Gordon Research Conferences

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-06

The 2026 Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) is being held at the Les Diablerets Conference Center in Switzerland on June 20-21, 2026. This will be the sixth of a series of biannual conferences primarily attended by graduate students and postdocs. This seminar will bring together trainees from a wide range of disciplines to discuss current directions in the IDP field, as well as examine the interdisciplinary experimental, conceptual and quantitative demands of contemporary IDP research. The GRS provides an ideal setting to facilitate international and interdisciplinary collaboration. It will also provide key networking opportunities, as well as allowing a range of different perspectives to be discussed and compared - a key aspect for such a broad field. The 2026 IDP GRS is focused on quantitative approaches and biology of intrinsically disordered proteins. The GRS program features three formal sessions, one featuring a keynote speaker and two trainee-led sessions curated from abstract-selected talks. The three scientific oral presentation sessions highlight contemporary questions in the IDP field that have emerged from these cross-disciplinary conversations. There are also two poster sessions and a mentorship panel covering academic funding acquisition. The meeting will feature up to 80 participants. The three thematic pillars are: (i) quantifying conformational dynamics and linking ensembles to function (keynote by Prof. Hagen Hofmann); (ii) integrating quantitative experiments with theory and molecular simulation to derive predictive mechanistic insight; and (iii) connecting molecular-scale principles to cellular assemblies and condensates that drive emergent biological behavior. The final session of the GRS is reserved for a mentoring panel where trainees can freely ask questions and engage in open discussion with a select group of faculty members. This panel is designed to help trainees better understand the grantsmanship process across career stages. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-06

This award will support the 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Seminar (GRS) on “Cytoskeletal Motors” to be held July 11–17, 2026 at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine. This meeting will be attended by graduate students, postdocs, and junior and senior faculty researchers from broad-ranging disciplines to discuss and advance our understanding of all aspects of the motor proteins that move everything from mitochondria to chromosomes within cells and that help determine cell shape. The interactions of physiologists, biochemists, and cell biologists will increase our understanding of how these motors in healthy cells and organisms from fungi through humans maintain normal cellular function. Knowledge of these processes will advance the bioeconomy through greater understanding of the role of these proteins in maintaining cell health. At the meeting, senior scientists will engage with and train junior scientists. This engagement is a priority of the conference and especially the seminar, through talks and poster sessions that allow participants to present and discuss their research. This meeting will be attended by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and senior researchers to discuss our understanding of all aspects of motor proteins that bind to cytoskeletal elements. Sessions will focus on recent advances in such topics as “Active Roles for Filament Tracks,” “Biophysics of motors and mechanobiology,” “Mechanisms of Motor Regulation,” and the “Emergent Physics of Motor-Filament Systems,” as well as one session on “When Motors Go Awry: Motors in Disease.” In addition to formal talks, engagement will be facilitated by poster sessions to stimulate interactions between researchers. NSF support will be used to defray registration costs for junior scientists and trainees, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career investigators, as well as limited travel costs for trainees. This award is funded by the Cells, Development, and Physiology Section in the Directorate for Biological Sciences. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-06

The Immunochemistry and Immunobiology Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will be held June 27 – July 3, 2026, in Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain. This biennial conference has been held since 1966 and serves as a leading international forum for presenting and discussing cutting-edge, unpublished research in immunology. The conference brings together scientists from diverse subfields to explore how immune responses are orchestrated across tissues and disease states. The theme of the 2026 Immunochemistry and Immunobiology GRC will be “Immune Circuits in Tissues: From Homeostasis to Disease.” The meeting will feature sessions on the integration of innate and adaptive immunity, mechanisms of inflammation, resolution and repair, and the interplay between immune cells and tissue-specific cues such as neural input, mechanosensing and metabolism. Specific topics will include mucosal and neuro-immune interactions, infection biology, cancer immunology, and immunometabolism. Talks will highlight a range of approaches, including molecular, cellular, and systems immunology, to advance both conceptual and translational insights. Invited speakers in main sessions include both established and early career scientists. In keeping with GRC tradition, all presentations will include ample time for in-depth discussion and poster sessions will provide opportunities for trainees to present their work. More than 100 posters are expected to be presented in non-overlapping sessions, and selected abstracts will be invited for short talks. Flash talks will enable the introduction to poster presentations to all attendees. Afternoon free time and meals will foster informal scientific exchange and networking. A Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will take place immediately before the GRC (June 27–28, 2026), organized and chaired by trainees. The GRS will provide a platform for graduate students, postdocs, and other early-career scientists to share research and build community. The 2026 Immunochemistry and Immunobiology GRC and GRS will serve as a vital nexus for scientific exchange, providing a collaborative and supportive environment to advance understanding of immune regulation in health and disease and to empower the next generation of immunologists.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-06

