THE NAVBO NEWSLETTER

President's Message

After several years of discussions and planning, involving a broadly based Intersociety Steering Committee with delegates from various sectors of our scientific community, we have come together to form a new entity whose primary purpose is to foster communication among those working in this burgeoning field.

Modern vascular biology, since its origins in the early '70s, has attracted both basic scientists and clinician-scientists, from multiple disciplines and specialty areas, in academic and industrial settings alike. Yet, no single professional organization, to date, has provided a network for communication or representation of the interests of this diverse community.

NAVBO was formed to address this need.

Some unique features of NAVBO are worthy of note:

Vascular Biology is, by its very nature, an interface field whose tools and organizing principles derive from the traditional basic science disciplines (structural/molecular biology, cell biology/physiology) but also have direct relevance to the pathogenesis and treatment of human disease (medicine, pathology, surgery). Thus, NAVBO's membership is destined to be a mixture of interesting folks with different backgrounds and thus inherently different viewpoints on the same scientific problems. That should make for lively discussion and mutual education.

Vascular biology is a "target-rich" environment for scientific inquiry that has already fostered basic discoveries which have tremendous biomedical potential. The opportunity to communicate with a diverse cross-section of NAVBO colleagues can only enhance this discovery process, as well as facilitate rapid translation into practical remedies.

Given that its members are also affiliated with a variety of other professional societies and scientific organizations, collectively NAVBO's membership constitutes a powerful network for communication and representation in the vascular biology field. Since the official adoption of its ByLaws last spring, NAVBO has had a very active and productive first six months:

Last April at Experimental Biology '94 in Anaheim, NAVBO launched its efforts with a very successful first national meeting. Starting with the traditional Blood Vessel Club on Sunday aftemoon, the scientific program continued through Thursday with a series of 10 major symposia, and several poster- discussion sessions. In addition, NAVBO sponsored a well attended wine-and-cheese mixer and a dinner with Dr. Samuel Silverstein, the incoming President of FASEB, as the Keynote speaker. This was also the occasion of the first NAVBO Business Meeting, which was attended by approximately 150 people, including representatives of a number of national and international societies with interests in vascular biology. At that time, our Bylaws were approved by a vote of the assembled founding members, and NAVBO was born!

The first formal act was to call for nominations for officers and counselors. and to have a mail ballot by the membership. The results of this vote are listed along with committee-chair appointments, elsewhere in this Newsletter. Each of these individuals is committed to the future of our new organization. Please feel free to contact any of them to share your thoughts. Together, we can make NAVBO work!

NAVBO was well represented at the VIIIth International Symposium on the Biology of Vascular Cells which was held in Heidelberg, August 30-September 4, 1994. Enough members of NAVBO Council were present to formally meet and act on a number of important issues. The most significant was the discussion of plans for the next international Symposium for which NAVBO will serve as the principal sponsor. A proposal from Seattle was adopted, and presented to the international Steering Committee which received it with enthusiasm. An official announcement was made, on behalf of NAVBO, that the IXth International Symposium on the Biology of Vascular Cells will take place in the Pacific Northwest, hosted by our colleagues at the University of Washington. Please contact Steve Schwartz or Russell Ross with your program suggestions or questions.

An infrastructure of committees and working groups is being put into place to develop and implement NAVBO's new programs. These include: Program Committee, chaired by Paul DiCorleto; Development Committee, chaired by Peter Libby; Membership Committee, chaired by Elizabeth Nabel; Newsletter Editor, Mary Gerritsen. If you are interested in participating in any of these vital activities, please contact the appropriate chairperson.

Contact is being made with a variety of societies and organizations whose members are active in vascular biology with the purpose of establishing formal liaisons to foster communication and closer working relationships in areas of mutual interest. If you think that any of the societies to which you currently belong should be interacting with NAVBO, please suggest this to the appropriate off cers.

Looking ahead, we can identify several goals for NA VBO in the next six months:

Sponsor the traditional Blood Vessel Club and a series of symposia and poster discussion sessions at Experimental Biology '95, April 9-13, 1995, in Atlanta, Georgia; thus, continue to support the multidisciplinary forum for vascular biology that has grown up at these Spring meetings.

