Welcome to the OddPols 2021 event web site!

Due to coronavirus postponement of the 2020 OddPols conference in Denver, the Organizing Committee has rescheduled it as a virtual conference held 6 hours per day June 14-18, 2021. Recent OddPols conferences have focused on transcription and regulation mechanisms for eukaryal nuclear RNA polymerases I, III, IV, and V. In 2021 the organizers want to also welcome to this conversation investigators working with archaeal, mitochondrial and chloroplast transcription systems. The conference will also serve as the basis of a special issue of peer-reviewed and edited papers in GENE. Information on submitting papers after the conference related to your presentation are given here.
Throughout its thirty year history this friendly, interactive conference has led to many productive collaborations (and friendships) and we are excited by this expansion of the community!

click to add to your calendar ← Save the date: June 14 – 18, 2021; Denver, Colorado

OddPols 2021 Virtual Schedule

Click here for the PDF of the virtual schedule.

OddPols 2021 Awards Recipients

OddPols 2021 Registration Information


Link for Registration


The standard registration fee for the OddPols 2021 conference will be $60 (US).

Payment by credit card is preferred. If necessary, a check can be made out to “University of Colorado Denver” and sent to:
Graduate School
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
ATTN: Betty Downes
13001 E 17th Place, Mail Stop C296
Aurora, CO 80045

Registration will close after June 4, 2021.

Information for Zoom Participation

OddPols 2021 will be entirely virtual using the Zoom platform. We recommend that you have a current version (ZOOM VERSION 5.3.0 OR LATER REQUIRED) of the Zoom program, which can be downloaded for free at this link (select "Zoom Client for Meetings"). If you are not an experienced Zoom user we recommend that you go through the tutorial.

Registered Attendees will be e-mailed a link to the conference along with a password for additional security. There will not be a “waiting room” attendees can sign into the conference up to 15 minutes before the start of the first session (7 AM Mountain Daylight Time, US). Each day of the conference (June 14-18) will have an initial 60 minutes of 12 minute plenary talks, the next 60 minutes of “3 Minute Talks”, a 60 minute Break, and two more 60 minute sessions of 12 minute or 8 minute talks. An optional 6th hour each day will be devoted to socializing or additional talks, depending on the number of abstracts submitted. The main Zoom link will remain open all 6 hours each day, as will 30-32 additional Zoom links for conversation. The links for the conversation Zooms will be sent to attendees along with the main conference Zoom link before the conference.

Guidance for Participation (pdf)
Guidance for Presenters (pdf)


Lodging

For our visitors from outside the Denver metro area, we will have room blocks at a special rate at Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center if you indicate you are with the OddPols group. Attendees are responsible for making their own reservations and paying the hotel directly (not included in registration). We strongly urge you to use the dedicated web site (link coming soon) for the OddPols rooms and to book your room(s). Note that the default dates will be set from June 16 to June 20 (4 nights), but you can reset the dates to come earlier or later or leave earlier or later. The Hyatt Regency is across the street from the Anschutz Medical Campus where the bulk of the meeting will take place.
The Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center is halfway between Downtown Denver and Denver International Airport. From the airport, conference visitors can take the A-Line Light Rail to Peoria Street Station where a complimentary shuttle will pick them up. The shuttle departs the Hyatt property half past every hour, from 6:30 AM through 10:30 PM. Visitors traveling from Denver International Airport to the Peoria Street Station on the A-Line rail should call the hotel (303-365-1234) once aboard the train to confirm pickup. Please visit the Hyatt parking and transportation website for additional information.