PROJECT SUMMARY The 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Immunometabolism in Health and Disease will take place from June 13–19, 2026, at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine. This will be the third GRC dedicated to the rapidly evolving field of immunometabolism, a cutting-edge, emerging field in immunology which explores how cellular metabolism intersects with immune function in both health and disease. Metabolism has emerged as both a key mechanistic driver and therapeutic target in immune-mediated conditions including infection, allergy, autoimmunity, cancer, obesity, and atherosclerosis. The recognition that nutrient and bioenergetic pathways are reprogrammed during immune responses and repurposed to shape immune function has transformed the field and underscored the need for high-level scientific exchange. The Immunometabolism GRC provides an international forum for the presentation of cutting-edge, unpublished research, with a strong emphasis on extended discussion and informal interactions that foster collaboration across career stages. The conference will examine how nutrient availability, tissue microenvironments, and systemic signals influence immune cell function, bridging fundamental discovery with translational insights into immunotherapy, metabolic disease, infection, and inflammation. The five-day meeting will begin with a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) organized by and focused on trainees and early-stage investigators, featuring scientific presentations and career development opportunities. The main GRC program will include nine oral sessions designed to promote dialogue among established and emerging leaders in the field of immunometabolism, with each session featuring invited speakers and short talks selected from submitted abstracts. The planned sessions are as follows: Session 1 – Foundational Pathways in Immune Cell Metabolism. Session 2 – Nutrient Utilization and Immune Cell Specialization. Session 3 – Lipid Metabolism and Immune Modulation. Session 4 – Obesity, Nutritional Cues, and Immune Regulation. Session 5 – Adaptive Immunity and Tumor Metabolism. Session 6 – Myeloid Cell Metabolism and Inflammation. Session 7 – Aging, Immunosenescence, and Cognitive Decline. Session 8 – ER Stress, Inflammatory Signaling, and Systemic Disease. Session 9 – Host-Pathogen and Environmental Interactions. Additional poster sessions, communal meals, and unstructured afternoon time will provide rich opportunities for informal networking and mentorship. The Specific Aims of the conference are to present novel science, discuss unresolved questions, identify and prioritize unmet needs, stimulate new collaborations, and provide a welcoming platform for early-career investigators to share their work and engage with the broader community. The meeting will be Chaired by Dr. Nancie MacIver, with Vice Chairs Drs. Barbara Nikolajczyk and Russell Jones. Altogether, the 2026 Immunometabolism GRC will advance the frontiers of immunology and metabolism while fostering new connections and research directions that will ultimately improve human health.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-06

Project Summary Over the past decade, advances in early detection and diagnosis have begun to reveal the vast complexity of the primary etiologies that drive pathogenic cardiac remodeling and result in end-stage heart disease, an enduring health burden in the United States and throughout the world. While current treatments focus on the late stages of disease, where morphology, function and outcomes are often highly similar, there is growing evidence that improving patient care and management will require coupling early diagnoses to specific, targeted therapies that alter the natural history of these progressive and often devastating disorders. The development of these targeted therapies will require new ideas, new methodologies, and new collaborations between basic and clinical scientists from disparate fields of cardiovascular research. The 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Cardiac Regulatory Mechanisms is the premier conference centered on the fundamental, basic mechanisms that control normal cardiac function and how these systems are altered in the context of pathogenic processes, resulting in a broad range of cardiovascular disease states. The 2026 GRC and its integrated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) is organized by and for early career scientists and will focus on how the discovery of fundamental molecular processes, mediated in part by inter-organ crosstalk, can be leveraged for therapeutic intervention for cardiac disease, hence the subtitle “Molecular and Systems Biology Approaches to Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure”. The subjects included in the program cover the latest advances in understanding cardiac function and dysfunction in the areas of heart failure, cardiac regeneration, inflammation, inter-organ crosstalk, electrical remodeling, metabolic regulation, and cytoskeletal structural dynamics. The main objectives of the GRC/GRS are 1) to disseminate the latest information and technological advances in Cardiac Regulatory Mechanisms pertinent to novel therapeutic interventions for heart disease; 2) to engage, motivate, and mentor the next generation of basic and physician-scientists in cardiovascular research and 3) to stimulate collaboration and multidisciplinary communication in the environment unique to the Gordon Research Conferences, which features rigorous discussions of unpublished, controversial, or paradigm–challenging data.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-06

