Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Report

The first Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference, which took place in Nassau, Bahamas from 27 February – 02 March, 2019, covered a breadth of mitochondrial biology from fundamental questions about mitochondrial structure and function to the role of these organelles in aging and disease. Conference chairs Dr. Marcia Haigis (Professor of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA) and Dr. Matt Kaeberlein (Professor of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA) brought together a diverse group of speakers all working on basic and clinical aspects of mitochondrial biology.

There was a total of 74 attendees (46% female, 54% male) from around the world, with the United States, Canada, UK, Italy, Finland, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and France are among the countries that were represented. Participants were academic scientists (69%), industry scientists (11%), and students (20%), with nearly all attendees giving oral or platform presentations on cutting-edge research.

Mitochondria act at the interface of numerous processes critical for cellular function and organismal health. Recent years have seen a growing appreciation for the diverse roles that mitochondria play not only in energy production and metabolism, but also in maintenance of redox balance, regulation of gene expression, ion homeostasis, and control of cell fate. Mitochondrial maintenance is critical for proper function of cells and tissues, and mitochondrial dysfunction underlies numerous disease processes ranging from severe childhood mitochondrial disorders, to heart disease, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and aging itself.

The 2019 meeting strove to synthesize major recent advances in mitochondrial research and to build new connections. The diverse audience, including many internationally distinguished speakers, and the lively discussions illustrated the importance of the theme. The success of the meeting is evident by the many new collaborations that came about. Comments from participants of all career stages emphasised their wish to see the series continue.

“The scope of mitochondrial research was very wide, and it was fantastic to hear the variety of topics.”

The conference began with a tour de force Keynote presentation from Doug Wallace that discussed the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in many common diseases that are not often thought of as mitochondrial disorders, such as autism, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. This perfectly illustrated the importance of the topic and set the stage for the rest of the meeting.

The remainder of the first day focused on the role of mitochondria in aging and stem cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the Hallmarks of Aging, and there are emerging overlaps between molecular mechanisms shared by mitochondrial disease and normative aging. These include the importance of mTOR signaling and NAD homeostasis, as discussed by Will Mair and Johan Auwerx, respectively. Yousin Suh presented an intriguing genetic signature among nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes that is associated with longevity in people, perhaps suggesting that mitochondrial variation plays a key role in determining human lifespan.

The theme of the second day was centered on mechanisms of severe mitochondrial disease and interventions that are currently being developed to treat these disorders. Isha Jain spoke in the morning about the remarkable effects of hypoxia therapy to almost completely prevent disease progression in a mouse model of the childhood mitochondrial disorder Leigh Syndrome.

Later in the afternoon session, Thomas Langer returned to the topic of hypoxia and presented an intricate network of interactions to regulate mitochondrial structure and function involving hypoxic regulation of mTOR acting through phosphatidyl ethanolamine to control the activity of mitochondrial proteases.

These exciting sessions included breaks for discussions with refreshments and poster viewing. A ‘Meet the Poster Presenters’ session right before lunch allowed each of the poster presenters to briefly introduce themselves and their research in a two minute flash talk. During the afternoon leisure time, participants sought relaxing conversations on the beautiful beach just outside the lecture room, went for a refreshing swim in the ocean, or saw the sights in beautiful Nassau. Discussions often further took place over dinner that could be taken at several lovely restaurants in the hotel.

The third day featured morning and afternoon session on mitochondrial homeostasis and modes of metabolism. A theme that wove throughout these sessions were the many different ways that mitochondria interact with the rest of the cell to maintain homeostasis through transmission of nucleic acid, protein, metabolite, and lipid signals. Gerry Shadel presented a fascinating talk about how these communication networks can sometimes go haywire, such as when mitochondrial DNA escapes into the cytoplasm, which in turn induces the cGAS-STING innate immune response. This response is normally important for detecting viral DNA, but in this context sensing of self-DNA as foreign causes a detrimental inflammatory response, which may be particularly problematic during aging, connecting back to the theme of day 1. This interweaving of concepts and pathways among the different sessions was common throughout the meeting and led to much discussion between participants who thought they worked on very different research questions only find new commonalities.

The more energetic participants went on a snorkeling expedition during the free time in the afternoon while others took advantage of the wonderful weather to explore the beach and continue informal discussions outdoors. The gala dinner featured live local entertainment, dancing, and awarding of the poster prizes.

“The group dinners were especially good at promoting interactions with multiple people - a good way to mix and meet new people.” Chris Brosey (The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center)

The fourth day concluded the meeting with a session on crosstalk and communication, again emphasizing the way that mitochondria function within the context of cellular and organismal physiology. Liming Pei gave a fantastic short talk as the final talk of the meeting on the application of single cell nuclear RNA-sequencing to study mitochondrial myopathy, uncovering dramatic changes in cell composition and metabolism during different stages of disease progression.