In collaboration with the local organizing committee and the intemational scientific committee, develop a strong scientific program and appropriate support for the IXth Intemational Symposium in Seattle.

Develop plans for other NAVBO sponsored activities such as free-standing meetings and/or joint meetings with other organizations which have an active vascular biology constituency.

Make this NAVBO Newsletter an important vehicle for information on vascular biology activities, in North America and the world.

Encourage each member of NAVBO "to spread the word", actively recruiting colleagues and collaborators to join our organization.

We're off to a running start!...

Please join in and help make NAVBO a success!

Michael A. Gimbrone, Jr.,
NAVBO President 1994-1995

Mark your calendar:

The next NAVBO business meeting will be held Sunday April 9 at 6 p.m., immediately following the Blood Vessel Club, in Atlanta at Experimental Biology '95. The business meeting will be followed by the NAVBO reception at 6:30 p.m. in an adjacent room.

The abstract deadline for Experimental Biology '95 is December 1, 1994!

Meetings:

November 14-17, 1994. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. Dallas TX. Contact: Conference Coordinator, AHA, Scientific and Corporate Meetings, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas TX 75231 4596. Tel 214 706 1511. FAX 214 373-3406.

November 28-29, 1994. Adhesion Proteins. Paris France. Contact: Dr. B.B. Vargaftig. Institute Pasteur. 28 Rue du Dr. Roux. 75015. Paris France. Tel 011 33 1 45 68 86 82. FAX 011 33 1 45 68 87 03.

December 7-10, 1994. 36th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology. Nashville TN, Contact: Dr. Einstein. USC School of Medicine, 2025 Tonal Ace Los Angeles CA 90033 USA, Tel 213 224-7224. FAX 213 225- 1258.

December 9- 11, 1994. International Sym posium Cellular and Molecular Aspects of Angiotensin Receptors. Gainesville FL. Contact: Ms. P. Jacobs, Secretary, University of Florida, Department of Physiology, P.O. Box 100274. JHMHC Gainesville FL 32610. Tel 904 392- 3791. FAX 904 836-0270.

December 9-11, 1994. American Society for Artificial Internal Organs: Cardiovascular Science and Technology Conference '94. Washington DC. Contact: Conference Manager, ASAIO CVST '94 Tel 202 363-0942.

December 10-14, 1994. Annual Meeting of The American Society for Cell Biology .San Francisco CA. Contact: ASCB. 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD 20814-3992. Tel 301 530-7153. FAX 301 5307139.

January 21-25. 1995. The International Symposium on Endothelial-Derived Factors and Vascular Protection. San Francisco CA. Contact: Symposium Secretariat. 79 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor New York. NY. Tel 212 213-7144. FAX 212 213-7133.

January 29-February 3.1995. Gordon Conference on Nitric Oxide in Biochemistry and Biology. Ventura CA. Contact: Gordon Research Conferences, University of Rhode Island, P.O. Box 984, West Kingston RI 02892-0984. Tel 410 783-4011,.FAX 401 7837644.

January 31-February 1, 1995. Transplant Coronary Artery Disease Symposium. St. Louis MO. Contact: Dr. Leslie Miller, Division of Cardiology, St. Louis University Health Sciences Center, 3635 Vista Ave at Grand Blvd. PO BOX 15260, St. Louis MO. 63110. FAX 314 268-5138.

February 1-4, 1995. Functional and Structural Aspects of the Vascular Wall. Snowbird UT. Contact: AHA Scientific and Corporate Meetings 7272 Greenville Ave Dallas TX 75231-4596. Tel 214 7061511. FAX 214 373-3406.

February 5-9,1995. Gordon Conference on Kallikreins and Kinins. Contact: Gordon Research Conferences, University of Rhode Island, P.O. Box 984, West Kingston RI 02892-0984. Tel 410 7834011, FAX 401 783-7644.