PROJECT SUMMARY The 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Optics and Photonics in Medicine and Biology (OPMB) continues the nearly six-decade tradition of inspiring and educating current and future generations of interdisciplinary scientists, engineers, and clinicians. This conference, which began in 1965, has consistently received among the highest satisfaction ratings of all GRC meetings and is widely regarded as of of the premiere forums for fostering creative research and generating new ideas in biophotonics – the science and engineering of light, lasers, and optical technologies applied to medicine and biology. The primary objective of the 2026 meeting is to bring together researchers from academia, clinical institutions, national laboratories, and industry to advance the use of light, lasers, and optical technologies in both fundamental biological discovery and clinical care. The 2026 theme, “From Enabling Technologies to Clinical Applications: Advancing Science and Medicine with Light”, captures the breadth of this bench-to-bedside continuum. Specific aims are to: (1) foster scientific exchange among researchers at the cutting edge of biophotonics; (2) integrate fundamental discovery, technological innovation, and applications ranging from basic biology and biophysics to clinical translation; and (3) strengthen and renew the international biophotonics community by promoting personal interactions between junior and senior participants—including graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, early-career investigators, senior scientists, laboratory heads, industry representatives and government program leaders—in an informal, engaging environment. The program will ensure broad representation across disciplines, geography, career stages, and demographics. All speakers will be encouraged to present new, unpublished, and scientifically significant (and occasionally provocative) research in the “frontiers-of-science, off the record” GRC tradition. The intimate scale and immersive format provide unparallelled opportunities for networking and scientific discussion. To enhance trainee engagement, the meeting will be preceded by the successful Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on OPMB—a 1.5 day forum organized by and for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows (initiated in 2018). The conference aligns strongly with the NIH mission to advance knowledge in living systems, reduce disease, and improve health. This R13 proposal seeks support to offset registration and travel costs for graduate students, post-docs, and early-career investigators, thereby encouraging the participation and active engagement of the next generation of leaders in biophtotonics.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-06

Project Summary NIH supported research aims to advance our understanding of biological systems, improve the control of disease, and enhance health. It is well-recognized that connecting investigators with complementary expertise’s in fundamental cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, state of the art imaging with those developing avenues for the treatment of disease are essential to get effective advances. This grant proposal seeks support for the 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Lysosomes and Endocytosis, with a central theme of “Endosomes and Lysosomes in Action Across Cells, Tissues and Disease States”. As the field of Lysosomes and endocytosis evolves with increasing research in this aging related topics, the 2026 meeting will place an important emphasis on neurodegenerative disease, specifically Alzheimer Disease and related aging disorders. Exploring at the cellular, molecular and structural levels how defects in lysosomal and endocytic processes contribute to disease onset and progression are essential fundaments for therapeutical intervention. Endosomes and lysosomes are critical components of the endomembrane system, orchestrating essential cellular processes including cargo sorting, degradation, membrane trafficking, and signaling. Their coordinated activity ensures proper cellular homeostasis and adaptability across a wide range of cell types and tissue environments. Emerging evidence highlights their dynamic and context-dependent roles in development, immunity, metabolism, and cell fate determination. Notably, dysregulation of endo-lysosomal pathways is increasingly recognized as a central contributor to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancers, metabolic syndromes, and lysosomal storage diseases. The GRC will bring together internationally recognized experts and emerging scientists to present unpublished data, stimulate discussion, and develop new collaborations. The GRS, held prior to the main conference, will offer a focused environment for trainees and junior researchers to present their work and build professional networks to boost their careers.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-06