The closing comments from the organisers expressed their pleasure with the range of superb talks and discussion. The meeting was attended by an enthusiastic and diverse audience, both with respect to stage of career, gender and nationality.

Interest in mitochondria, and appreciation for their importance in a broad range of conditions, continues to increase rapidly. We anticipate that enthusiasm will be high for the next Fusion Mitochondria conference.

Congratulations to all of those who received an award, details of which can be found below.

Poster Prize Awards
Alexanne Cuillerier (University of Ottawa)
Corey Rogers (Thomas Jefferson University)
Sarah Tucker (Harvard Medical School)

We would also like to thank those who gave a short talk (selected from abstracts).

Short Talks
Jorida Coku (University of Pennsylvania)
Ronald Davis (Scripps Research Institute Florida)
Anthony Grillo (University of Washington)
Michael Hottiger (University of Zurich)
Fahmida Jahan (University of Ottowa)
David Kashatus (University of Virginia)
Brett Kaufman (University of Pittsburgh)
Mireille Khacho (University of Ottowa)
Anna Klucnika (University of Cambridge)
Changhan Lee (University of Southern California)
John Lemasters (Medical University of South Carolina)
David Patten (University of Ottowa)
Liming Pei (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)
Marija Sajic (UCL Institute of Neurology)
Katharina Schlacher (MD Anderson Cancer Center)
Amanda Souza (Thermo Fisher Scientific)
Volkmar Weissig (Midwestern University Glendale)
Zhi Zhong (Medical University of South Carolina)

We thank our wonderful sponsors: MitoQ, ThermoFisher and The Company of Biologists.
The Journal of Cell Science and the Genetics Society were Media Partners. Their support was greatly appreciated and enabled us to fund many participants who otherwise may not have been able to attend.

“Thanks again for everything, it was a great meeting and we were delighted to sponsor and be able to assist with running it!” William Stow (MitoQ, Sponsor)

The meeting was expertly organized, smoothly run, and supported by Fusion Conferences, Ltd. We thank Laura Trundle and her team for their helpful interactions with organisers and participants.

Supported By

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Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Synopsis

Mitochondria act at the interface of numerous processes critical for cellular function and organismal health. Long recognized as the powerhouses of the cell, recent years have seen a growing appreciation for the diverse roles that mitochondria play not only in energy production and metabolism, but also in maintenance of redox balance, regulation of gene expression, ion homeostasis, and control of cell fate. Mitochondrial maintenance is critical for proper function of cells and tissues, and mitochondrial dysfunction underlies numerous disease processes ranging from severe childhood mitochondrial disorders, to heart disease, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and aging itself. This conference will bring together scientists and clinicians with expertise in a breadth of mitochondrial biology to explore topics at the interface of basic and translational biology. Mitochondrial basic mechanisms of organelle regulation, mitochondrial mechanisms of disease, cutting edge technologies, and interventional strategies will be emphasized.

Join the conference LinkedIn group to keep up to date with annoucements and latest news concerning the conference.

For those interested, this meeting is followed by our 3rd Interventions in Aging Conference, taking place from 03-06 March 2019 at the same venue.

Student Offer

Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity for students! Register a fully paying academic and bring a student for only $850. Unfortunately, Postdocs are not eligible for this offer. Both registration packages include; accommodation for the 27, 28 Feb and 01 Mar 2019 (on a shared basis for students) and a 24hour all-inclusive food and beverage package for the conference period. Once registered, please contact Laura Trundle to obtain a special registration link for your student.

Confirmed Keynote Speaker

Douglas Wallace (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
A MITOCHONDRIAL ETIOLOGY OF THE COMMON “COMPLEX” DISEASES

Confirmed Invited Speakers

Johan Auwerx (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne)
NAD AND MITOCHONDRIA
Nika Danial (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / Harvard Medical School)
MITOCHONDRIAL PYRUVATE HANDLING AND CELLULAR RESPONSES TO INFLAMMATION
José Antonio Enriquez (CNIC)
CONSEQUENCES OF mtDNA HETEROPLASMY
Steven Gross (Weill Cornell Medical College)
MITOCHONDRIAL GENE MUTATIONS TRIGGER A COMMON PATTERN OF METABOLIC REWIRING AND SUGGEST A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY
Cole Haynes (University of Massachusetts Medical School)
EXPANDING AND SHRINKING THE MITOCHONDRIAL NETWORK
Isha Jain (University of California, San Francisco)
TURNING THE OXYGEN DIAL AS A THERAPY: HYPOXIA TREATMENT FOR MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION
Leanne Jones (University of California, Los Angeles)
ROLE OF MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS IN TISSUE STEM CELLS
Thomas Langer (University of Cologne)
PROTEOLYTIC CONTROL OF MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE HOMEOSTASIS
William Mair (Harvard University)
NEURONAL TORC1 MODULATES LONGEVITY VIA AMPK AND CELL NONAUTONOMOUS REGULATION OF MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS IN C. ELEGANS
Heidi McBride (McGill University)
EXPLORING THE MECHANISM OF IRON DELIVERY TO MITOCHONDRIA
Jodi Nunnari (University of California, Davis)
MITOCHONDRIAL BEHAVIOR
Philipp Scherer (The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)
MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION IN THE ADIPOCYTE
Luca Scorrano (University of Padova)
KEEPING MITOCHONDRIA IN SHAPE: A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
Gerald Shadel (The Salk Institute for Biological Studies)
ADAPTIVE RESPONSES TO MITOCHONDRIAL STRESS
Yousin Suh (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)
FUNCTIONAL GENETIC VARIATION IN NUCLEAR-ENCODED MITOCHONDRIAL GENES ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN LONGEVITY
Anu Suomalainen-Wartiovaara (University of Helsinki)
MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE PHYSIOLOGY REVEALS MECHANISMS OF METABOLIC SIGNALING
Eileen White (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey)
MITOCHONDRIA AND CANCER
Kelvin Yen (University of Southern California)
A NOVEL MITOCHONDRIAL DERIVED PEPTIDE AFFECTING DIABETES

