Consequences of Aneuploidy

The 3rd conference on the causes and consequences of aneuploidy (an abnormal number of chromosomes) aims to bring together an international community of researchers to study its effects. Aneuploidy’s fundamental form of genomic imbalance has wide-ranging effects, contributing to infertility, developmental disorders, aging, and cancer. This year’s program will provide a dedicated forum for presenting new findings and exploring key questions about how aneuploidy arises, its impact at the cellular and organismal levels, and whether it can be exploited for therapeutic purposes.

Attendees will learn about the latest experimental models and cutting-edge technologies used to study how this condition shapes genome evolution, cellular responses, reproduction, and tumorigenesis. The program will emphasize broad representation across career stages, geographies, and disciplines, while fostering collaboration among experts in cell biology, genetics, developmental biology, and cancer research. Trainees and early-career researchers will have the opportunity to participate in focused workshops and network with leaders in the field. The agenda will feature two poster sessions and multiple short talks selected from abstract submissions, including 20 early-career presentations.

This conference will also include a special session in honor of Angelika Amon, a multiple award-winning researcher and champion of chromosome research, who passed away in 2020. The session will focus on future directions in the field, honoring her legacy.

Attendees will learn about:

• The mechanisms that cause and respond to aneuploidy in both mitotic and meiotic contexts.

• The biological consequences of aneuploidy, including its roles in cancer, reproduction, and development.

• Innovative approaches and model systems for studying chromosome instability, genome architecture, and cellular adaptation.

• Therapeutic strategies that target aneuploidy or exploit its vulnerabilities in disease contexts.

Program Topics

• Chromosomal instability in cancer and early development

• Mechanisms of aneuploidy

• Cellular and organismal consequences of aneuploidy

• Aneuploidy in development and reproduction

• New approaches and technologies to study aneuploidy

• Chromosome structure, centromeres, and genome stability

• Evolution of cancer genomes and selective pressures that shape aneuploidy landscapes

Workshops

A Meet the Experts session will engage early-career scientists with senior chromosome researchers. Attendees will rotate among tables hosted by invited speakers to discuss topics such as research methods, career advice, and mentorship.

A roundtable Career Development Workshop will feature six career paths: academia, teaching, industry, publishing, policy, and nonprofits. Attendees will network with professionals and gain insight into a diverse range of post-PhD opportunities.