Project Summary – 2026 Hemostasis GRS and GRC We request partial support for the 2026 Hemostasis Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) and Gordon Research Conference (GRC), to be held August 1–7, 2026, in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. The 2026 meeting, titled “Integrative Mechanisms of Hemostasis in Health and Disease,” will be the 37th in this highly regarded series and continues its tradition as the premier forum for the presentation and discussion of cutting-edge research in hemostasis and thrombosis. This meeting directly supports two core NIH strategic priorities: (1) advancing the mechanistic understanding and clinical translation of therapies for thrombotic and bleeding disorders—including stroke, myocardial infarction, venous thromboembolism, and trauma-induced coagulopathy—and (2) cultivating a robust and knowledgeable biomedical research workforce. It also reflects the growing recognition that the hemostatic system plays critical roles beyond clot formation, including in inflammation, innate and adaptive immunity, cancer, obesity, and metabolic disease. The GRS and GRC bring together a multidisciplinary group of scientists: basic researchers focused on the biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics of platelets and coagulation factors; clinician-scientists treating bleeding and thrombotic diseases; pharmaceutical and biotechnology investigators developing new therapies; and a vibrant group of trainees and junior faculty. These participants engage in the open exchange of unpublished findings, engage in critical discussion, and foster collaborations that often lead to transformative discoveries. Many key advances in the field of hemostasis and thrombosis have debuted at past Hemostasis GRCs. A key strength of the GRS/GRC is its commitment to early-career development. The GRS, organized by trainees for trainees, offers a platform for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to present their work, gain feedback, and interact with senior scientists in a focused, mentoring-rich environment. The GRS also features a keynote lecture and professional development session to support the transition into independent research careers. Participation in the GRC further integrates these early-career investigators into the broader scientific community. The 2026 program will feature keynote lectures from two leading physician-scientists—Dr. Barry Coller, who studies molecular therapies for thrombotic diseases, and Dr. Mitchell Kornblith, a trauma surgeon applying multiomic approaches to platelet dysfunction in traumatic brain injury. The GRC will include 39 invited talks and eight scientific sessions spanning mechanistic and translational topics, including: endothelial resistance to thrombosis, platelet proteomics, thromboinflammatory signaling, vascular-immune crosstalk, and systems-level regulation of hemostasis. In addition, four poster sessions and the highly successful “Hot Topics” session will spotlight short talks from eight top-ranked trainee abstracts. Through its integrative scientific focus, commitment to mentorship, and active engagement across academic and sectors, the 2026 Hemostasis GRS and GRC will continue to advance the mission of the NHLBI playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of blood science.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-06

This award will support the 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Seminar (GRS) on “Thiol-Based Redox Regulation and Signaling,” to be held July 11-17, 2026 at the Rey Don Jaime Grand Hotel in Castelldefels, Spain. This meeting will be attended by graduate students, postdocs, and junior and senior faculty researchers from broad-ranging disciplines to discuss and advance our understanding of all aspects of charged oxygen and nitrogen molecules. These compounds were long considered toxic, but more recently have been found to have additional significant roles important for growth and function of a all organisms. The interactions of physiologists, biochemists, and cell biologists will increase our understanding of how these signals in healthy cells and organisms from bacteria through humans maintain normal function. Knowledge of these processes will advance the bioeconomy through greater understanding of the role of oxidation in healthy living creatures critical to agriculture, as well as in animal health, including people. A central and unique aspect of this conference is that senior scientists will productively engage with and train junior scientists in this exciting and multidisciplinary field. This engagement is a priority of the GRC, with a career mentoring workshop/panel discussion part of the formal program, and in particular, the GRS, where all oral presentations are given by graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. The GRS features three faculty mentors that provide important support and feedback in a professional and welcoming “low-stress” environment. Virtually all GRS attendees participate in the GRC that immediately follows, with sixteen short talks selected from submitted abstracts with early career scientists given priority for these slots. These “career-forward” features of this GRC/GRS designed to target early career scientists are important steps toward training and development of the bio-workforce that is poised to address pressing societal challenges as populations age, antimicrobial drug resistance rises and climate change increasingly affects food security. This meeting will be attended by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and emerging and senior researchers to discuss our understanding of all aspects of the metabolism, signaling, and cellular and organismal function of reactive oxygen species, reactive nitrogen species and newly emerging reactive sulfur species (ROS/RNS/RSS). Sessions will focus on recent advances in such topics as “Bringing Balance to Redox Forces”, “Tools and Technologies for Redox Biology”, “Ferroptosis and lipid-based redox signaling,” and “Environmental toxins, Redox metabolism and chromatin.” It is these emerging areas that will be highlighted, to include our field’s development and continued refinement of powerful chemical and genetic tools which allow for targeted induction and quantification of intracellular oxidants and redox outcomes “in space and time.” In addition to formal talks, engagement will be facilitated by daily poster “flash-talk” previews and daily intensive poster sessions that serve to catalyze interactions and exchange between researchers. NSF support will be used to defray travel costs and registration costs of U.S.-based graduate students and postdoctoral fellows training in the U.S. This award is funded by the Cells, Development, and Physiology Section in the Directorate for Biological Sciences. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-06