Learning Objectives

Basic mechanisms and regulation of mitochondrial biology
Discuss crosstalk and integration of mitochondrial pathways with other cellular compartments and cell signalling.
Learn about how these pathways of mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to diseases
Discuss therapies targeting mitochondria in human diseases
Discuss future directions for mitochondrial research

Target Audience

Basic scientists studying mechanisms of mitochondrial and cell biology
Clinicians and translational biologists interested in mitochondrial disease
Neuroscientists studying mitochondrial function and role of mitochondria in neurodegenerative disease
Scientists studying processes where mitochondria are important (metabolism, aging, cancer, heart function, etc.)

Educational Need

Mitochondria sit at the intersection of many important areas of biology and biomedicine, but there are limited opportunities for people studying different areas of biology where mitochondria are important (aging, neurodegenerative disease, inherited disorders, mitochondria disease, heart disease, myopathies and muscular dystrophies, evolutionary biology, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, etc.) to come together at one meeting. The primary outcome we hope to stimulate is interaction and cross fertilization of ideas between these diverse scientists leading to new collaborations and synergistic advances.

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Speakers

Plenary Speakers

Douglas Wallace

Director and Professor, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Mitochondrial and Epigenomic Medicine

Invited Speakers

Luca Scorrano

Professor of Biochemistry, University of Padua, Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine

Cole Haynes

Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Nika Danial

Associate Professor of Medicine , Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School

Isha Jain

UCSF Faculty Fellow, University of California, San Francisco

Anu Suomalainen

Academy Professor, University of Helsinki

Johan Auwerx

Professor, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne-EPFL

Jose Antonio Enriquez

Full Professor, Fundacion CNIC

Eileen White

Deputy Director, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Steven Gross

Professor, Weill Cornell Medicine

William Mair

Associate Professor, Harvard University

Kelvin Yen

Research Assistant Professor, University of Southern California

Leanne Jones

Professor, University of California, San Francisco

Gerald Shadel

Professor, The Salk Institute

Thomas Langer

Director, Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing

Jodi Nunnari

Distinguished Professor and Chair, UC Davis Dept of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Heidi McBride

Professor, McGill University

Yousin Suh

Faculty, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Programme

WEDNESDAY 27^TH FEBRUARY 2019
13:00 – 14:00	Student & Postdoc Networking Lunch
14:00 – 15:00	Registration & Welcome Reception
15:00 – 15:10	Opening Comments
15:10 – 15:50	Douglas Wallace Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia	A MITOCHONDRIAL ETIOLOGY OF THE COMMON “COMPLEX” DISEASES
AGING AND STEM CELLS Session Chair: Thomas Langer
15:50 – 16:20	Matt Kaeberlein University of Washington	AGING AND MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE: SHARED MECHANISMS AND THERAPIES
16:20 – 16:50	Yousin Suh Albert Einstein College of Medicine	FUNCTIONAL GENETIC VARIATION IN NUCLEAR-ENCODED MITOCHONDRIAL GENES ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN LONGEVITY
16:50 – 17:20	Leanne Jones University of California, Los Angeles	ROLE OF MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS IN TISSUE STEM CELLS
17:20 – 17:40	Mireille Khacho University of Ottawa	MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS AND REDOX REGULATION OF STEM CELL FATE
17:40 – 18:10	Refreshments
18:10 – 18:40	Johan Auwerx Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne	NAD AND MITOCHONDRIA
18:40 – 19:10	William Mair Harvard University	NEURONAL TORC1 MODULATES LONGEVITY VIA AMPK AND CELL NONAUTONOMOUS REGULATION OF MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS IN C. ELEGANS
19:10 – 19:30	Changhan Lee University of Southern California	INTERGENOMIC BASIS OF MITONUCLEAR COMMUNICATION
19:30 - 19:50	Amanda Souza Thermo Fisher Scientific	METABOLIC PHENOTYPING USING AN UNTARGETED METABOLOMICS APPROACH AND LC-MS ANALYSIS
19:20 – 19:50	Accompanying Guests Pre-Dinner Welcome Drinks
19:50	Dinner

