Devoted to basic research, the purpose of the conferences is to stimulate new research directions. Scientists working in the research frontiers of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences come together for a week of intense discussion and examination of the most advanced aspects of their field. The conferences have grown slowly, starting with one in 1931 and building to as many as 170 in 1999. The series began at Johns Hopkins University, where it was initiated by professor Neil E. Gordon, a member of the chemistry faculty. Announcement of the event at the AVMA Council on Research meeting in September was met with enthusiasm.
Council members believe that the event is a meaningful first for veterinary research.
Intrigued, Dr. Becker talked to him about the possibility of organizing a Gordon Research Conference on comparative hematopoiesis and received encouragement. He then approached Dr. Kaneko. Kaneko and Becker initiated the paperwork process and were jubilant when their proposal was accepted. Dr. Becker, of Dia-Con Ltd in Chicago, has an immunology and biochemistry background and has been involved in the clinical side of operating a laboratory. The conference will focus on mechanisms of blood cell proliferation and maturation in hemolymphatic systems of animals, including nonhuman primates.