The 14th International BMP Conference
At the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
May 2nd (Fri) —
May 6th (Tues) 2025
Welcome
A letter from the co-chairs
Dear Colleagues,
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 14th International Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) Conference, held at the University of Pennsylvania's Smilow Center for Translational Research in Philadelphia, PA. This Conference gathers outstanding scientists from around the world to present diverse, cutting edge, and forward-thinking research directed towards the fundamental roles of BMPs in the physiology and pathophysiology of multiple organ systems. The 14th BMP Conference 2025 will provide an opportunity for all participants to learn and discuss together the latest research advances in the field, to renew old and establish new scientific connections, and to engage with and provide young researchers with career development opportunities.
We look forward to seeing you this Spring!
Eileen M. Shore. PhD
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Genetics at University of Pennsylvania
Cali and Weldon Research Professor for FOP Research
Co-Director, Center for Research in FOP and Related Disorders
Departments: Orthopaedic Surgery and Genetics
Graduate Group Affiliations: Cell and Molecular Biology, Bioengineering
Research Interests:
Genetic regulation of cell differentiation and tissue development through investigations of rare human genetic diseases of extra-skeletal bone formation.
Mary C. Mullins, PhD
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at University of Pennsylvania
Vice-Chair for Faculty Development & Affairs, Cell and Developmental Biology
Assistant Dean for Junior Faculty Advancement
Department: Cell and Developmental Biology
Graduate Group Affiliations: Cell and Molecular Biology
Research Interests:
BMP signal transduction; molecular mechanisms of cell specification and maternal control in vertebrates.
![M Pacifici photo[UPDATED]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bb759b_431204def0114e3f91538038cc54354a~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_104,y_38,w_393,h_524/fill/w_238,h_317,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/M%20Pacifici%20photo%5BUPDATED%5D_edited.jpg)
Maurizio Pacifici, PhD
Director of Research, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at CHOP
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at University of Pennsylvania
Department: Surgery
Research Interests:
Mechanisms of skeletal development and growth in fetal and postnatal life; identifying the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate the differentiation of progenitor cells and permit assembly of distinct skeletal structures; aberrations of these mechanisms in pediatric skeletal disorders.
General Information
The 14th International BMP Conference
University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Friday May 2nd to Tuesday May 6th, 2025
Venue:
Smilow Center for Translational Research
3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
Administrative Contacts:
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
412 Curie Blvd, Suite 1150
Philadelphia, PA, 19104
Ursula Avallone, Financial Coordinator
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Email: ursula.avallone@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Leah Duff, Administrative Assistant
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Confirmed Speakers
(Additional speakers will be chosen from submitted abstracts)
Schedule
Note: This is a tentative outline and subject to change
Definitive Schedule To Be Announced
Day 1: Friday, May 2
Check-in and arrival time: 3:00 PM
Session 1: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Opening Reception: 6:15 - 7:30 PM
Day 2: Saturday, May 3
Session 2: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Coffee break: 10:30 - 11:00 AM
Session 3: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch: 12:30 - 1:30 PM
Session 4: 1:30 - 3:00 PM
Coffee break: 3:00 - 3:30 PM
Session 5: 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Poster Session: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Day 3: Sunday, May 4
Session 6: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Coffee break: 10:30 - 11:00 AM
Session 7: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch and Professional Development Speed Training: 12:30 - 2:30 PM
Free time: 2:30 - 3:30 PM
Session 8: 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Poster Session: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Day 4: Monday, May 5
Session 9: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Coffee break: 10:30 - 11:00 AM
Session 10: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch: 12:30 - 1:30 PM
Session 11: 1:30 - 3:00 PM
Coffee break: 3:00 - 3:30 PM
Session 12: 3:30 - 5:00 PM
Penn Museum Tour & Banquet: 5:30 - 9:30 PM
Day 5: Tuesday, May 6
Session 13: 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Coffee break: 10:30 - 11:00 AM
Session 14: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch: 12:30 - 1:30
Registration
and
Abstract Submission
(Speakers do not need to register)
After registering, an email will be sent with a link to the abstract submission form
Oral presentation abstract submissions deadline: February 15th, 2025
Abstracts submitted after this deadline will be considered for poster presentations only, until April 2nd.
