Conference Summary
2007 International Gap Junction
Helsingor, Denmark

Nathanael Heyman
Physiological Sciences

Travelling to the 2007 International Gap Junction Conference in Helsingor, Denmark proved to be a very successful, positive, and enjoyable experience in a number of ways. Professionally, this was an excellent experience. I was able to make a presentation of some of my dissertation work in a session on gap junction channel and function. The session was well-attended and my presentation on the selectivity of Cx43 gap junction channels and a technique I have developed for measuring gap junction selectivity as part of my dissertation work in physiological sciences was very well received. I was able to have several very interesting and fruitful discussions with different members of the gap junction research community. One of these discussions with Dr. Ross Johnson from the University of Minnesota has resulted in a plan to submit a manuscript on a collaboration between our labs on hemichannel selectivity. Another discussion resulted in another colleague being willing to send a cell line to our lab to test, which should be very helpful for a manuscript I am currently working on. In addition to these and other tangible benefits from being able to attend the conference, the trip was a very positive life experience for a number of other reasons. I was afforded the opportunity to travel to Europe for the first time and to further develop relationships with my mentor and other members of our lab as well as to develop relationships with other members of the scientific community, which could provide valuable connections in the years to come as I continue to pursue a career in scientific research. Overall, my trip to Helsingor, Denmark to present my work at the Gap Junction Conference was an excellent, enjoyable, and productive experience both professionally and personally and I am grateful for having had this wonderful opportunity.