THURSDAY 28^TH FEBRUARY 2019
07:00 – 09:00	Buffet Breakfast at The Market Place
MITOCHONDRIA, DISEASE AND INTERVENTIONS Session Chair: Yousin Suh
09:00 – 09:30	Anu Suomalainen University of Helsinki	MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE PHYSIOLOGY REVEALS MECHANISMS OF METABOLIC SIGNALING
09:30 – 10:00	Isha Jain University of California, San Francisco	TURNING THE OXYGEN DIAL AS A THERAPY: HYPOXIA TREATMENT FOR MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION
10:00 – 10:20	Anthony Grillo University of Washington	PROTEIN KINASE C IS A KEY TARGET FOR ATTENUTATION OF INFLAMMATION BY RAPAMYCIN DURING SEVERE MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE
10:20 – 10:40	Katharina Schlacher MD Anderson Cancer Center	THE FANCONI ANEMIA PATHWAY PROTEINS PROTECT MITOCHONDRIAL DNA REPLICATION FORK TO SUPPRESS INFLAMMATION
10:40 – 11:25	Group Photo, Refreshments & Poster Viewing
11:25 – 11:45	Volkmar Weissig Midwestern University Glendale	MITOCHONDRIA-TARGETED NANOCARRIERS
11:45 – 12:05	Ronald Davis Scripps Research Institute Florida	SMALL MOLECULE PROBES TARGETING NEURONAL MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS INCREASE ATP PRODUCTION, RESCUE OXIDATIVE STRESS AND AMYLOID BETA MEDIATED NEUROTOXICITY
12:05 – 12:25	Anna Klucnika University of Cambridge	THE USES AND MECHANISMS OF MITOCHONDRIAL RECOMBINATION
12:25 – 13:00	Meet the Poster Presenters Moderators: Marcia Haigis & Matt Kaeberlein
13:00 – 16:50	Lunch at Leisure & Free Time
MITOCHONDRIA, DISEASE AND INTERVENTIONS II Session Chair: Gerald Shadel
16:50 – 17:20	Eileen White Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey	MITOCHONDRIA AND CANCER
17:20 – 17:50	Kelvin Yen University of Southern California	A NOVEL MITOCHONDRIAL DERIVED PEPTIDE AFFECTING DIABETES
17:50 – 18:10	David Kashatus University of Virginia	DRP1 PROMOTES KRAS-DRIVEN METABOLIC CHANGES AND PANCREATIC TUMOR GROWTH
18:10 – 18:30	Marija Sajic UCL Institute of Neurology	MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION IN PERIPHERAL AXONS IS AN EARLY EVENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETIC NEUROPATHY INDUCED BY HIGH FAT DIET — A STUDY BY CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY IN VIVO
18:30 – 20:30	Poster Session & Refreshments
20:30	Dinner

FRIDAY 01^ST MARCH 2019
07:00 – 09:00	Buffet Breakfast at The Market Place
MITOCHONDRIAL HOMEOSTASIS AND MODES OF METABOLISM Session Chair: Cole Haynes
09:00 – 09:30	Thomas Langer Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing	PROTEOLYTIC CONTROL OF MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE HOMEOSTASIS
09:30 – 09:50	David Patten University of Ottawa	ALTERED MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS IN METABOLICALLY FLEXIBLE CELLS DRIVES PROTECTIVE GLUTATHIONE SYNTHESIS
09:50 – 10:20	Gerald Shadel The Salk Institute for Biological Studies	ADAPTIVE RESPONSES TO MITOCHONDRIAL STRESS
10:20 – 10:40	Brett Kaufman University of Pittsburgh	G-QUADRUPLEX DYNAMICS CONTRIBUTE TO EPIGENETIC REGULATION OF MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION
10:40 – 11:25	Refreshments & Poster Viewing
11:25 – 11:55	Heidi McBride McGill University	EXPLORING THE MECHANISM OF IRON DELIVERY TO MITOCHONDRIA
11:55 – 12:25	Luca Scorrano University of Padova	KEEPING MITOCHONDRIA IN SHAPE: A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH
12:25 – 16:45	Lunch at Leisure & Free Time
13:00 – 16:15	Group Activity: Snorkeling (sign-ups required in advance)
MITOCHONDRIAL HOMEOSTASIS AND MODES OF METABOLISM II Session Chair: Isha Jain
17:15 - 17:45	Marcia Haigis Harvard Medical School	THE ROLE OF METABOLISM IN THE TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT
17:45 – 18:05	Michael O. Hottiger University of Zurich	MITOCHONDRIAL ADP-RIBOSYLATION REGULATES PROPER MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION AND NAD+ SIGNALLING
18:05 – 18:50	Refreshments & Poster Viewing
18:50 – 19:20	Nika Danial Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / Harvard Medical School	MITOCHONDRIAL PYRUVATE HANDLING AND CELLULAR RESPONSES TO INFLAMMATION
19:20 – 19:50	Steven S. Gross Weill Cornell Medical College	MITOCHONDRIAL GENE MUTATIONS TRIGGER A COMMON PATTERN OF METABOLIC REWIRING AND SUGGEST A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGY
19:50 – 20:10	Fahmida Jahan University of Ottawa	NAD+ DEPLETION AS A CAUSE OF PLACENTAL DYSFUNCTION IN PREECLAMPSIA
20:10	Gala Dinner & Poster Awards