Financial Awards
Applications for financial awards are closed
Thank you for your interest! We will reach out to awardees with any changes or durther information.
Accommodations
The Sheraton at University City
The hotel block at University City Sheraton Hotel for a discounted rate is closed.
To book at the regular rate, click below
3549 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 19104
Telephone: +1 215-387-8000
The Study at University City
The Study is a similar hotel to the Sheraton, within walking distance of University City. To book at the regular rate, click below
20 S. 33rd Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 19104
Telephone: +1 215-387-1400
Homewood Suites by Hilton
The Homewood Suites is a similar hotel to the Sheraton, within convenient public transit distance or moderate walking distance of University City. To book at the regular rate, click below
4109 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 19104
Telephone: +1 215-382-1111
Travel to Philadelphia
The nearest airport to this event is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Alternative airports include Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey and the Baltimore/ Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). Both airports connect to Amtrak trains leading to Philadelphia.
Within the US, Philadelphia can be easily reached through Amtrak Northeast Corridor Trains, including stations in Boston, New York, Baltimore, Washington DC, and more.
The nearest Amtrak station to University of Pennsylvania is The William H. Gray III 30th Street Train Station, which is handicap accessible. It is also an access point to local travel including regional rail, buses, and trolleys (see below).
Travel within Philadelphia by Public Transit
The Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, runs public transit within the Greater Philadelphia Area. SEPTA buses and trolleys are paid for with either cash, tap-to-pay credit card, or SEPTA key card, which can be acquired at kiosks in large transit stops. SEPTA trains and subways at stations without turnstile gates can be paid for with cash, credit card, or key card. SEPTA trains and subways at stations WITH turnstile gates must be paid for with key card, and will have kiosks available to buy one. There is also a reduced rate on all rides for paying with a key card.
All SEPTA buses are handicap accessible. The Route 42, Route 30, Route 49, and LUCY Gold Loop buses stop on Civic Center Boulevard near the handicap-accessible front entrance to the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine (PCAM) building where Smilow Center for Translational Research (SCTR) is located.
Penn Medicine Train Station, located directly behind the PCAM building, is handicap accessible and connects to the Airport, Media/Wawa, and Wilmington/Newark regional rail lines. All trains inbound to Center City Philadelphia from the PHL airport stop here and at the William H. Gray 30th Street Train Station.
The William H. Gray III 30th Street Train Station serves as the access point to all nearby regional rail lines, is handicap accessible, and is accessible by bus via the 42, 49, and LUCY Gold Loop routes. All trains inbound to Center City Philadelphia from Penn Medicine Station stop here.
37th Street is the nearest trolly stop to SCTR, accessing the Route 11, 13, 34, and 36 trolleys. SEPTA trolleys are NOT handicap-accessible.
Drexel Station at 30th Street is the nearest handicap-accessible subway stop, connecting to the Market-Frankford Line (MFL). This station is near the LUCY Gold Loop bus route.
Access to Smilow Center for Translational Research (SCTR)
During weekday business hours, handicap-accessible entrances are available at both the front entrance of the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine (PCAM) building on Civic Center Boulevard, and the west entrance to SCTR on East Service Road.
After business hours and on weekends, the only entrance is the front entrance of the PCAM building on Civic Center Boulevard.
You can find a PDF Map guiding you through the PCAM lobby to SCTR at the link below.
Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities
We make every effort to identify and support participation of women scientists, individuals from underrepresented groups in science, and those with disabilities. We strongly encourage those with disabilities and those from underrepresented groups in science to apply to participate in this meeting. Financial awards may be available (contingent on funding) and we encourage underrepresented groups and those with financial need to apply for them once available. Inclusivity brings in diverse perspectives from a variety of backgrounds. Decades of research shows that diversity in science is demonstrated to significantly advance our scientific mission. We believe that being inclusive bolsters the interest and value of this conference.
