Cells universally rely on faithful genome duplication and maintenance for propagation and survival. Although frequently considered as independent systems or events, in recent years it has become clear that three of the most fundamental processes that support chromosome integrity and cell proliferation – DNA replication, repair, and recombination – are highly interconnected. 

    At present, how these connections are manifest and controlled at a molecular level is not understood. Although significant advances have been made in identifying and understanding many of the machineries that govern these transactions, our knowledge of their fundamental molecular mechanisms is likewise incomplete. Aberrant replicative and repair-based processes have been firmly linked to biomedical problems such as mutation, tumorigenesis and numerous inherited diseases. Nonetheless, our understanding of how such detrimental phenotypes arise is still quite limited. 

     This meeting aims to bring together scientists working at the forefront of DNA replication, recombination and repair under one umbrella. Topic sessions have been selected to delve into the interconnections between these fields in great detail, while at the same time highlighting the basic operating principles that link together the structure, function, and regulation of multiple systems that support chromosome viability and transmission. Talks at this meeting will describe the field’s most recent efforts to uncover new concepts in molecular function and cellular control, and to discover new proteins, interactions, and processes that can serve as targets both for understanding the genetic basis for disease (notably cancer) and for therapeutic intervention. Example topics include probing how replication forks respond to different types of DNA damage events, how DNA repair enzymes interface with the replisome and decide how best to mend a particular lesion, how recombination and other repair systems are used to heal and restart stalled forks, and how the telomeric ends of chromosomes are both replicated and play key roles in managing chromosome stability. 

     Opportunities for interdisciplinary interactions will be significantly enhanced by the concurrent meeting on Genomic Instability and DNA Repair, which will share a keynote address and two plenary sessions with this meeting.