October 19th, 2005

Dear Members and Friends of the Society of Craniofacial Genetics:

I am inviting you to join us at the 28^th Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium of the Society of Craniofacial Genetics will take place in Room 253A Salt Palace, Salt Lake City Convention Center on Tuesday Oct 25^th, 2005 from 12:00 to 6:00 pm.. It will be held in conjunction with the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, the social program for which begins at 8 pm.

You will all agree that the  talks and speakers are outstanding We are particularly proud of our invited speakers who are also speaking at The Robert J. Gorlin Conferences on Dysmorphology, Saturday-Sunday, October 22-23, 2005  http://www.dentalce.umn.edu/JulyDec05/Gorlin.html

Andrew O.M. Wilkie, M.D.
The Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
Dr. Wilkie is a clinical and molecular geneticist well known for his work on genetics of cranial defects.
Title “Craniosynostosis in clinic: a genetic approach”

Gary Schoenwolf, Ph.D.
Neurobiology and Anatomy, 401 MREB, University of Utah,
20 North 1900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah
Dr. Schoenwolf is renowned for his work on pattern formation during early embryogenesis of vertebrates
Title “Inductive interactions underlying formation of the ear”

Susan Herring, Ph.D. University of Washington.
Dr. Herring is an expert on suture mechanics and the influence of mastication on skull morphology.
Title :”Is the symphysis mentis a suture?”

Lynne Opperman, Ph.D., Baylor College of Dentistry.
Dr. Opperman has made her name in the field of the molecular biology of sutures and the growth factors that influence suture development.
Title: Signaling in suture development and maldevelopment.

I am most privileged to serve as President of the Society for another year and Jill Helms, D.D.S., PhD will take over in 2006. She is an outstanding researcher in the field of craniofacial development.

We are seeking nominations for Vice President for 2007. Please forward names to me at the email address below.

I would particularly like to thank Geoffrey Sperber, DMD, Ph.D. Secretary/Treasurer, who has been involved with all the details for the planning of this conference, Eric  T. Everett Ph.D. and Andrew Woolfson, Web masters,  Curtis Deutsch, Ph.D. Representative to the  Society of Craniofacial Morphometrics, Simeon Boyadjiev Boyd, M.D. and John M. Graham, Jr., M.D., D.Sc., Directors, and all the members of the Society for their help in making our society successful . 

Finally, we did not secure corporate funding this year and request that everybody to consider becoming a member of the society either at the meeting or by logging on at the society’s website. Please renew your membership for 2005/6 by logging on to the Society’s Website: http://craniofacialgenetics.org clicking on “Membership application” and downloading the application form.

Sincerely,

Virginia Kimonis, M.D.
Childrens Hospital, Boston

300 Longwood Avenue, Fegan 10
Boston, MA 02115

Tel: 617-355-4697
Fax: 617-730-0466
Email: virginia.kimonis@childrens.harvard.edu