Note: All lecturers are Principal Investigators or staff scientists at OHSU's Primate Research Center. They specialize in one of three divisions: Neuroscience, Pathobiology and Immunology, and Reproductive Sciences. Due to the heavy and changing schedules of these experts, individual topics and lecturers cannot be guaranteed. Where noted below, the schedule gives examples of past lectures that may or may not be repeated on this program.

Afternoon: Hotel check in begins at 3:00 PM. Program registration begins at 4:00 PM. Orientation begins at 5:00 PM.

Dinner: Charley's, the hotel restaurant.

Evening: Meet our science expert and study leader, Diana Gordon, who will be with us throughout the program, and learn of the excitement in store in the next few days!

Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott Portland- Downtown / Convention Center

Meals Included: Dinner

Oregon National Primate Research Center Field Trip/Monkey Behavior/Hands-On Lab

Breakfast: Luscious breakfast buffet at the hotel

Morning: Travel to the Oregon National Primate Center where ground-breaking research is in process to unravel medical mysteries. Learn of animal roles in medical discoveries, such as open heart surgery, development of pacemakers and vaccines. Study the fascinating and revealing behavioral patterns of monkeys and explore this state-of-the-art research center, home to 4300 monkeys. Learn about their care, and enjoy a guided walk with our expert to meet them. Find out how they tell you what they like, and how they tell you what they don’t like!

Lunch: Lunch on campus

Afternoon: Primate Center scientists will discuss the essential need for non-human primates in their individual research studies. The sometimes difficult discussion of the need for animals in research is handled with compassion and respect. After a short break, we learn about how the Behavioral Services Unit works to promote species normative behaviors in the Center’s 4300 monkeys. Behaviorial scientists discuss monkey behavior and the challenges presented by these large research and breeding colonies. A short walk brings us to the monkey viewing area, where we will use a specially-designed ethogram to take our own data on monkey behavior.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel

Evening: A captivating lecture by Diana Gordon awaits you this evening on just “What IS Science?”

Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott Portland- Downtown / Convention Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Meet The Scientists/Genetics Research/Hands-on Lab/Avoiding Medical Quackery

Note: There will be 3 one-hour lectures and a 2 hour "hands on" lab. Specific topics and lecturers are to be determined.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel

Morning: Diana, our study leader and science expert, will start each day wiping away cobwebs related to the science research topic we will study that day. Cells and genes are intrinsic to the topic of biomedical research, so we will start with a review of those important concepts – and a look at the advances that enable scientists to actually see how specific genes are switched “on” or “off” at any time.

In previous programs, we've discussed with leading scientists how basic biomedical science becomes clinical practice and gotten an overview of the new field of oncofertility (the preservation of fertility in cancer patients).

Lunch: Lunch on campus

Afternoon: In the past, we've looked at how bioethics explores ethical issues associated with new discoveries in biology and medicine. A fascinating lecture and lively discussion helped us understand and grapple with some of these issues. Hands-on activities simulated in vitro fertilization techniques and provided the opportunity for participants to experience a state-of-the-art bio-engineering solution to the problem of how to grow follicles in order to preserve fertility in females.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel

Evening: Diana Gordon and her husband Steve (a physician), join together tonight to contrast science with pseudoscience and medical quackery. Many older adults fall victim to health scams. Get ready for an interesting lecture and discussion as Diana and Steve teach us how to protect ourselves and our loved ones from pseudoscience and medical quackery.

Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott Portland- Downtown / Convention Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

New Technologies For Independent Living/Healthy Aging Lectures/Aerial Tram/Free Time

Note: Enjoy 2 one-hour lectures in the morning on topics related to healthy aging.

Breakfast: Enjoy your full buffet breakfast at the hotel

Morning: What strategies will help you remain independent as you age? How can you enhance your physical environment to better suit your needs in later years? Travel to OHSU’s Center for Health and Healing to investigate new technologies that may provide some answers to these questions. Visit their “Living Lab,”a space designed to simulate an apartment and outfitted with new technologies that support independent living and facilitate successful aging. The apartment is clad with motion sensors on walls, doorways and appliances that monitor changes in walking speed or activity patterns giving insight into both mental and physical well-being and changes. In-home computers monitor cognitive function much as an interviewer would in person, sensors monitor sleep patterns, a high-tech pill box records time of day a participant opens the pill compartments, a sensor-clad cane indicates gait, strength, and stability. Test out some of these technologies and explore the value inherent in such research for your own personal life. Can biomedical research reveal a way to prevent the loss of immune function as we age?

In past programs, a research scientist joined us to discuss the current research findings related to “Aging and the Immune System.”

Lunch: Lunch at the Center for Health and Healing

Afternoon: Hop aboard the Aerial Tram which will take us for a short but spectacular overview of the city from the Center to the University Hospital 500 feet above. Spend a few minutes examining how this fascinating mode of transport works and was designed, and then enjoy some lovely sculptures and art on our way to a delightful view of the city from “Pill Hill,” this Medical Center and University atop one of the highest promontories in the city. Head back to the hotel or off on your own to explore for the remainder of the day.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to explore local fare

Evening: On your own to relax or explore the beautiful city of Portland

Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott Portland- Downtown / Convention Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Stem Cell Breakthroughs/Meet The Scientists - three lectures/Hands-on Stem Cell Lab/Evening lecture

Note: There will be four lectures throughout the day today. Specific topics and lecturers are to be determined.

Breakfast: A full buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Get ready today for more fascinating discussions and research findings. Diana’s lively stem cell overview will prepare us for our afternoon lecture and our custom-designed stem cell lab activity.

Examples of this morning's lectures could include an update on the latest news from the HIV/AIDS front (HINT: The news is good!) in a lively presentation from Andy Sylwester.

Another possibility is a discussion with the head of the Imaging Core on new techniques that allow us to visualize activities that are occurring within the cell.

Lunch: Lunch on campus

Afternoon: Stem Cell research is our focus this afternoon, with its far-reaching potential. Stem cells offer exciting promise for future therapies for treating a myriad of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Learn about the fascinating stem cell breakthroughs that have been made at ONPRC. The 2011 program featured the scientists that led these efforts, Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov and Dr. Don Wolf.

Then get hands-on in our stem cell lab!

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel

Evening: The evening presentation provides yet another fascinating opportunity to interact with OHSU's scientists. One possibility may be popular OHSU neuroscientist, Dr. Larry Sherman, who provides an evening of fun and entertainment while leading us to experience the interplay between music, memory, and the brain. How does music affect the developing and the aging brain, both listening to it and playing it? Making music and preserving memory will give you tools to take home with you to apply to your life!

Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott Portland- Downtown / Convention Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel

Morning: Dr. Stanley Jacob, MD, discoverer of DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), the precursor of MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane), walks us through his journey from Harvard Medical School Instructor in Surgery to OHSU former head of the organ transplant program where he first began his lifelong study of these two compounds. Today MSM can be found in most nutrition centers as a well-known anti-inflammatory used to treat conditions such as arthritis, allergies, muscle pains, and to support healthy connective tissues like tendons, ligaments and muscle. As you travel with him on his journey today, you’ll understand why he has received many outstanding awards such as “Humanitarian of the Year” from the National Health Federation. Program wrap up follows Dr. Jacobs. Program ends at 11:00am. Hotel check out is at noon.

Lunch: Box lunch to enjoy at the hotel or take with you.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch