetal Diagnostics: The Power of SNP Microarrays.”
Dr. Levy’s primary research interests are in the field of reproductive genetics, including sex differentiation, gene expression at implantation, infertility factors, and the etiology of miscarriages. He is also interested in the improvement of current prenatal diagnostic tests such as preimplantation genetic diagnosis and the development of non-invasive prenatal screening tests.
Dr. Charles G. Mullighan, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
Title: “Insights into the Biology of Acute Leukemia from Genomic Profiling and Next-Generation Sequencing.”
Dr. Mullighan’s research has involved the use of high-resolution, genome-wide approaches to identify genomic aberrations that contribute to leukemogenesis and influence leukemia treatment and outcome, including microarray-based analysis of DNA copy number abnormalities, loss-of-heterozygosity, epigenetic changes, gene expression analysis, and microRNA profiling.
Distinguished Cytogeneticist Award
The 2012 ACC Distinguished Cytogeneticist Award recipient will be Janet D. Rowley, M.D., University of Chicago Medical Center, Illinois. Dr. Rowley’s seminal discovery of recurring translocations in various leukemias led to the dynamic field of cancer cytogenetics today and the remarkable treatments that are based on these findings. We will present the award to Dr. Rowley at a banquet in her honor on Friday night, April 20.
Abstract Submission Deadline: January 6, 2012
The ACC encourages abstracts from all areas of cytogenetic investigation. Sessions will be devoted to clinical, cancer, non-human, and basic research in cytogenetics and molecular techniques. All abstracts are to be submitted electronically to the program chair, Patricia Howard-Peebles, phpeebles@hotmail.com. See the ACC website, http://chromophile.org/index.html, for further instructions. Only those received by January 6, 2012 will be guaranteed to be reviewed for presentation and publication. Abstracts cannot be accepted for presentation until the presenter’s registration fee has been received.
Saturday Afternoon Activities
In keeping with past meeting formats, Saturday afternoon will be free time. The San Antonio River Walk is known for its year-round attractions. This year there will also be activities associated with the beginning of Fiesta. Check out all the activities by date at the official Fiesta San Antonio website: www.fiesta-sa.org/events/date/. We have three additional excursions available to meeting registrants and accompanying family members. Spaces are limited so register soon to ensure a spot.
1. Hybrid Red Fish/Striped Bass Fishing Trip - Calvaras/Braunig Lakes COST: $60.00
Calavaras/Braunig Lakes are known for their Texas-sized fish! You will need to purchase a one day fishing license before the trip ($11 for Texas residents, $16 for nonresidents), if you do not have a current Texas fishing license, http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/licenses/public/recreational/. For more information, see: www.affordableguideservice.com.
2. Plant and Bird Walk at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens ACTIVITY FILLED
The San Antonio Botanical Gardens is filled with paths leading through various types of Texas native vegetation. The plant and bird walk through these areas will be led by Betty Dunn, Master Gardener, former president of the Native Plant Society Boerne Chapter and the Cibolo Nature Center Demonstration Gardens Coordinator, avid birder and Director of the Cytogenetic Technologist Training Program at UTHSCSA. For more information see: www.sabot.org.
3. Tour of McNay Museum of Art ACTIVITY FILLED
The McNay is a truly unique art museum. It is located in a beautiful hacienda with exquisite grounds. Included in the entrance fee is a special exhibit, Andy Warhol: Fame and Misfortune. For more information, see: http://www.mcnayart.org/.
NOTE: A BOX LUNCH HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN YOUR REGISTRATION FEE. PLEASE PICK ONE UP BEFORE LEAVING FOR YOUR SATURDAY ACTIVITIES.
Venue and Accommodations Deadline: April 6, 2012
Our meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio in the heart of the famous River Walk overlooking the Alamo. For Website Reservations: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/AmCC2012.
Indicate under “Guest Type” that you are an “attendee” to be given the conference rate of $189 for Single/Double Occupancy. This rate is also available two days before and after the conference dates. We encourage you to make your reservations early, since this will be the exciting first weekend of Fiesta. Also, please support the ACC and plan to stay at the Hyatt to fulfill our room requirements for the conference. Registration can be made via their website. Should you need assistance, you may call 1-888-421-1442. To guarantee the reduced room rate of $189 for Single/Double Occupancy, you will need to register by April 6, 2012 and mention that you are an “American Cytogenetics Conference” attendee.
Transportation to Downtown San Antonio
The San Antonio airport is approximately ten miles north of downtown. Taxi and shuttle vans are available at the stands outside the luggage claim area. Transportation to the Hyatt Regency is approximately $18.00 - $25.00. For more information see http://www.sanantonio.gov/Aviation/groundtransportation.asp.
Registration Fees
Registration for the meeting is $325 for ACC members*, and $400 for non-members. Student registration is $260 and should include a signed letter that documents current academic supervisor and program. Fees include meeting registration, opening reception on Thursday evening, continental breakfasts and coffee breaks, the Friday awards dinner, a box lunch on Saturday, and a Saturday evening fiesta.
*Dues for the American Cytogenetics Conference
In July 2005, after many years of informal organization, the American Cytogenetic Conference group incorporated. This permits us much more flexibility and stability in planning conferences, meetings, and communications within the profession. We welcome all members of the cytogenetics community to join ACC. Dues are paid on a two year cycle and can be paid at the same time as your meeting registration. Dues are $100 for two years (2012-2013).