SATURDAY 02^ND MARCH 2019
07:00 – 09:00	Buffet Breakfast at The Market Place
CROSSTALK AND COMMUNICATION Session Chair: Nika Danial
09:00 – 09:30	Cole Haynes University of Massachusetts Medical School	EXPANDING AND SHRINKING THE MITOCHONDRIAL NETWORK
09:30 – 10:00	Jodi Nunnari University of California, Davis	MITOCHONDRIAL BEHAVIOR
10:00 – 10:30	Jose Antonio Enriquez CNIC	CONSEQUENCES OF mtDNA HETEROPLASMY
10:30 – 10:50	Jorida Coku University of Pennsylvania	DISCRUPTED CALCIUM SIGNALING AT ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM-MITOCHONDRIA CONTRACT SITES PROMOTES NEUROBLASTOMA MULTIDRUG RESISTANCE
10:50 – 11:20	Refreshments
11:20 – 11:40	John Lemasters Medical University of South Carolin	A UNIFYING HYPOTHESIS LINKING MITOCHONDRIAL ADAPTATIONS FOR ALDEHYDE METABOLISM TO THE PROINFLAMMATORY AND PROFIBROTIC EVENTS OF ALCOHOLIC AND NON-ALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITIS
11:40 – 12:00	Zhi Zhong Medical Univ. of South Carolina	SUPPRESSED MITOCHONDRIAL BIOGENESIS (MB) PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY (AKI) INDUCED BY SEVERE LIVER INJURY AND FIBROSIS
12:00 – 12:20	Liming Pei Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia	SINGLE-NUCLEUS TRANSCRIPTOMIC SURVEY OF CELL HETEROGENEITY AND FUNCTIONAL REMODELING IN MITOCHONDRIAL CARDIOMYOPATHY
12:20 – 12:30	Closing Comments

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Prices

Ticket Type	Early Bird	Full Price
Single Choose this option if you will be attending the conference alone, or if you will bring accompanying guests that will not attend the meeting.	$1822	$1922
Shared Choose this option if you wish to share with a colleague who is also attending the conference, or if you wish to be paired with another attendee of the same sex.	$1822	$1922
Student Choose this option if you are a student. Please note all students will be paired with another attendee of the same sex if a room sharer is not specified. If you wish to have your own room, please register under the Single option.	$1533	$1633

Additional Person

This is the cost for an additional adult or child to join you in the same room, for the entire conference period. Accompanying persons are not permitted access to the conference. If you wish to extend your stay, please see our 'Extra night' prices.

Adult

$684

Child

$263

Extra nights

Prices are per person.

Adult

$281

Child

$88

All registration fees include 3 nights accommodation and meals during the conference period. Exact inclusions are detailed below.

What's Included in our Registration Fees?

Our registration fees are inclusive of the following during the conference period only:

- Conference registration
- 3 Nights’ fixed accommodation (27, 28 Feb, 01 Mar 2019) on a single basis for academics and industry, on a shared basis for students
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner available at all restaurants according to their operational hours (excluding Black Angus and Starbucks)
- Unlimited select brand liquors, wines by the glass, local domestic beer, bottled water and soft drinks
- Gala Dinner (includes an open bar)
- Room service
- Guest room mini bar
- Non motorized water sports equipment
- Complimentary WIFI in both conference rooms and your guest room

What's Included in our Accompanying Adult Fees?

Our accompanying adult fees are inclusive of the following during the conference period only:

- 3 Nights’ fixed accommodation (27, 28 Feb, 01 Mar 2019) on a shared basis with a conference participant
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner available at all restaurants according to their operational hours (excluding Black Angus and Starbucks)
- Unlimited select brand liquors, wines by the glass, local domestic beer, bottled water and soft drinks
- Gala Dinner (includes an open bar)
- Room service
- Guest room mini bar
- Non motorized water sports equipment
- Complimentary WIFI in your guest room

Important Note: Accompanying persons are not permitted access to the conference.

What's Included in our Accompanying Child Fees?