History
The International BMP Conferences were established by Hari Reddi in 1994 at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore. The forum for the event fosters close interactions between scientists from different fields, which has mediated the formation of a close-knit community and many international and interdisciplinary collaborations. To promote further international exchange and a successive expansion of the BMP research community, the organizing committee decided in 2000 to rotate the event between the United States and an international venue. International BMP Conferences since then have been hosted on three continents and in four different countries.
1994 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA (Organizer: Hari Reddi), in honor of M. Urist’s 80th Birthday
1997 University of California Davis, Sacramento, USA (Organizer: Hari Reddi)
2000 Lake Tahoe, California, USA (Organizer: Hari Reddi)
2002 4th International BMP Conference; University of California Davis, Sacramento, USA (Organizer: Hari Reddi)
2004 5th International BMP Conference; Nagoya, Japan, (Organizer: Hisashi Iwata)
2006 6th International BMP Conference; Cavtat/Dubrovnik, Croatia (Organizer: Slobodan Vukicevic)
2008 7th International BMP Conference; Lake Tahoe, California, USA (Organizer: Hari Reddi, John Wozney, Kuber Sampath)
2010 8th International BMP Conference; Leuven, Belgium (Organizer: Frank Luyten, Danny Huylebroeck)
2012 9th International BMP Conference; Lake Tahoe, California, USA (Organizer: Hari Reddi)
2016 11th International BMP Conference; Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Organizer: Vicki Rosen)
2018 12th International BMP Conference; Tokyo, Japan (Organizer: Kohei Miyazono)
2022 13th International BMP Conference; Dubrovnik, Croatia (Organizer: Slobodan Vukicevic)
Our Sponsors
Platinum Sponsorship
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Gold Sponsorship
With support from the University Research Foundation at the University of Pennsylvania
Silver Sponsorship
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Bronze Sponsorship
Sponsor Information
Platinum Sponsorship $10,000+
Sponsor logo featured on conference slideshow
Sponsor content featured in program booklet
Linked sponsor logo on conference website
Sponsor materials distributed at conference
One complimentary conference admission
Sponsor-branded tabletop display at conference
Gold Sponsorship $5000+
Sponsor logo featured on conference slideshow
Sponsor content featured in program booklet
Linked sponsor logo on conference website
Sponsor materials distributed at conference
50% discount on one conference admission
Silver Sponsorship $2000+
Sponsor logo featured on conference slideshow
Sponsor content featured in program booklet
Linked sponsor logo on conference website
Sponsor materials distributed at conference
Bronze Sponsorship $500+
Sponsor logo featured on conference slideshow
Sponsor content featured in program booklet
Linked sponsor logo on conference website
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, or to discuss special sponsorship requests, contact ursula.avallone@pennmedicine.upenn.edu or leah.duff@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Things to Do in Philadelphia
Museums
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Pictured here, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is a cultural touchstone for our city. Highlights of the current collection include Monet, Van Gogh, Xu Wei, Warhol, and more historical collections from cultures all over the world, as well as contemporary art.
Independence
Hall & the Liberty Bell Center
A UNESCO world heritage site, Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Liberty Bell Center — a National Park — is right across the street from it.
Philadelphia Magic Gardens
The Magic Gardens, created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar in 2008, are an immersive mixed media art installation open to the public and focused on outreach through art.
Mutter Museum
A fascinating and occasionally macabre collection of medical history, the Mutter Museum began with the contributions of Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter in 1863.
Barnes Foundation
The Barnes Foundation's atypical take on an art museum setting puts control of your tour experience in your hands through the convenience of your smartphone.
Local Events
Fairmount Park
Following the banks of the Schuykill River, Fairmount Park offers over 2,000 acres of waterfront trails and plenty of seasonal events. The Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center makes its home in West Fairmount park, offering a beautiful tour of the traditional house and gardens.
Reading Terminal Market
Home to over 75 local business and hosting a worldwide variety of cultures and cuisines, the Reading Terminal Market is a fantastic food destination. You can also find a wide variety of unique regional souvenirs.
