Newswise — BETHESDA, Md., March 31, 2014 – Six scientific societies will hold their joint scientific sessions and annual meetings, known as Experimental Biology (EB), from April 26-30, 2014, in San Diego. This meeting, EB 2014, brings together the leading researchers from dozens of life-science disciplines. The societies represented at the meeting will be: the American Association of Anatomists (AAA), the American Physiological Society (APS), the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB), the American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP), the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET).

Below are some programming highlights:

Sleepless in San Diego: Is Sleep Deprivation the New Silent Killer? (APS)About 30 percent of Americans sleep fewer than six hours per night. Studies have linked such chronic sleep deprivation with several cardiovascular diseases, but it is not clear exactly how sleep affects the heart. This cross-sectional symposium will provide key insights into this understudied area, including an overview of what we know from clinical studies, new data that suggest potential sex differences in cardiovascular responses to sleep deprivation, and the effect of sleep restriction on energy balance and insulin resistance. (Sun., 4/27)

Energy Drinks: Current Knowledge and Critical Research (ASN)With the consumption of energy drinks on the rise, this timely session takes a look at the latest science on these drinks. Speakers will shed light on critical questions, such as what does research tell us about caffeine intake in adolescents, and what do we know about the physiological effects of caffeine in children and teens? The session will include new data from two workshops on caffeine in foods. (Sat., 4/26)

Treatment-Resistant Depression: Biological Bases and Treatments (ASPET)Some people diagnosed with major depressive disorder, also called clinical depression, do not respond to medications or psychological counseling. The 2014 Ray Fuller Symposium will explore important topics related to treatment-resistant depression. Speakers from the pharmaceutical industry, government and academia will present new basic science and discuss its implications for developing new medicines for treatment-resistant depression. (Wed., 4/30)

Breast Cancer Workshop (ASIP)Over the past decade, we have made significant advances in understanding the molecular and cellular underpinnings of breast cancers. However, treatment success rates have not improved for some forms of breast cancer. Targeted therapies are needed for triple-negative breast cancer, which contributes disproportionately to deaths related to breast cancer. This workshop will provide an overview of triple-negative breast cancer and explore molecular characteristics that might lead to new targets for first-line therapies and approaches for interrupting metastasis. (Sat., 4/26)

Into and Through the Membrane (ASBMB)Thanks to their membranes, cells repeatedly accomplish feats with odds at least a million times less favorable than those of hitting a Powerball jackpot. Even though the cell membrane’s bilayer formation and functional properties appear simple, more than a century of research reveals that membranes and their interfaces present unmet challenges at every level of inquiry. The four sessions in this symposium will take a closer look at recent advances in the understanding of structural and functional complexity of cellular membranes and how they are exploited to enable life. (Sun., 4/27)

The Anatomy of Development, Disease Pathogenesis and Regeneration (AAA)This mini-meeting will begin with a keynote presentation on research on the assembly, repair and regeneration of the kidney with a long-term goal of improving treatments for human disease. Four sessions will focus on the molecular control of cell types and organ size, specification of organs in males versus females, causes of organ cancer, and the role of natural and induced stem cells in organ repair and regeneration. Plenary topics will include cardiac muscle stem cell differentiation and physiology, genetic control of upper airway patterning and the use of human stem cells to generate insulin-producing cells. (Mon., 4/28)

Media Registration Free registration is available to credentialed representatives of the press, and an onsite newsroom will be available for media. Detailed instructions for individuals who wish to request press passes are available on the website.

Meeting Link: