Welcome from the ASIP 2020 Program Chair
David C. Williams, Jr., MD, PhD

On behalf of the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP), I am very excited to invite you to the ASIP 2020 Annual Meeting, April 4-7, 2020, in San Diego, CA.  Held in conjunction with Experimental Biology 2020, the organizing principle for this year is: “From Microbiota to Artificial Intelligence: Emerging Technologies and Approaches for Discovering Mechanisms of Pathobiology.”

An exciting line-up of basic and translational research talks presented by both well-known senior and up-and-coming junior scientists have been organized by the ASIP Program Committee in collaboration with our membership, Scientific Interest Groups, and guest societies including Histochemical Society (HCS), American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP), Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP), Italian Society of Pathology and Translational Medicine (SIPMeT), American Society for Matrix Biology (ASMB), and the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology (SCVP).  These sessions will explore the connection between the microbiome and different organ systems, the molecular basis for cancer and non-neoplastic disease, and highlight how a variety of emerging technologies and approaches (e.g. artificial intelligence, organoid cultures, big data) are impacting pathobiology research and precision oncology.

The 2020 ASIP Annual Meeting includes symposia and workshops communicating cutting edge science and translational research, commingled with educational and professional development sessions appealing to trainees and junior faculty.  New this year, oral poster presentations in the form of short 3-minute talks (also known as “Poster Blitzes”) will be interspersed between the invited lectures. Reflecting the ASIP membership, there will be a strong emphasis on liver pathobiology, neuropathology, gene expression, inflammation, immunopathology, vascular biology, neoplasia, endothelial and epithelial cell biology, and fundamental cell biology.
 

• One major theme will be how the microbiome influences pathobiology across different organ systems. Recent research has shown that the gut microbiome influences normal function and pathobiology of many different organ systems throughout the body. Consecutive symposia will explore this connection between gut microbiota and the liver and brain, as well as how it impacts cancer therapy. A symposium sponsored by the Blood Vessel Club will explore the role of the microbiome in vascular disease. These symposia will provide a broad perspective of a very exciting area of emerging research.

• Several major symposia will cover a variety of emerging technologies and how they impact research and medicine. A session co-sponsored by the Gene Regulation SIG will cover the impact of single cell transcriptome analysis on our understanding of epigenetic regulation. Other sessions will cover the impact of artificial intelligence in pathology, machine learning in neuropathology, as well as the practical utility of big data. In addition, there will be a symposium exploring disease modeling using iPSCs to generate organoids as well as a symposium organized by the Society for Toxicologic Pathology discussing the role of toxicologic pathologist in animal model research. Together, these symposia will cover a wide range cutting-edge experimental and computational approaches that are changing how we investigate, understand, diagnose, and treat human disease.

• In the field of cancer, there will be a symposium on precision oncology and the translation of personal genomics into clinical practice. The genomic era has led to dramatic changes in both basic cancer biology as well as personalized medicine. How this information can be used to impact patient care is a very challenging but critically important topic. To expand on the cancer theme, Club Hepatomania has developed a session on the mechanisms of hepatic tumorigenesis. In addition, there will be a workshop on the role of tumor microenvironment in breast cancer.

• There are several sessions the cover the role of inflammation and immunity in disease. The Pathobiology Course for research scientists will cover the resolution of inflammation. A major symposium will cover the connection between coagulation and fibrinolysis with innate immunity. A cardiac pathology focused symposium will explore the fascinating connection between clonal hematopoiesis, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease.

• In what promises to be a fun event again this year, a combined symposium and debate will delve into the topic of fibrosis across different organs on Sunday morning. The Presidential symposium will cover advances in regenerative medicine on Monday afternoon. In addition, there will be a mucosal pathobiology session dedicated to new regulatory mechanisms and functions of epithelial junctions. While the ACVP will host a symposium on hemostasis and thrombosis.

Fundamental components of the four-day program are multiple ASIP-sponsored abstract-driven minisymposia and poster sessions. ASIP's strong commitment to supporting young investigators and trainee members means that the program also provides special opportunities to trainees and junior faculty.

An important note: ASIP Trainee members (including undergraduate students) and Junior Faculty who submit abstracts to ASIP Topic Categories are eligible to be considered for Travel Awards.  Please see details about the many special award opportunities at www.asip.org/awards/.

As members of the investigative pathology community, your participation in the ASIP Annual Meeting is absolutely vital to the Society's success; join us in staying abreast of leading scientific research in deciphering the pathways of health and pathology that will lead to biomarker development, and disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Lastly, an editorial note…Besides participating in the Annual Meeting, any faculty (senior or junior) or trainee with interest in the many ASIP-related educational, career development, research, and leadership opportunities should feel free to contact me (david_willjr@med.unc.edu), Bill Coleman (wbcoleman@asip.org), or Lisa McFadden (lmcfadden@asip.org) at the ASIP office.

We look forward to seeing you at the ASIP 2020 Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology in San Diego, CA!