ABSTRACT Abnormal lipid and lipoprotein metabolism is mechanistically linked to many common diseases such as obesity, fatty liver, diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and neurodegenerative diseases. The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Lipoprotein Metabolism is recognized as a premier meeting for disseminating cutting-edge research, sparking collaborations, and fostering new paradigms in this fast-moving field. The 2026 GRC will continue this tradition of highlighting research excellence in various areas of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. The conference, to be held in Waterville Valley, NH from June 2-7, will focus on important new developments in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism relevant to human disease. Oral presentations (in 9 integrated sessions) will highlight state-of-the-art scientific approaches, exploring molecular, structural and cell biological studies, model systems of metabolism, and preclinical and human studies of new therapeutic targets. The overarching goal is to bring together scientists from diverse research areas, career stages, and geographical locations who share a passion for discovering and applying new paradigms in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism to improve human health. The GRC will be preceded by the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), a forum for trainees to present their research in a setting of mentorship and inspiration provided by peers and selected faculty in attendance. The First Aim of the 2026 GRC on Lipoprotein Metabolism is the communication of cutting-edge, unpublished science on lipoprotein metabolism. This includes 45 presentations in 9 oral sessions, each with an identified theme and a discussion leader who will facilitate dialogue and encourage participation by all attendees. Several of the oral sessions will feature short presentations by trainees and early career investigators, selected from submitted abstracts by a panel of established investigators. The roster of confirmed speakers is an impressive array of leading researchers from a range of career stages and represent the world’s best scientists in the area of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Our Second Aim is to achieve broad participation and engagement opportunities for all attendees. GRCs place high priority on the principles of safety and the creation of a welcoming environment. The 2026 GRC on Lipoprotein Metabolism has long-standing reputation as a safe and engaging meeting for all participants to share their unpublished results in a collegial manner. We expect this meeting to discuss the opportunities and challenges for emerging therapies for diseases such as CVD, obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease, and Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Collectively, we expect the 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Lipoprotein Metabolism to improve human health through promoting open dialogue, collaboration, and scientific innovation.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-06

PROJECT SUMMARY The 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Visual System Development are a paired set of biennial meetings that bring together investigators studying development, disease, and evolution of the visual system. Over the years, these meetings have provided an exciting and unique forum in which to explore the similarities and differences underlying visual system development and function across a broad range of species. The goal of these meetings is to foster an appreciation of common principles that mediate the construction and function of the visual system in diverse organisms, and to share the latest exciting new ideas and findings on this topic. By including sessions that highlight emerging topics with translational impact, such as “Retinal Stem Cells, Repair, and Regeneration”, and “Developmental Disorders, Diseases, and Aging of the Visual System”, the meeting is also expanding its scope and stimulating crosstalk between developmental biologists and investigators focused on translational aspects of vision science. The GRS provides a unique platform for students and postdoctoral research fellows in the visual research field to share current, unpublished research amongst their peers and receive career mentorship in the vision science field. The format of the GRC and GRS meetings provides a highly interactive and stimulating venue for cross- fertilization of ideas and development of new collaborations. The Visual System Development GRC has established a reputation as the leading conference in its field, and it is the only meeting on the topic that brings together vision researchers working on the full range of experimental systems in the field, ranging from Drosophila to human. The current proposal requests funds to help defray conference fees for attendees at both meetings. The Visual System GRC and GRS will feature scientists at the cutting edge of the field, with careful attention taken to ensure involvement of researchers around the world, with participation from scientists at all stages of their careers.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

Project Summary The Gordon Research Conference on Mammary Gland Biology (GRC MGB) and the highly successful Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) that accompanies this meeting are unique amongst breast cancer conferences as they bring together a very diverse mix of scientists and clinician-scientists interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern normal mammary gland development, lactation physiology, tumor initiation and progression and metastasis. There is a strong focus on breast cancer prevention and treatment (based on elucidating the early and later events that contribute to breast cancer onset and progression) and emerging ‘cutting edge’ science relevant to the field. The Mammary Gland Biology GRC/GRS is the only conference that focuses on understanding the normal biology and development of the human breast and the mammary gland in model systems, and their relationship to tumorigenesis to understand events that give rise to breast cancer and has become a ‘must attend’ event for mammary gland biologists and cancer researchers (particularly in basic and translational research areas). We aim to 1) uphold the MGB GRC tradition of providing a platform for established and new experts to present new scientific findings and novel ideas; 2) stimulate discussions between established investigators with trainees during informal sessions to train the next generation by its current leaders and promote mentorship. To fulfil Aim 1, we have organized a program including international experts to address a wide range of fundamental scientific issues, who will present their latest unpublished findings during the talks and during poster sessions. The conference program will include short talks selected from abstracts, providing opportunities for outstanding work by junior investigators and trainees. Plentiful time will be assigned for questions after each oral presentation to further encourage discussion. Discussions after the talks, during poster sessions, and more informally during meals and afternoons will stimulate forward thinking in both the mammary gland, breast biology, and breast cancer fields. Presentations and discussions of these new findings and innovations will contribute to deepen our understanding of breast cancer initiation, progression and metastasis and will provide the basis to develop further tools to tackle this heterogenous disease in the clinic. In addition, by bringing together a diverse collection of scientists to address emerging scientific problems bridging breast cancer, prevention and risk factors, lactation and mammary development areas, this meeting will generate a unique and creative atmosphere that spurs innovative thinking and collaborations and contributes to important advances each year. To fulfil Aim 2, opportunities to attend the “Career Challenges" and informal "Lunch with the Expert" sessions and “Under the tree discussions” where trainees and senior investigators meet to meet, discuss science, as well as opportunities and challenges in the context of career development, will enhance the development of the next generation of mammary gland/breast cancer biologists.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The movement of immune cells within and between tissues is fundamental to successful immune surveillance and the mobilization of immune cells to sites of infection for pathogen control and tissue repair. The chemokine system guides cell migration, primarily of immune cells, and positions these cells in specific niches both in homeostatic conditions as well as in pathologies such as infection, inflammation, and cancer. The chemokine system consists of structurally related protein chemoattractants, their cognate G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), and a family of atypical receptors (ACKRs), which are structurally related but do not couple to G- proteins and serve to regulate responses to chemokines. The complexity of the chemokine-GPCR-ACKR network requires unique tools, approaches and techniques. The 2026 Chemotactic Cytokines Gordon Research Conference (GRC): The Chemokine System in Orchestrating Cell Migration and Positioning in Health and Disease is an internationally renowned meeting dedicated to the mechanisms and functions of the chemokine system. This will be the 16th edition of the Chemokine GRC. As in previous meetings, the Chemotactic Cytokine GRC 2026 will attract scientists from diverse cell biology, biochemistry and biomedical disciplines to discuss their latest published and unpublished results. The proposed program calls on outstanding specialists that will present new findings and concepts with potential translational perspectives. The GRC will, as in the recent six editions, be accompanied by a satellite Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Chemotactic Cytokines. The GRS "Chemokines and chemotactic agents in pathological processes" designed to provide a forum for the next generation of scientists, trainees and early career scientists, to come together and present their work and receive feedback from experts in the field who serve as mentors for the conference. The 2026 Chemotactic Cytokine GRC and GRS meetings will shed new light on our understanding of the molecular and multi-cellular mechanisms of chemokine functions in organizing immune cell movement, position and communication in healthy and diseased tissues. The overall aim is to create highly interactive and stimulating forums to inspire new discoveries that lead to novel therapeutics that improve human health. The specific aims of this conference are: 1. To bring together the leading scientists in the field to present their latest unpublished results and ideas. 2. To foster open, friendly, interactive and critical exchange of ideas that advance this multi-disciplinary field 3. To promote the presentation of novel aspects of chemokine research with translational potential 4. To expose young scientists to new findings and in the chemokine field and opportunities to build networks. 5. To provide a dedicated seminar forum for young scientists (GRS) to present their work with an open flow of data and ideas between students and senior scientists invited to mentor this forum.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

