While alterations to DNA underlie genome evolution and antibody diversification, genome instability drives many disorders, including cancer, developmental abnormalities, and neurodegeneration. DNA damage and other genome-threatening replication blocks are generally overcome by a number of DNA repair pathways. The choice of DNA repair pathways, specifically the reliance on error-prone vs. error-free is both intriguing and confounding. Moreover, the deregulation of repair pathway choice can trigger pathological processes. In this conference, we will discuss the delicate equilibrium of genome maintenance pathways, addressing how natural processes such as replication and transcription can threaten genome stability, how the genome can be altered in cancer, signatures of genome instability in human disease, and how cells control the inherent plasticity of their replication and repair machinery. We aim to bring together scientists from diverse fields who are interested in understanding the many processes impacting DNA metabolism and the molecular and biophysical principles that maintain the balance between genome stability and plasticity.

Key Sessions

• Genome Signatures and Evolution
• Tissue Specific Repair and Mutagenesis
• Transcription-Replication Driven Mutation
• Transposable Elements
• DNA Sensing and Inflammation
• CRISPR/Cas9 and DNA Repair

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Andrea Ablaser (EPFL)
Karen Adelman (Harvard University)
DISRUPTION OF THE INTEGRATOR COMPLEX TRIGGERS THE INTEGRATED STRESS RESPONSE THROUGH FORMATION OF DOUBLE-STRANDED RNA
Kathleen Burns (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
DEFINING THE LINE-1 RETROTRANSPOSON MUTATIONAL SIGNATURE
Keith Caldecott (University of Sussex)
PARP ACTIVITY IN DNA SINGLE-STRAND BREAK REPAIR, DNA REPLICATION, AND HUMAN DISEASE
Ross Chapman (Medical Research Council Molecular Haematology Unit)
DSB REPAIR PATHWAY CHOICE CONTROL IN GENOME MAINTENANCE AND DIVERSIFICATION
Gheorghe Chistol (Stanford University)
SINGLE-MOLECULE IMAGING REVEALS HOW DNA HELICASES ARE ACTIVATED DURING REPLICATION INITIATION
Alberto Ciccia (Columbia University)
DISSECTING THE GENETIC INTERCTION NETWORK OF THE DNA DAMAGE RESPONSE
Karlene Cimprich (Stanford University)
MECHANISMS FOR RNA-MEDIATED GENOME INSTABILITY
Jacob Corn (ETH Zürich)
Cecilia Cotta-Ramusino (Tessera Therapeutics)
WRITING DNA WITH RNA: GENOME ENGINEERING BY TARGET-PRIMED REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION
Dipanjan Chowdhury (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)
Titia de Lange (Rockefeller University)
Daniel Durocher (Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute)
THE CIP2A PATHWAY OF MITOTIC DNA DAMAGE TOLERANCE
Marcin Imielinski (NYU Langone Health)
Gaëlle Legube (CBI Toulouse)
CHROMOSOME AND CHROMATIN DYNAMICS DURING TRANSCRIPTION-COUPLED DSB REPAIR
John Maciejowski (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
MECHANISMS OF CANCER GENOME EVOLUTION
Houra Merrikh (Vanderbilt University)
REPLICATION-TRANSCRIPTION CONFLICTS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES
Serena Nik-Zainal (University of Cambridge)
KJ Patel (University of Oxford)
REVERSIBLE YET PERVASIVE DNA ADDUCTION BY AN ENGOGENOUS ALDEHYDE
Elizabeth Pollina (Washington University in St Louis)
Agnel Sfeir (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
Nitika Taneja (Erasmus Medical Center)
MECHANISMS OF CHROMATIN REORGANIZATION UPON REPLICATION STRESS
Alessandro Vindigni (Washington University)
NUCLEASES IN DNA REPLICATION FORK PLASTICITY
Johannes Walter (Harvard University)
Joanna Wysocka (Stanford University)
Itai Yanai (NYU Langone Health)
Joe Yeeles (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biomedicine)
SETTING THE SPEED OF THE REPLISOME

Target Audience

The meeting, which addresses fundamental questions that pertain to genome instability, is expected to appeal to basic science researchers, including students and postdocs. In addition, the various topics covered will be of interest to translational and clinical investigators in academic institutions and industry.

