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Abcam's Cardiomyocyte Regeneration and Protection Conference, to be held June 20th-21st and chaired by Mark Mercola (director of the Muscle Development and Regeneration Program at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute), is generating much excitement within the cardio research community. We recently sat down with Mark to find out what he is looking forward to about the conference and what we can expect from this amazing line-up of invited speakers.

1. What makes this meeting different from other related meetings in the cardio field?

This meeting brings together high profile experts, ranging from basic to clinical translational cardiac researchers, to address the twin issues of cardiac regeneration and protection. The idea is to link the two in order to speed developments for applications in clinical or pharmaceutical settings.

2. What were your motivations to organize a conference around the topics of strategies for restoring the myocardium, protection of heart muscle cells after injury, and translation to clinic?

First, the technology available now is staggering in its ability to solve complex problems. New areas of investigation, microRNAs, chemical biology, etc., are providing novel insights into cardiovascular disease. Second, large-scale clinical trials testing stem cell therapies are now reporting successes that need to be scrutinized to define the underlying mechanisms in order to enhance the overall approach, and this is best done by collaboration of basic and translational experts. These pioneering efforts also offer excellent lessons for bringing new types of treatments to clinic, and this is of interest to everyone due to its potential impact on therapeutics.

3. What new and exciting developments may we hear more of at this meeting?

As stated above, the latest results from large trials of stem cell therapies will be discussed. In terms of regenerative mechanisms, I look forward to the talks on stem cell and microRNA involvement in myocardial regeneration, including new genetic experiments challenging and explaining prevailing notions on the identity and potency of endogenous cardiac stem cells. For discussions on cardiomyocyte protection, a presentation will be given on transgenic mouse validation of unanticipated protective signalling from microRNAs and a well-known receptor . There will also be talks on protective metabolic changes and their regulation that point to therapeutic strategies.

4. Is there any particular topic or speaker you are looking forward to hearing from?

All of them!

5. What exciting research projects have been occurring in your lab?

We have been working on using chemical and functional genomic libraries to probe mechanisms of stem cell renewal, as well validating two targets for protection.

6. Who do you think would be most interested in the meeting?

Those interested in the interface between the basic and applied sciences. We look forward to selecting speakers from abstracts that focus on the translational potential of research discoveries.

7. What sparked your passion for science?

I was motivated by the excitement of working in a constantly advancing environment, and of the prospect of moving research forward to benefit patients.

Check out the full speaker list and talk titles at the 'Cardiomyocyte Regeneration and Protection' 2011 meeting.