JJAMD SUPPORTS FORSYTH RESEACHER STUDY INTO TMJ GENETICS.

 

I am very grateful to Renée and Milton Glass, co-Founders and co-Presidents of JJAMD, for giving me the opportunity to attend the Gordon Conference in "Craniofacial Morphogenesis & Tissue Regeneration" January 18-23, 2004 in Ventura, California.

 

I had the unique opportunity to meet and interact in depth with many of the leading scientists in craniofacial biology. The quality of the presentations was outstanding and exposed me to cutting edge science and technology. I was able to establish scientific collaborations with scientists who can help me implement new technologies to the study of the TMJ or work with me in future projects. I also shared my current work and thoughts on the TMJ, and everybody was well impressed with them, confirming the novelty and importance of my studies for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in TMJ development and maintenance.

 

In summary, attending this Gordon Conference was of tremendous help. It allowed me to confirm that my work with the TMJ is at a very high level, and also allowed me to gain a greater perspective to interpret my data through a better understanding of current research and knowledge of the tissues and organs adjacent to the TMJ. Perhaps more importantly, this conference put me in contact with top researchers who can work with me to further the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie TMJ formation and maintenance, a fundamental step toward designing novel therapeutic approaches for TMJ disorders.

 

Patricia Purcell, Ph.D.

The Forsyth Institute/ Harvard School of Dental Medicine.