February 26-March 3, 1995. Gordon Conference on Fibronectins, Integrins and Related Molecules. Gordon Research Conferences, University of Rhode Island, P.O. Box 984, West Kingston RI 02892-0984. Tel 401 783-4011. FAX 401 783-7644.

March 1-5, 1995. The Etiology and Pathobiology of Transplant Vascular Sclerosis. Contact: Mary Ellen La Spina, Symposium Registration c/o Phase V Communications 114 5th Ave New York NY 10011 Tel 800 242-2465.

March 2-3, 1995. Atherosclerosis and Restenosis. The Failure of Conventional Wisdom. Bethesda, MD. Contact: ISCVS/SVS 13 Elm Street, Manchester MA 01944. Tel: 508 526-8330. FAX 508 526-7521.

March 8-11, 1995. 35th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention. Contact AHA Scientific and Corporate Meetings 7272 Greenville Ave Dallas TX 75231-4596. Tel 214 706-1511. FAX 214 373-3406.

March 11-12, 1995. 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology Inc. Toronto, Canada. Contact: Avrum I. Gotlieb. Secretary, SCVP. The Toronto Hospital Research Institute, 200 Elizabeth St CCRW 1-857, Toronto, Ontario Canada. Tel 416 340-4723, FAX 416 971-2130.

April 3-7, 1995. International Union of Angiology. World Congress. London UK. Contact: Prof. A. Nicolaides, Academic Surgical Unit, St. Mary's Hospital, South Wharf Road, London W21NY, UK. Tel 011 44 71 725 6243, FAX 011 44 71 7256416.

April 8-9,1995. Annual Meeting of the Microcirculatory Society. Atlanta GA. Contact: Dr. Bruce Klitzman Plastic Surgery Res Lab Duke University Medical Center, PO Box 3906, Durham NC 277103906. Tel 919 684-6686, FAX 919 681-2670.

April 9-13, 1995. Experimental Biology '95. Atlanta GA. Contact: Office of Scientific Meetings and Conferences. 9650 Rockville Pike Bethesda MD 301 530-7130. FAX 301 571-1879.

April 23-26,1995. Fourth International Conference on Endothelin. London, UK. Contact: Dr. Jenny MacLagan, William Harvey Research Conferences, St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, Charterhouse Square, London, EC IM6BQ UK tel 011 44 071 6181, FAX 01144 071982 6084.

April 30-May 6, 1995. Gordon Conference on Angiotensin. Barga, Italy. Contact: Gordon Research Conferences, University of Rhode Island, P.O. Box 984, West Kingston RI 02892-0984. Tel 410 7834011, FAX 401 783-7644.

May 18- 19,1995. Restenosis Sum m it VII. C leveland OH. Contact: Dr. Eric Topol, The Cleveland Clinic and Research Foundation, Tel 212 445 9490, FAX 212 445-9595.

June 11-16, 1995.XVth International Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Jerusalem, Israel. Contact: Secretariat P.O. BOX 50006, Tel Aviv 61500 Israel.

June 28-30, 1995. The Second International Meeting on Endothelial Control of Cardiac Performance: Role in Cardiac Failure. Antwerp, Belgium. Contact. Professor Dirk L. Brutsaert, University of Antwerp, Groenengorgerlaan.171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. Tel 011 32 3 218 0267, FAX 011 32 3 218 0276.

September 3-8, 1995. 13th Meeting. European African Division of the Intern-tional Society of Hematology. Istanbul Turkey. Contact: Prof O. Ulutin, Levent, Begonya Sok 6, 80620 Istanbul Turkey Tel 011 90 1 64172/15861511. Fax 011 90 1 1306425/1411995.

September 17-22, 1995. World Congress on Inflammation. Brighton UK. Contact: Kay Dorelli, Triangle House. Broomhill Rd, London SW18 4HX UK. Tel 011 44 081 877 9920, FAX 011 44 081 877 9308.

September 19-22, 1995. 49th Annual Fall Conference and Scientific Sessions of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research. New Orleans, LA. Contact: AHA Scientific and Corporate Meetings 7272 Greenville Ave Dallas TX 75231- 4596. Tel 214 706-1511. FAX 214 373-3406.

