Role of thyroid hormone receptor b2 and COUP-TFII in human red opsin gene expression

The Gordon Research Conferences (GRCs) have provided an international forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research in the biological, chemical, and physical sciences, and their related technologies since the first conference held in 1931. The GRC organization has grown in range, however the GRC’s purpose and vision have not changed until now. The GRCs on Visual Systems Development have been held every other year since 2000.

I attended the seventh 2012 GRC on Visual Systems Development, which was held at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire from Aug. 19 to 24. About 150 people who were interested in the development of the visual system in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms and in humans gathered together. During the period, lectures were held in the morning and evening. The lectures were divided into several sessions such as “Stem Cell and Proliferation”, “Chromatin and Competence”, and so on. In the afternoon, poster sessions were held and a non-official, but active and precious discussion of research was exchanged.

Because most of the presenters of the lectures were recognized internationally in the field of visual systems and development, the lectures were full of strong results and exciting hypotheses. I have started working on this field since last March. Thus, as I expected, it was a good opportunity to understand the entire scope of this field. I presented our research concerning the human red opsin gene expression mechanisms at the poster session. In most cases, I briefly explained the whole picture of our research, and then I was faced with several questions. Since many questions were well-directed and some of them were from various standpoints, I was able to engage in intense and active discussion. I really had a great time, and this conference will also have beneficial impact over my research life. Finally, I would like to appreciate the support from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for the “Institutional Program for Young Researcher Overseas Visits”.