In 1972 John Kerr, Andrew Wyllie and Alister Currie described a little known and curious form of cell death that today is one of the most intensively studied topics in modern biology. The researchers reported on a type of cell death -- a programmed cell suicide -- that was distictly different from the long recognised process of cell death known as necrosis. Necrosis occurs when a cell becomes acutely injured and ruptures, causing inflammatory cells to rush in to clear away the debris. Programmed cell suicide, in contrast, is clean and quick and involves a predictable sequence of structural changes that cause a cell to shrink and be rapidly digested by neighboring cells. Athough biologists have long known that cell suicide plays an important role in sculpting tissue within developing embryos, Kerr, Wyllie and Currie were the first to observe that programmed cell suicide which they labeled apoptosis -- also occures in matured cells. They also were the first to hypothesize that apoptosis plays a broad role in normal life processes, and its failure contributes to a variety of diseases, including cancer. Over the past 15 years, cancer research has produced remarkable advances in our understanding of tumor biology and cancer genetics. Among the most important of these advances is the realization that apoptosis and the genes that control it have a profound effect on the malignant phenotype. It is evident that many oncogenic mutations disrupt apoptosis resulting in tumor initiation, progression or metastasis. It has also been well documented that anti-cancer agents induce apoptosis, suggesting the hypothesis that defects in apoptotic regulatory programmes contribute to treatment failure. Studies on apoptosis therefore provide a conceptual framework to link cancer cellular genetics with cancer treatment.

Nestled between the pristine waters of the Arabian sea on the west and the lush Western Ghat mountains on the east, Kerala is situated on the southern most tip of India. Its intense network of rivers and lagoons, thick forests, exotic wildlife, tranquil stretchs of emerald backwaters and a long shoreline of serene beaches make it a traveler's paradise. In hindu scriptures, Kerala was created by Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He engaged in many battles, killing thousands, and finally repentant undertook long penance praying to the gods for salvation. The Sea-god Varuna responded pledging to give Parasurama land, which equal the distance, he could throw his "Parasu" or battle-axe. Parasurama with all his mighty strength swung his axe to kanyakumari, India's southern most edge. The seas receded exposing the strip of land that forms Kerala. Parasurama's act was a repudiation of war and hatered; Kerala therefore was created as a land of peace and harmony. Kerala also boasts of the highest literacy rates in India, and the best health care system. It is also a center for philosophy, arts and cultures as well as place of thinkers and social reformers such as Adi Shankaracharya and Sri Narayana Guru. Indeed christianity in India commenced from Kerala, where St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Christ, first came to. Truly therefore this is God's own country, and its is our previlage to invite you here.

This conference on translational research, to be held in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) from December 18th to December 21st 2005, focuses on molecular aspects of  apoptosis regulations and its derangement in disease, particularly cancer. The conference includes plenary lectures, thematic symposia, free papers, poster presentations, panel discussions and round table conferences in an open forum.