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Steamboat Springs — Hundreds of the world's brightest scientists are gathering in Steamboat Springs today to begin a series of discussions about the most important medical and scientific issues facing the United States.

The 36th annual Keystone Symposia is a conference series that will bring more than 4,600 international biomedical and life scientists to Summit and Routt counties to participate in the yearlong series.

Phillippa Kassover, director of development and communications for Keystone Symposia, said the series kicks off today at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort with a discussion about new research and its role in cell signaling in immune disorders and cancer development.

Other series topics include diabetes, obesity, cardiac disease, stem cells, cancer and immune disorders.

"Every year, the (Symposia) brings together scientists from the academia, governmental laboratories and the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries to discuss new research that benefits all of us," Kassover said.

About 50 Keystone Symposia meetings will be held in 2007 at Colorado and Canadian resorts towns such as Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain. Each meeting draws between 150 and 500 scientists, graduate students or post-doctoral trainees.

Kassover said the second meeting in Steamboat Springs is from March 27 to April 1. That meeting will discuss metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk.

"We've been coming to Steamboat for some time over the years," she said. "The attendees really enjoy the comfort of staying in Steamboat and, of course, when they get some time off, hitting the slopes."

The series is open to the public, but registration is about $725 a person. The discussions are intended mostly for "serious scientists," Kassover said.