Our accompanying child fees are inclusive of the following during the conference period only:

- 3 Nights’ fixed accommodation (27, 28 Feb, 01 Mar 2019) on a shared basis with the parent/s
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner available at all restaurants according to their operational hours (excluding Black Angus and Starbucks)
- Unlimited bottled water and soft drinks
- Gala Dinner
- Room service
- Non motorized water sports equipment
- Complimentary WIFI in your guest room

Important Note: Accompanying child fees are applicable for children aged 2-12 years. Children younger than 2 years stay free of charge with a parent. Children aged 13-17 years will be charged $366 per child. 18 years + will be classified as an adult at this venue (Melia Nassau Beach, Bahamas).

What's Included in our Extra Night Fees?

- 1 night’s accommodation for 1 person
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner available at all restaurants according to their operational hours (excluding Black Angus and Starbucks)
- Unlimited select brand liquors, wines by the glass, local domestic beer, bottled water and soft drinks
- Room service
- Guest room mini bar
- Non motorized water sports equipment
- Complimentary WIFI in your guest room

Important Note: Extra night child fees are applicable for children aged 2-12 years. Children younger than 2 years stay free of charge with a parent. Children aged 13-17 years will be charged $122 per night, per child. 18 years + will be classified as an adult at this venue (Melia Nassau Beach, Bahamas).

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Grants

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Venue

Melia Nassau Beach All Inclusive

Overlooking one of the finest beaches in the world the Meliá Nassau Beach is surrounded by crystal blue waters and white sandy beaches. Located on the stunning Cable Beach, you are just a few minutes walk from the center, shops and restaurants. The beautiful Nassau Botanical Gardens are within easy reach (7km) and Lynden Pindling International Airport is situated only 9km away.

Throughout your stay delegates will enjoy a full meal plan, inclusive of beverages. Take your pick from Cilantro where you can experience the natural textures, aromas and flavors of Mexico, Nikkei, celebrated for its exquisite fusion of Japanese, Cantonese and Peruvian cuisine featuring a sushi bar and Teppanyaki tables, Estavida, an upbeat tapas lounge located in the hotel lobby serving innovative tapas and a wide selection of cocktails, Aqua, an A la carte restaurant specializing in exquisite, rustic Italian cuisine, The Market Place, where you will find an International buffet serving an array of exquisite dishes, O'Grille, an open air restaurant with fabulous views of the sea and pool serving casual beach fare and light bites and finally The Black Angus, a steakhouse featuring hip, contemporary jazz and modern decor, offering guests the finest quality prime cuts and the freshest ingredients.(This restaurant is not included in the all inclusive package, additional charges apply). The Gala Night takes place on the third evening of the conference with a mouth-watering feast of local cuisine, an open bar and amazing local entertainment. We welcome all delegates and their accompanying persons to the Gala Night – a truly fun filled night not to be missed!

Hotel Facilities

24 hour reception
Room service
3 heated outdoor pools
Complimentary resort wide Wi-Fi (guest rooms, throughout hotel, beach and conference areas)
24-hour Fitness Center
7 dining venues
4 bars.
non-motorised water sports

The Bahamas is formed by over 700 islands, keys and islets located in the Atlantic Ocean and renowned for its warm sunshine, mild climate, fine, white sandy beaches, turquoise, crystal clear water and friendly people, making this the perfect environment to relax and unwind in your free time during the conference.

Venue Rating

Currency

US Dollar (USD)

Address

Nassau W Bay St. Nassau Bahamas

Nearest Airport

Lynden Pindling International Airport

Location

The Melia Nassau Beach All-Inclusive is located right on the stunning Cable Beach just a few minutes away from the airport and city center; Nearby in Downtown Nassau you can experience the flavours of new foods at local restaurants, shop 'til you drop at Straw market or take a trip through time at the Pirates Museum. The beautiful Nassau Botanical Gardens are close by and water enthusiasts can enjoy non-motorized water sports right on property.

Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas. It lies on the island of New Providence, with neighboring Paradise Island accessible via Nassau Harbor bridges. The city has a hilly landscape and is known for it's fabulous beaches as well as its offshore coral reefs, popular for diving and snorkeling. It retains many of its typical pastel-colored British colonial buildings, like the pink-hued Government House.

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Transportation

Local Airport

Lynden Pindling International Airport (formally known as Nassau International Airport) is just a short 15-minute journey from the Melia Nassau Beach All-Inclusive and is easily accessible from almost every country in the world with many major international airlines providing direct or interconnecting flights daily.

Taxis

There’s no shortage of available taxi cabs at Lynden Pindling International Airport. Taxis are available outside the U.S., International and Domestic terminals. Taxis charge approximately $25 one way to the Melia Nassau Hotel, however charges may increase if there are more than two passengers and/or two large suitcases.

Pre-booked Airport Transfers

Should you wish to pre-book a taxi transfer from the airport, you will find there are several suppliers to chose from and prices range from $40 one way and $70 return trip for up to 3 people, taxes included. Please find below details of 3 transportation providers who are offering discounted rates for our groups. Please contact the supplier directly with any enquiries or booking requests.