Venues

The Fulginiti Pavilion for Bioethics and Humanities

The Fulginiti Pavilion for Bioethics and Humanities is situated at the north end of the Boettcher Commons, and the centerpiece of the facility is the Gossard Forum​, a unique in-the-round auditorium seating 140. The Forum is a specialized space to elevate and encourage deliberation of the most pressing moral healthcare issues we face, both within our campus community, as well with our regional and national communities.
The Gossard Forum provides an intimate setting which is not oriented to a single individual. Instead this space is designed to be equally oriented for all participants, and encourage active discussion.
Fulginiti Pavilion at Dusk
Fulginiti Pavilion at Dusk
Fulginiti Pavilion Quad
Fulginiti Pavilion Quad
Fulginiti Pavilion Gossard Forum
Fulginiti Pavilion Gossard Forum
Fulginiti Pavilion Walkway
Fulginiti Pavilion Walkway

The Denver Museum of of Nature & Science

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is a municipal natural history and science museum in Denver, Colorado. It is a resource for informal science education in the Rocky Mountain region. A variety of exhibitions, programs, and activities help museum visitors learn about the natural history of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The 716,000-square-foot (66,519 m2) building houses more than one million objects in its collections including natural history and anthropological materials, as well as archival and library resources.
The Closing Banquet will be held in the Leprino Family Atrium on June 20th. The atrium covers three levels, and has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook City Park's rose garden, Ferrell Lake, and the City Park Boathouse. There is also a Level 4 open air terrace that provides spectacular views of Denver's skyline and the Rocky Mountains.
Grizzly's Last Stand at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Grizzly's Last Stand at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Photo Courtesy of the DMNS.
Denver skyline from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Denver skyline from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Photo courtesy of designsbykari / CC BY 2.0.
Leonardo da Vinci: 500 Years of Genius exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Leonardo da Vinci: 500 Years of Genius exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Photo courtesy of Grande Exhibitions.

Abstract Submission

Abstract Submission – OddPols 2021

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS NOW CLOSED.



Every effort will be made by the organizers to offer at least one plenary oral presentation (12-15 minutes, depending on requests) to each research group interested in a talk, plus up to 60 “3 Minute Talk” presentations. All abstracts for 12 minute or 3 minute talks must be submitted by midnight April 15, 2021, New York time to be included in the meeting abstract PDF. This deadline is necessary to allow the Organizing Committee to decide on sessions and sort the abstracts before creating the schedule.

Abstracts should follow the format of the attached sample and only be submitted as a pdf file (see below). The title should be bold, the presenting author should be indicated with an asterisk, and the director of the research group should be underlined. Margins should be 1” (2.5 cm) on all sides and the font should be Helvetica or Arial 12 point. Any citations or figures should be below the text of the abstract but must fit within the one page and margin maxima.

There are two attached files, a form that must be submitted with the abstract and a sample pdf abstract.
Please submit both the form and your abstract in the same e-mail to david.engelke@ucdenver.edu before the end of day, April 15, 2021. The abstract will be considered by the Organizing Committee for assignment to a 12 or 3 minute presentation once the presenting author has registered (due before April 15, 2021). In the abstract submission form, please provide a preliminary indication of what area is most appropriate for the work:

Possible oral session subjects (non-exhaustive, with all systems intertwined)
- Structure and Function of OddPols and Transcription machinery
- Regulation of transcription – activators and repressors
- Regulation of transcription – elongation and termination
- Chromatin and transcription, including gene silencing
- Transcription related to genome organization and nuclear structures
- OddPols in development, genetic disorders, cancer and disease
- Oddpols links to physiology, aging, and beyond.

Denver, Colorado

Welcome To The Mile High City

Welcome to Denver where 300 days of sunshine, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods and natural beauty combine for the world's most spectacular playground.

Explore Denver via the VISIT DENVER Website

Arts & Culture

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Discover Denver's thriving arts and culture scene, from world-class museums to unique art districts.

Spring & Summer in Denver

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Denver comes to life in the spring and summer. Whether you're planning for Pride Fest or looking for free things to do in the summer, VISIT DENVER can be a great resource. Browse the articles below to learn about Denver summer and spring activities.

Attractions

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From downtown amusement parks to fascinating museums, Denver's attractions deliver unique and unforgettable experiences.