November 13-16, 1995. 68th Scientific Session of the American Heart Association. Anaheim CA. Contact: AHA Scientific and Corporate Meetings 7272 Greenville Ave Dallas TX 75231-4596. Tel 214 373-3406.

The Stanley J. Sarnoff Endowment for Cardiovascular Science Inc. will award 10 fellowships to medical students pursuing careers in cardiovascular research. Contact: Amy Peiken at The Stanley J. Sarnoff Endowment for Cardiovascular Sciences. 731-G2 Walker Road. Great Falls, VA 22066. Tel 703-759-7600, FAX 703 759- 7838.

The ninth International Vascular Biology Meeting will be hosted by the University of Washington vascular biology program in August/September of 1996. The meeting will be the first international held under the auspices of our new society, the North American Vascular Biology Organization. Indeed, the responsibility for holding the International in North America every four years was a major reason for the creation of NAVBO. So, the International Meeting should be seminal in establishing the long term success of NAVBO!

As president-elect of NAVBO for the 1996 year, I am very hopeful that we can use this as an occasion to broaden participation in NAVBO. We are at the beginning of a lot of progress in many interdisciplinary fields. Hopefully we can use the scientific program of this meeting to draw these fields together.

The local organizing committee and NAVBO council are currently discussing two venues, Seattle and Victoria. Both sites have their attractions and advantages. A decision will be made within the next few weeks.

As already noted, we hope to use this meeting to facilitate a broader participation of the scientific community in NAVBO. To this objective, we are working with a committee of the American Heart Association to encourage their formal participation in the meeting. Similarly, we are trying to explore ways to encourage participation of other groups. One possibility under consideration is to have societies join us for "tandem meetings". This concept grows out of the overlapping meetings held at places such as Keystone. Since the international Vascular Biology Meeting itself is scheduled for 3 1/2 days, the thought is that areas of interest might combine the international Vascular Biology Meeting with 1 or 2 day sessions of their own, held just prior to or after the international Vascular Biology Meeting. The tandem meetings could have two portions. Some of the sessions of the international would of course, be relevant, and would therefore, be jointly sponsored. The program at this time is wide open. We would welcome your input for keynote sessions, plenary sessions, regular sessions, topics for symposia and clinical topics.

I hope you will mark the general time of August/September on your calendars. Please contact me (Stephen Schwartz) with your thoughts and suggestions about these tentative arrangements.

Internet: STEVES@U.WASHINGTON.EDU
Compuserve: 72155,1270
Tel: 206 543-0258
FAX: 206 685-3662.

RATES: Academic course announce- ments free. Training programs, positions open or desired, $50 U.S. for maximum of 0-15 lines. Checks, or money orders payable to NAVBO. NAVBO also accepts VISA and MASTERCARD).

How do I apply for membership?

Complete the membership application form in this newsletter and return it, along with your C.V. and a check or authorization for credit card payment for your first year membership dues ($45 Regular, $25 Trainee, payable to NAVBO). There are two membership categories:

Full Member: Those who hold an advanced degree (M.S., M.D., Ph.D) or who have professional experience in the field.

Trainee Member: Graduate students, residents, post-doctoral fellows, under-graduate students, technicians with interest or experience in vascular biology. Applicant must be sponsored by their academic supervisor, laboratory head or department chairman.

Name: _________________________________________

Department: ____________________________________

Institution: _____________________________________

Street Address: _________________________________

City, State, Zip: _______________________

Phone: _______________

E-mail: _______________

Degree: MS ___ PhD ___ MD ___ Other ___

Trainee: Fellow/Resident ___ Grad. Student ___

I hereby apply for (check appropriate box) Regular ___/Trainee* ___ membership in NAVBO.

______________________________________________
Applicant's signature

Note: If paying by VISA or MasterCard please include;

Card number:______________________________________________

Expiration date:____________________________________________

Submit this form and current curriculum vitae (*letter from supervisor/department head required if trainee) along with a check payable to NAVBO ($45 regular, $25 Trainee) to:

NAVBO
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda MD 20814-3993.

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