Educational Need

Genomic integrity is the foundation of human health with a plethora of diseases emerging from any dysfunction in the cellular machinery that maintains our genome. In this conference we focus on emerging areas in the field of genome biology that have gained significant prominence in recent years, specifically, large scale studies on genome evolution and mutational signatures combined with the interplay of DNA metabolism, RNA metabolism and DNA repair in the context of sub-nuclear compartments. We anticipate that attendees at all levels, students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty will be exposed to radical new concepts and cutting-edge technology that will define the genome stability field in the upcoming years. The conference is being designed to facilitate interaction of  trainees with senior scientists, and promote scientific collaborations. 

We are pleased to announce that we have a minimum of 10 registration support grants (starting at €750) ready to award to those submitting abstracts (T&C's apply).

To apply, please email Alice . Your application should include:

• Your name, organisation, career level
• An abstract for short talk or poster consideration

Dolce CampoReal Lisboa, Torres Vedras is approximately a 30-minute journey from Lisbon Portela Airport.

Taxis

Taxis are available outside the airport, but we would strongly recommend you pre-book your airport transfer with one of the many private transfer companies that are available. The Dolce CampoReal Lisboa is located outside of the city zone and a pre-booked transfer will be a cheaper option than a taxi taken from the airport taxi rank.

Uber also operate in and around Lisbon and there are other Portuguese taxi-hailing apps such as Bolt, MyTaxi, TaxisLisboa and Coop Taxis, all offering reasonable rates.

Pre-booked Airport Transfers

Should you wish to pre-book a taxi transfer from the airport, please find below details of a transportation provider who is aware of our groups. Please contact the supplier directly via email with any queries or booking requests and use ‘Fusion Conferences’ as a reference.

Prices

Up to 3 passengers - €75.00 EUR per transfer
4 - 7 passengers - €100.00 EUR per transfer

*please note, payment is required in advance to confirm your booking. Accepted payment methods include bank/wire transfer or credit card (via payment link). 

Includes

• All taxes, fuel and tolls,
• Meet and greet inside the airport, 
• Transportation in Audi or Mercedes,
• Courtesy water on board,
• One large or two small size bags per person.

Contact Information

Contact Name: Carlos Antunes
Contact Email: info@westshuttle.com 

*please note all enquiries must be made with at least 48hrs notice. Thank you.

Transportation is the sole responsibility of the delegate. Please ensure you conduct your own research and double check your booking details ahead of your arrival. Fusion Conferences are unable to assist with or confirm transportation bookings due to insurance limitations. Thank you for your understanding.

There are various on-site activities available. These include:

- Indoor and 2 outdoor swimming pools
- Fitness centre, available 24h
- Tennis courts
- Donald Steel designed Golf Course – 18 holes Par 72 
- Mandalay Wellness & Spa with 7 treatment rooms
- Kids Club – The hotel will provide details of daily activities for children
- Center “Clube Aventura” for outdoor activities such as Giant Balls, Aquaball, Stand Up Paddle, Archery, Slackline, Water Slide

**Please note, there may be a charge to participate in some of the above activities.

Should you have time to venture off-site, the Oeste Region and Torres Vedras have a distinctive cultural heritage, rich history, 20 km of coastal area, and a commitment to environmental awareness, accessibility and biodiversity. Below are a few suggestions:

- Monastery of Alcobaça, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Historical route of the lines of Torres Vedras
- Day trip to Óbidos
- Royal Palace and Convent of Mafra
- Tapada Nacional de Mafra
- Mountain biking along the Santa Cruz to Torres Vedras Loop
- Birdwatching at the Tajus Estuary Nature Reserve
- Jeep tours in and around Torres Verdras

Group activities will be announced here soon.

Bringing together the global community of researchers and scientists interested in the study of DNA. Relevant specialties are wide-ranging, reflecting the importance of DNA Research in many aspects of health and disease, including; DNA Repair, DNA Replication, DNA Damage, Cancer, Chromosomal Instability, RNA and Nucleic Acids.

The group is open to all and is intended as a networking forum for past, present and future participants of Fusion Conferences as well as those interested in the related topics.