Sports & Recreation

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The Mile High City is an outdoor adventure and pro sports paradise. Get out and enjoy! Find local hikes, excursions, parks, sporting events and other Denver recreation adventures. Get outdoors and start sightseeing!

Music & Nightlife

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The Denver music and nightlife scene is scorching. On any given night, you'll find local and national artists playing a vast array of genres in clubs throughout the metro area. From the chic lounges and happening hotspots in Larimer Square and LoDo to the pulsating dance floors of the South of Colfax Nightlife District, The Mile High City knows how to let its hair down and party in style.

Denver Restaurants

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From Food & Wine to The New York Times, Denver's reputation for fine dining has risen enormously in recent years, thanks to award-winning chefs, innovative chef-owned eateries and a focus on locally sourced cuisine. Denver chefs are regulars on the Food Network, the Travel Channel and such shows as "Top Chef." Many Mile High City kitchen wizards make frequent cooking appearances at the famed James Beard House in New York City.

Day Trips & Around Colorado

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Denver has one of the world's most stunning backyards: the majestic Rockies and everything that Colorado has to offer. The Mile High City is the gateway to amazing locations, just waiting for you to explore. Browse the best day trips from Denver, Colorado.

Book a Tour

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From self-guided walking tours to day-long excursions to the Rocky Mountains, explore the best Denver Tours showcasing The Mile High City.

Organizing Committee

Dave Engelke, University of Colorado

Craig Cameron, University of North Carolina

Olivier Gadal, CNRS, CBI, Toulouse

Ross Hannan, Australian National University

Rich Maraia, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda

Cristoph Müller, EMBL, Heidelberg

Craig Pikaard, Indiana University

Astrid Roy-Engel, Tulane University

Tom Santangelo, Colorado State University

David Schneider, University of Alabama

Linda Van Dyk, University of Colorado

Alessandro Vannini, Institute Cancer Research, London

Finn Werner, University College, London

CU Denver/Anschutz Graduate School Banner

Sponsorships

There are multiple ways to participate in and provide sponsorship for the meeting that are not mutually exclusive:

  1. register for the conference ($60).
  2. sponsorship options are provided on the Registration site using credit card or check.
    1. sponsor a Zoom breakout room during the “3 Minute Talk”/discussion breakout sessions ($100).
    2. sponsor the conference in which case you will be listed in the slide introductions to the conference and the sponsors’ acknowledgements in the conference program.
      Minimum for conference sponsorship will be $200. Please send us a logo for use on the web site and printed agendas.

For the two sponsorship options, please contact David Engelke (david.engelke@ucdenver.edu) and register your sponsorship at the provided links before the end of February, 2021.


Please let us know if you would like to sponsor this conference!


Initial funding to allow organization of the OddPols 2021 conference has been provided by the following organizations:

Additional funding generously provided by:

Participants

Coming soon.

Call for Summations and Papers

The OddPols 2021 meeting will be the basis for a Special Edition issue of the journal GENE, edited by Astrid Engel.

  1. If you would like your presentation to be included (optional) and summarized accurately in the meeting report, please send the Title, Authors, and a short (100‐200 word) summary to Astrid by July 15, 2021. We understand that the abstract in the book will not always accurately reflect the final detail in your actual presentation or that you may not wish to include some scientific details of unpublished work.
  2. If you would like to publish an original research paper in this volume related to your presentation (though not necessarily identical), please submit your manuscript to Gene (http://www.journals.elsevier.com/gene/) by July 15, 2021, along with suggestions for appropriate reviewers. When submitting be sure to select under “choose article type” the option for the special issue (SI OddPols 2021: International Conference on Transcription Mechanism and Regulation). Similarly, short communications and long or short review articles on the topic, as well as, methodology reports are encouraged and desired, though it would be best to check with Astrid as to the topic beforehand to avoid substantial overlap.
    For examples, see the 2012 and 2014 Special edition http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03781119/526/1 and Details on format can be found here: However, if you have any questions feel free to contact Astrid (aengel@tulane.edu).