DNA Topoisomerases in Biology and Medicine

The inaugural conference will provide a new forum to highlight the fundamental roles of topoisomerases in genome biology and their importance as therapeutic targets. Topoisomerases play essential roles in DNA transcription, replication, repair, and organization, and are targeted by some of the most widely used antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs. The meeting will bring together experts from across disciplines—including biochemistry, structural biology, cell biology, drug development, and clinical research—to accelerate progress in this dynamic field.

The program will feature the latest advances in understanding topoisomerase mechanisms and their diverse biological functions, as well as their therapeutic applications. Highlights will include discussions on bacterial topoisomerases as drug targets, including the recent FDA approval of the antibiotic Gepotidacin, and on eukaryotic topoisomerases as payloads in antibody-drug conjugates, such as trastuzumab deruxtecan. By convening researchers at all career stages, from basic scientists to translational investigators, this conference will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and inspire the next wave of discoveries in both fundamental biology and clinical application.

Attendees will learn about:

· How single-molecule approaches are advancing knowledge of DNA topoisomerase catalytic mechanisms and drug interactions.

· Novel research in utilizing topoisomerase inhibitors as antibacterial agents and cardioprotective compounds in cancer therapy.

· The roles of topoisomerases in transcription and DNA replication, and how their ability to transiently cut DNA points to novel cellular functions.

· How topoisomerase biology connects to development and disease.

Program Topics

· Topoisomerases in Chromatin structure/Nuclear organization

· Topoisomerase molecular structure

· DNA structure and topology

· Enzyme mechanisms

· Topoisomerases in replication and transcription

· Topoisomerases in human health

· Topoisomerases as targets for antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs

· Topoisomerases in genome stability

Workshops

Meet the Expert sessions will be held in tandem with the poster sessions. Speakers and senior scientists will host tables to discuss research findings and methods with early-career investigators.

A Career Development Workshop will meet during lunches, where invited speakers discuss career trajectories and professional development with early-career scientists.