The enclosed volume contains reviewed manuscripts arising from the 11th ICCBMT meeting held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, USA on 27 October–1 November 2013. The subject matter encompasses the biology and chemistry of vertebrate and invertebrate tissues which remain the central focus of the International Conference on the Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissues. Our conference traditionally meets every three years as befitting its multidisciplinary nature and cross-cutting research boundaries. This 11th meeting was memorable for a number of reasons. First, it represented the best in international musculoskeletal research on bones, teeth, and other calcified matrices. This research was presented as a combination of oral and poster presentations based on a juried selection process carried out by the Scientific Advisory Board (see below). Oral presenters were invited to submit short manuscripts for this Proceedings issue. Second, the meeting was remarkable for its vitality and camaraderie, as evidenced in the two evening “Welcome Mixers” held in the suite formerly occupied by Hugh Hefner. Third, a continuing hallmark of ICCBMT meetings was the awarding of 36 travel awards to young investigators from around the world of mineralized tissues (one more than at the 10th meeting). We are extremely grateful to our sponsors (listed below) for their contribution to this great tradition of our meeting. Fourth, attendees left with renewed and new collaborative contacts which should contribute to an even better program for the 12th ICCBMT meeting and beyond. Finally, it is with deep sorrow that we remember the passing of one of the founding fathers of the ICCBMT, Dr. Melvin Glimcher. Both Mel and Dr. William Butler, who died on 22 February of this year, were instrumental in establishing the ICCBMT as a stable organization and for fostering its emphasis on high-quality cutting edge mineralized tissue research. Befitting his status as a co-founding member with both Drs. Glimcher and Butler, we included a few comments (below) from Dr. Arthur Veis about these exceptional scientists. The outstanding contributions of both Mel and Bill will be missed as we move forward!
Jeff P. Gorski, Ph.D., Guest Editor and Co-Chair of the 11th ICCBMT meeting
Charles Sfeir, DDS, Ph.D., Guest Editor and Co-Chair of the 11th ICCBMT meeting
Eve Donnelly, Ph.D., Co-Chair of the 11th ICCBMT meeting
Comments on the roles of Mel Glimcher and Bill Butler in the formation of the ICCBMT by Arthur Veis
In the mid-1970s, the biophysical aspects of biomineralization were not on the radar for specialized meetings – attention was focused more on the physiological chemistry and vitamin D metabolism, among other aspects of biomineralization. Only a few research laboratories were interested in the proteins involved and the underlying mechanisms. The principal labs discussing that with regard to bone and dentin were my lab and those of Adele Boskey, Bill Butler, Mel Glimcher and, at NIH, John Termine. Hal Slavkin, Alan Fincham, and Malcolm Sneed were engaged in enamel protein work. I thought it was time to have a special meeting devoted to the biophysical aspects of biomineralization with special emphasis on the protein and mineral phases. At a meeting of the New York Academy of Science in New York, I had breakfast with Bill Butler and broached that subject, suggesting that we consider organizing such a meeting. Amazingly, Bill Butler had been having similar thoughts and readily agreed to join with me in planning such a meeting while requesting support from the NIH. We planned the basic aspects of the meeting and I started to prepare the first NIH grant application for meeting support. We, subsequently, asked Mel Glimcher to join us on the organizing committee, and were pleased that he also enthusiastically agreed. Although the three of us were in a sense competitors, and had differing approaches and ideas in our research, we worked together without difficulty. I wrote the first draft of the grant application; Bill and Mel edited it and made valuable comments. When that application was successful, I hosted and planned the first meeting at Northwestern University and arranged for the publication of the Proceedings. Bill managed the recording of the discussions and edited the comments and questions on each paper while Mel prepared the concluding summary paper. With the success of the first meeting, Bill took over planning and developing the program of the second meeting at Gulf Shores, and, with Mel, we expanded the Advisory Board, and Mel began planning the third meeting at Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. We formed the ICCBMT Corporation, and the meetings have been held regularly since then as a positive aid to our research community.
Although, as I said earlier, we often argued about scientific points, such as data and experimental approach, the three of us working together developed mutual respect, appreciation, and friendships that have held firm throughout the years. We met as often as possible, and communicated frequently, despite retirements and illnesses, even when we had no technical matters to discuss. William Butler and Melvin Glimcher, although very different in personality and interest, were both gifted and productive scientists who looked after the interests of those who worked with them, and made every effort to advance knowledge in their fields. I personally, and all of us in our field, will miss them dearly.
The Eve and Arthur Veis Keynote Speaker, Dr. David Eyre, was presented with a commemorative plaque by Dr. Arthur Veis after his lecture at the 11th ICCBMT meeting. The lecture was entitled “Collagen cross-linking and mineralization: Insights from rare osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) variants”.
27 October 2013
Welcome!
We are honored to have co-organized the 11th ICCBMT. It has been our goal to maintain the legacy that was carefully nurtured by the founding fathers of the ICCBMT, Arthur Veis, Melvin Glimcher and William Butler. This meeting has succeeded once again in attracting a group of scientists and their trainees from many different research disciplines with the common goal of understanding the chemistry and biology of mineralized tissues. While the program is indeed full, our conference location in beautiful southern Wisconsin is ideal to promote the high level of professional and social interaction that has been a hallmark of previous conferences.
We hope you find the 11th ICCBMT as memorable as its predecessors.
Sincerely,
Jeffery Gorski, PhD, Co-Chair 11th ICCBMT
Eve Donnelly, PhD, Co-Chair 11th ICCBMT
Charles Sfeir, DDS, PhD, Co-Chair 11th ICCBMT
ICCBMT Scientific Advisory Board
ICCBMT 2013 SPONSORS
American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Colgate-Palmolive
Eve and Art Veis Foundation
McGill University, Faculty of Dentistry
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health Office of Rare Diseases
Orthopedic Research Society
SCANCO Medical Ag
The Center for Craniofacial Regeneration, University of Pittsburgh
UMKC Center of Excellence in Musculoskeletal and Dental Tissues
ELEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY OF MINERALIZED TISSUES
11th ICCBMT 2013 Final List of Attendees
Attendees: 120
Accompanying Person(s): 3
Gorski, Mary
Mandel, Neil
Shatkin, Marala
Total 123 Attendees
Board of Directors William Landis, Michel Goldberg, Lynda Bonewald, Mary
MacDougall, Harvey Goldberg, Janet Moradian-Oldak
OFFICERS
Past President
Adele L. Boskey, PhD
Hospital for Special Surgery
535 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021, USA
Phone: (212) 606-1453
Fax: (212) 472-5331
President
Barbara D. Boyan, PhD
Virginia Commonwealth University
601 West Main Street, Suite 331
Richmond, VI 23284-3068, USA
Phone: (804) 828-0190
Fax: (804) 828-9866
Vice President
Jane B. Lian, PhD
Department of Biochemistry and Vermont Cancer Center
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Burlington, VT 05405 USA
Phone: (802) 656-4872
Secretary/Treasurer
Paul Krebsbach, DDS, PhD
School of Dentistry
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Phone: (734) 936-2600
Fax: (734) 764-2469
2013 Meeting Organizers
Jeffrey Gorski, PhD
School of Dentistry
University of Missouri-Kansas City
650 East 25th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
Phone: (816) 235-2537
Fax: (816) 235-5524
Eve Donnelly, PhD
Cornell University
227 Bard Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Phone: (607) 255-1067
Fax: (607) 255-2365
Charles Sfeir, DDS, PhD
School of Dental Medicine
University of Pittsburgh
552 Salk Hall, 3501 Terrace St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
Phone: (412) 648-1949
Fax: (412) 624-6685