PROJECT SUMMARY The 2026 Gordon Research Conference on Membrane Transport Proteins, “The Dynamic Membrane Transporter: Gateways to Health & Disease,” will convene ~200 investigators from academia, industry, and medicine at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco, June 14–19 (trainee-led GRS, June 13–14). This location facilitates participation by a broad international community of scientist, trainees, and early-career scientists working on membrane transport proteins. The broader scientific exchange directly benefits public health in the United States by speeding advances in the understanding of disease mechanisms, the development of new drugs, and the identification of promising therapeutic strategies. It also ensures that the United States researchers remain fully engaged with the discoveries, technologies, and research shaping drug discovery in this important field. Membrane transporters comprise roughly 10 % of the human genome, yet fewer than 4 % are clinically exploited, despite their central roles in prevalent disorders, including autism, depression, ADHD, addiction, and diabetes, and in rare diseases such as Christianson syndrome and mucoviscidosis. Breakthroughs in cryo-EM, AI-driven structure prediction, live-cell biosensors, and human-derived disease models now make it possible to translate fundamental transporter biology into first-in-class therapeutics, creating a timely need for a forum that seamlessly links molecular mechanisms to clinical applications. The program’s nine themed sessions and two plenary lectures deliberately pair structural and mechanistic discoveries with preclinical and clinical perspectives, covering topics from vesicular neurotransmitter loading and blood–brain-barrier gateways to ABC/OCT1-mediated drug disposition. Interwoven “Technology Spotlight” talks and “Reality-Check” panels will showcase state-of-the-art methods while candidly addressing their limitations, establishing rigorous, field-wide standards. A 1.5-day, trainee-run Gordon Research Seminar, anchored by keynote mentors Drs. Sara Jones and Walter Boron, plus mentoring innovations such as “Scientist Speed-Dating” lunches and the forum Breaking the Mold: Overcoming Barriers to Career Advancement will foster an inclusive, supportive environment that cultivates the next generation of transporter scientists. Guided by three specific aims, catalyzing translational science, elevating rigor and reproducibility, and building a global workforce, the conference is poised to reveal new transporter ligands, biomarkers, and drug-delivery strategies; to disseminate best-practice methodologies; and to launch enduring mentorship networks. By uniting siloed disciplines in a confidential, off-the-record environment that encourages presentation of unpublished data, the 2026 GRC will accelerate transporter-based solutions for some of today’s most urgent unmet medical needs.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

Project Summary The Neural Development Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished re- search, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes a broad range of speakers and discussion leaders from insti- tutions and organizations worldwide, concentrating on the latest developments in the field. The conference is five days long and held in a remote location to increase the sense of camaraderie and create scientific commu- nities. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions and afternoon free The 2026 GRC on Neural Development at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island USA will bring together scientists who investigate fundamental questions related to nervous system development, using molecular, cellular and organismal approaches. Topics include the genesis of neurons and glia, cell lineages, cell-cell communication including with CNS-resident immune, vascular and fibroblasts, and the assembly of neural circuitry. time, and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field. Our excep- tional speakers will address cutting-edge questions including how evolution shaped the emergence and diversi- fication of extant nervous systems, how developmental mechanisms prime the nervous system for future function In line with these broad topics, speakers employ a range of classical and emerging model organisms including flies, frog, fish, mice, ferrets, and non-human primates. They also use state-of-the art human-cell based models like neural organoids. The invited speakers employ broad approaches including: molecular genetic techniques and genomic approaches such as transcriptomic and epigenetic profiling; single cell mRNA sequencing and lineage barcoding; CRISPR-based manipulations and screens; live-imaging and high-resolution microscopy; neuroimaging and human genetics. The meeting will promote extensive exchanges between junior and senior scientists from different career stages, geographic locations and scientific interests. This collegial atmosphere will be fostered through interactions at talks, poster sessions, meals, and informal gatherings during free time. Networking will be promoted with journal editors and members of funding agencies that support research in this field. There will also be many short talks selected from abstracts, which will feature the most exciting recent work by early-career researchers We en- courage applications from researchers across institutions, career stages, countries, and relevant scientific topics, with the goal of having broad participants to enrich the meeting. A GRS is reserved for trainees only, including PhD students and postdocs. This will precede the meeting, and is organized and run by trainees, and will include sessions on related topics along with an invited keynote speaker. and how the nervous system ages under healthy and pathological conditions. .

