Where is Peter!?

• Sydney - Garvan Institute of Medical Research - 7 Feb 2012


• Hobart - Menzies Research Institute - 9 Feb 2012


• Melbourne - Murdoch Children's Cancer Institute - 10 Feb 2012


• Scientific Lecture: Lorne Genome Conference - 14 Feb 2012


• Perth - WA Institute of Medical Research - 16 Feb 2012


• Brisbane - Scientific talk QIMR - 20 Feb 2012


• Canberra - John Curtin School of Medical Research - 21 Feb 2012

Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc.

Position and Affiliation

Distinguished Professor of Urology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.

Biography

Professor Jones was born in South Africa, raised and attended college in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and received his Ph.D. from the University of London. He joined the University of Southern California in 1977, attaining the rank of Professor in 1985, Distinguished Professor in 1999, and was Director of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center 1993-2011.

Professor Jones is a pioneer in the now burgeoning field of “epigenetics”. His laboratory discovered the effects of the drug 5-azacytidine on the cell’s epigenetic code and linked this process to the re-activation of silenced genes. 5-azacytidine is now used to treat myelodysplatic syndrome and prevent it from developing into leukaemia.

Professor Jones is internationally renowned for his discoveries of the basic mechanisms of epigenetics and the role they play in cancer development and cell differentiation. He is a past President of the American Association for Cancer Research. He has published more than 300 scientific papers and received several honors, including the Outstanding Investigator Grant from the National Cancer Institute. He shared the prestigious Kirk A. Landon Award for Basic Cancer Research from the AACR in 2009 and the Medal of Honor from the American Cancer Society in 2011 with Stephen Baylin.

Public Lecture sponsored by the Australian Academy of Science, Rudi Lemberg Travel Fellowship

“How the exploding science of epigenetics will transform our understanding of health and disease and Australia’s participation in it”.

In this public lecture, Professor Jones will discuss the revolution in the field of epigenomics and describe how the human genome is packaged so that different parts are used in different cells. He will also describe how epigenetics works to control normal development and how it can malfunction to contribute to human diseases such as cancer. Finally, he will describe international efforts to map the human epigenome and develop drugs to rectify disease states.

Dear potential conference participants,

So… after a little hiccup, we have rescheduled the Epigenetics 2011 meeting scheduled for the 20th to 22nd of November 2011 at the National Wine Centre of Australia, in Adelaide to occur as Epigenetics 2012 from Mon the 7th of May until Wednesday the 9th of May 2012, at the same venue.

There where many reasons for doing this, but most centered on participation of national and international speakers, registrants, sponsors and trade. The overwhelming response I have received from people I have contacted personally is actually one of relief. November 2011 was too crowded with both annual and biennial conferences.

The same advertised international speakers will be at the conference in May 2012 and we hope you will be as well. We have already secured increased sponsorship due to the postponement that will enable us to attract a stellar cast of national and international speakers to make this a truly memorable meeting.

Yours truly,

Hamish Scott on behalf of the LOC