About the Conference

DNA repair and damage response pathways provide essential defensive measures against insults to a cell’s genetic material. In this function, they protect and restore genome integrity by means of a variety of mechanisms adapted to a diverse set of lesions. Of particular importance is the defence against adverse effects of other cellular processes that threaten genome stability. DNA repair contributes to accurate DNA replication, it helps resolve conflicts arising from the presence of RNA in chromatin, and it prevents damage and mutagenesis arising from DNA modifications associated with gene regulation. In this manner, genome maintenance pathways help prevent pathologies on the level of the organism, such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and premature ageing.

This 4-day conference, taking place at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz, will bring together leading scientists in the field of DNA repair, damage signalling and related research areas. The conference will focus on threats to genome stability emerging from endogenous sources, their consequences, and cellular defence measures. It will cover origins of DNA replication stress such as incorporated ribonucleotides, replication-associated double-strand breaks, and replication-transcription conflicts; vulnerable regions of the genome such as telomeres, centromeres, and repetitive sequences; as well as risks associated with the regulation of gene expression and chromatin dynamics.

Further info on sessions and the programme will be announced soon! Stay tuned!