General Information

The 13th annual international meeting of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities, entitled "ABRF 2009: Application and Optimization of Existing and Emerging Biotechnologies," will be held February 7-10, 2009, in Memphis, Tennessee.  The ABRF annual meeting has become one of the best-recognized forums to learn about biotechnology advances and applications from leaders in the field. 

The ABRF 2009 meeting will present the latest developments in life sciences technologies and the use of these technologies as shared research resources.  Life sciences core laboratory technical and operational issues will be addressed in discussion forums.  The conference will provide an opportunity to meet and network with colleagues, to interact with exhibiting vendors, to share technical advice, and to discuss the challenges and results of implementing shared research technologies.

There will be keynote presentations by outstanding leaders in genomics and proteomics.  There also will be a keynote presentation by a leader in the field of applying advanced biotechnology in evolutionary biology, in recognition that February 2009 will mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species.

Presentations will include studies carried out by the ABRF Research Groups. There will be Scientific Sessions and Technical Workshops on genomics, functional genomics, proteomics, imaging, and other technologies, including next generation sequencing, genotyping, microarrays, real-time PCR, proteomics and mass spectrometry, protein production and characterization, optical imaging, bioinformatics and bio-IT.  There will be Technical Workshops on operational and management issues facing life sciences core facility and biotechnology research laboratories.

The meeting will include both Scientific Research Poster Sessions and a Core Facility Poster Session.  The core facility session will be an opportunity for core facility directors to present posters describing the activities and services of their cores.  Poster presentations in pdf format will be made available after the meeting, on a website restricted to meeting participants.

Participants will be able to interact with a diverse array of vendors that will be exhibiting their products and services in the Exhibit Hall and presenting in Exhibitor Workshops.

Satellite workshops will be held on Feb 7th, before the main conference.  Satellite Educational Workshops will cover genomics and proteomics technologies, including next generation sequencing, proteomics instrumentation, HPLC theory and practice, recombinant proteins, and proteome informatics.  There will be a Satellite Workshop of the National Network of IDeA-Funded Core Laboratories (NICL).  There will also be tours of core facilities at nearby institutions on Feb. 7th, before the main conference starts.

ABRF 2009 will kick off with an evening Welcome Reception on Saturday, Feb. 7th.  There will be an evening Closing Social on Tuesday, Feb. 10th.

We look forward to seeing you at the ABRF 2009 meeting!