HC Executive Transportation
Contact Name: Nicholas Knowles
Contact Telephone: +1 242-809-9418
Contact Email: hcexecutivetransportation@gmail.com
Website Link: www.hcets.net

The rates quoted below are for transfers from Lynden Pindling International Airport to Melia Nassau Beach hotel. Please quote ‘FUSION’ during initial enquiry to obtain the discounted rate.

Vehicle / No of Passengers	Price (One Way)	Price (Return Trip)
Car (maximum of 3 passengers)	$40.00 USD per vehicle	$70.00.00 USD per vehicle
SUV (maximum of 6 passengers)	$70 USD per vehicle	$110.00 USD per vehicle

Note: Tax included in above rates (12%). Gratuities optional. Pre-payment can be made at time of booking or to driver at time of service.

Simon's Transports Ltd
Contact Name: Jocelyne Casimir
Contact Telephone: Toll Free: 1-800-501-4964, International: 1-954-302-2505, Local: 1-242-364-5466
Contact Email: info@simonstransports.com
Booking Link: https://simonstransportsbahamas.com/book-now-2/

The rates quoted below are for transfers from Lynden Pindling International Airport to Melia Nassau Beach hotel. Please quote ‘FUSION’ during initial enquiry to obtain the discounted rate, or you may book online via the booking link above where discounted rates are automatically applied.

Vehicle / No of Passengers	Price (One Way)	Price (Return Trip)
Car (maximum of 4 passengers)	$101.21 USD per vehicle	$181.36 USD per vehicle
SUV (maximum of 7 passengers)	$149.50 USD per vehicle	$266.57 USD per vehicle

Note: Tax and gratuities included in above rates (12% and 15%). Pre-payment is required no later than 24hours prior to scheduled transfer time.

Majestic Tours Ltd
Contact Name: Betty Fox
Contact Telephone: +1 242-322-2606 or +1 242-677-2610
Contact Email: betty@majesticholidays.com

The rates quoted below are for transfers from Lynden Pindling International Airport to Melia Nassau Beach hotel. Please quote ‘FUSION’ during initial enquiry to obtain the discounted rate,

Vehicle / No of Passengers	Price (One Way)	Price (Return Trip)
Car (maximum of 3 passengers)	$47.60 USD per vehicle	$95.20 USD per vehicle
SUV (maximum of 6 passengers)	$132.52 USD per vehicle	n/a
Shuttle Bus	n/a	$22.40 USD per person

Note: Taxes included in above rates (12%). Gratuities optional. Pre-payment (50%) is required at time of booking. The shuttle bus is not a private service therefore additional stops may be made along the journey.
A Majestic Tours hospitality desk is located in the lower lobby of the hotel and is open daily from 7:00am to 8:00pm.

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Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

http://www.majestictoursbahamas.com/tours/#all

Local Activities

Several free activities are available within the resort and include:

Trip to Balmoral Island during your stay; a taxi boat to and from Balmoral Island and access to the VIP Balmoral Beachside is included.
Daily fitness activities: gym classes, yoga, zumba, pool aerobics, etc.
In the water: paddleboards, glass-bottom kayaks, ocean duo kayaks, reef-board zayaks, cabana floating mats, water hammocks, etc.
Workshops: jewellery making, henna tattoo, scent creation, Bahamian crafts, etc.
Classes: mixology, scuba diving, dancing, etc.
Friendly competitions: beach volleyball, beach soccer, ping pong, darts, water balloon toss, deep dive contest, etc.
Free shuttle to Baha Mar and direct access to its spectacular 100,000 sq. ft. casino, Royal Blue™ tournament player’s golf course with special rates for Meliá guests, tennis court, spa, retail outlets and over 30 dining venues and lounges

Half / Full Day Activities

Majestic Tours are a reputable and reliable company offering a variety of fascinating trips and excursions for either a half or full day. To browse the range of tours and excursions available or to make a booking (individual/group) please follow the link below which will take you directly to the Majestic Tours website / booking system. Bookings can also be made on-site at the Majestic Tours desk, located in the lobby of the hotel alongside front desk. This is open daily from 7:00am to 9:00pm.

If you have any questions then please contact Majestic Tours directly (details below).

Contact Telephone: (+1242) 327-6000 ext. 860322
Contact Email: betty@majesticholidays.com

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Group Activities

Snorkel Trip – Friday 01st March 2019

We have arranged an exciting group activity for the Mitochondria participants (accompanying guests welcome). Please find the details, timings and price for the activity below. Please note you are required to sign up by Friday 11^thJanuary 2019 for this activity and unfortunately, we cannot accept sign ups after this date nor onsite. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

This 3hr excursion will depart from Cable Beach at the Melia hotel. The first stop takes you to a Sea Turtle site where you will learn some interesting facts about the Sea Turtles followed by an exciting opportunity to swim with them. You will then head to the snorkel reef where you will be able to see many different types of coral, tropical fish, sea turtles, eels, spiny lobsters, and much more. Finally, you will have some free time to spend at Rose Island which is known for it’s beautiful beaches and lagoons.

Snorkel Tour: $75.00 per person to be paid on the day (USD or Bahamian Dollars accepted, a small charge will be applied for card payments).

Includes
Snorkel equipment
Life jackets

Itinerary for Friday 01st March 2019
13:00: Meet at main pool bar (in between the beach and towel hut)
13:15: Pickup from Cable Beach at Melia Hotel
13:25 – 13:55: Swim with sea turtles
13:55: Head to the reef for some snorkeling time
14:25 - 14:55: Snorkeling
14:55: Beach time at Rose Island
15:45: Return trip
16:15: Drop off at Cable Beach at Melia Hotel

*Minimum of 8 people required / Maximum capacity of 26*

Sign-ups are required by Friday 11^th January 2019 should you wish to participate. To sign up, please email Laura Trundle noting the names of any accompanying guests joining you on the activity.

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Childcare

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Oral Presenters

We have several oral opportunities available at this meeting. To be considered for a talk, please register for the conference and upload your abstract when prompted to do so. You will be able to monitor the status of your abstract through your Fusion account and you will also receive an email if you are successful or unsuccessful.

Please use the abstract template provided (see below) and ensure your abstract is no longer than one page in length.

If you are accepted for a talk, we recommend you check our website regularly as the conference approaches. Regular programme updates will be released under the ‘Programme’ tab on the conference website.

Your Presentation

On the day of your presentation please make yourself known to our AV technician who will be present in the conference room. We advise running through your presentation at least 30minutes prior to your session commencing to ensure your slides and any videos or animations appear as expected. We prefer our speakers to run their presentation from the master PC or Mac, however, if you prefer to use your own laptop then please notify us prior to the session. A HDMI or VGA cable is usually available on the podium.

Our AV technician will apply your microphone and provide a combined slide advancer and laser pointer.

We ask all speakers to adhere to their time slots and respect their fellow presenters. A visual traffic light aide will be available to warn presenters as their time decreases.

Please make sure your presentation adheres to the following guidelines.

Aspect Ratio: On Screen Show (16:9)
File Type: Please save your presentation in PPT, PPTS or Keynote format.

Download Abstract Template

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs

Posters

We have several poster opportunities available at this meeting. To be considered for a poster presentation, please register for the conference and upload your abstract when prompted to do so. You will be able to monitor the status of your abstract through your Fusion account and you will also receive an email if you are successful or unsuccessful.

Please use the abstract template provided (see below) and ensure your abstract is no longer than one page in length.

Our poster boards can accommodate a maximum poster size of A0 (1189H x 841W mm), portrait in orientation. Posters exceeding this size may not fit on the poster boards provided and therefore we may be unable to display your poster, so please kindly keep to these measurements.

Displaying & Presenting Your Poster

Please bring your poster to registration and hand this to a member of the Fusion team. They will advise of your poster number and display your poster for you.

Your poster will remain on display for the duration of the conference, allowing presenters to take advantage of the refreshment breaks and free time for valuable networking opportunities, in addition to the official poster session.

Please check the programme and note the date and time of the poster session(s). Your poster will be judged during the poster session and prizes will be awarded at the Gala Dinner.

Posters will be taken down by the Fusion team and will be ready for collection at the Fusion desk on the final day of the conference.

Self-Introductions

Discussions are at the heart of this conference. We are therefore asking each poster presenter to give a 1minute self-introduction on Thursday 28th February. We wish to ensure that your face as well as your interests and efforts are known to the other participants, so they may find you for discussions during the meeting. You should use this time to pitch your poster to the other conference attendees.

Here is what you should be prepared for Thursday morning.

All poster presenters will gather at the front of the room at the beginning of the session and presenters will be called to the mic in alphabetical order by the session moderators. Note only 1minute is allocated per presenter, therefore, please try to keep your introduction as concise as possible following the format below.

Self-Introduction Format

Your name and your PI's laboratory (if you are not the PI), your institute, your country.
What are you working on?
What is your question?
Title of poster and your poster number (will be provided by Fusion at registration).
What would you like to learn from others at this conference or get feedback on?

Slide Format

If you wish to accompany your self-introduction with a single slide, please ensure your slide is the following size; widescreen (16:9). We will be merging slides and if you use alternative formatting, the contents of your slide will be distorted. Animations are not permitted. A slide template can be found here. Slides are required by Monday 28 January latest.

Download Abstract Template

Supported By

Silver

Bronze

Media Partners

If you're interested in sponsoring this conference please contact us.

Mitochondria: From Basic Biology to Mechanisms of Disease Conference

Mitochondria and Disease

27 Feb 2019 - 02 Mar 2019

Nassau, Bahamas

Chairs