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

PROJECT SUMMARY Ultrasound is a ubiquitous clinical imaging modality, which is supported by a dynamic and scholarly research community. There is currently no conference or professional meeting dedicated specifically to basic science ultrasound research with the goal towards improving diagnostic ultrasound. The goal of the proposed Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is to provide an intimate forum for scientific exchange among scientists and researchers whose primary area of research is the development of novel diagnostic ultrasound techniques and approaches. While diagnostic ultrasound has been around for multiple decades, the amount of innovation in recent years has been immense due to technological breakthroughs in the computational domain as well as miniaturization. Ultrasound has evolved in recent years with the advent of ultrafast imaging, super resolution imaging, photoacoustic imaging, artificial intelligence (AI) in imaging, molecular imaging, novel contrast imaging, shear wave imaging, whole body imaging with tomography and quantitative ultrasound techniques. These innovations are indicative of a vibrant and active research community. Therefore, it is vital that this community provide an avenue that allows deeper discussion about the future and direction of in vivo ultrasound imaging and provides engagement of researchers spanning from senior to new and young investigators. Therefore, this third Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on In Vivo Ultrasound Imaging has the goal of continuing an avenue for engaging the basic science, ultrasound research community. The inaugural conference in 2022 and the second meeting in 2024 were both a great success and are anticipated to result in an increased recognition of this event. It is still the intent to continue as a biennial meeting to bring research professionals in the area of ultrasound imaging together to address the latest trends and needs in diagnostic ultrasound. The main goals of the GRC are: 1. to provide an avenue to discuss the latest ground-breaking technologies in diagnostic ultrasound; 2. to stimulate cross-pollination and validation of different approaches for ultrasound imaging; 3. to identify what the needs are for the continuing development of novel ultrasound imaging technologies and where new methods and approaches can be implemented; 4. to promote the work of new and young investigators. The scientific topics of this coming GRC conference are focused on ultrasonic imaging and highlight the latest advancements in diagnostic ultrasound, including ultrasound applications in therapy.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-05

The 2026 Calcium Signaling Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) is a seminar run by and for trainees dedicated to graduate student and postdoctoral attendees within the calcium signaling field. It will be held on June 6-7 2026, at the Jordan Hotel at Sunday River, Newry (ME), immediately transitioning into the associated Calcium Signaling Gordon Research Conference (GRC), held June 7-12 at the same venue. The meeting will provide an invaluable opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in the calcium signaling field to share their science and network with peers. The study of calcium signaling is crucial to advancement of the broader scientific community as its function is ubiquitous across many disciplines that directly impact national health, from cardiac function to neuroscience. The 2026 GRS and GRC will be the first major calcium signaling meetings held in the United States since 2022 and the first calcium signaling trainee focused conference in the US since 2015. As the only calcium signaling meeting of its caliber run by and for trainees in the US, the GRS is an invaluable contributor to the continuation of this ever-evolving discipline. The overarching goal of the 2026 GRS is to provide a forum for discussing cutting edge advances in calcium signaling research alongside a participation-driven space for mentorship and collaboration. This prompts the future leaders of the calcium signaling field to develop high-impact research projects and build a lasting peer network that will influence the future discoveries of the field. 30 to 50 trainee calcium researchers are expected to attend the GRS. All attendees will have the opportunity to present their work in a poster format, and fourteen speakers are chosen from submitted abstracts for oral symposia. The proposed GRS program includes a keynote speaker, Dr. Janine Santos (NIEH, US), who will talk about mitochondrial biology and its interface with calcium signaling. A mentorship panel will be conducted by Dr. Ivana Kuo (Loyola University, US, and 2026 Calcium Signaling GRC chair) and Dr. Milton Greenberg (CEO at Vivreon Biosciences). Dr. Kuo and Dr. Greenberg will share their experience and career trajectories inside and outside academia, followed by a Q/A session driven by the trainees' career interests. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

PROJECT SUMMARY The biennial Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Musculoskeletal (MSK) Biology and Bioengineering has been the leading forum for the presentation and discussion of emerging paradigms in the field since the meeting was established in 1980. The impact of this meeting was further enhanced in 2014 with the addition of a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), which is focused on and led by trainees and early career investigators. Both the GRC and GRS promote presentation of unpublished data and prioritize formal and informal discussion time, and the program is developed in a way that facilitates participation and support of an array of new investigators in the musculoskeletal field. Participation is capped at 200 attendees to further enhance networking and discussion. In the current application, funds are requested for partial support of the 2026 GRC and GRS on MSK Biology and Bioengineering at Proctor Academy in Andover, NH. This venue provides an ideal environment for focused discussion of cutting-edge science and informal interactions during leisure and social activities each day. The theme for the 2026 GRC is “Retaining and Restoring MSK Function to Unlock Whole Body Health Span”, with the goal of facilitating the development of approaches that retain or restore MSK health through the lifespan. The GRC program, which consists of nine plenary sessions, will integrate biological, engineering, and clinical approaches in development, aging, and disease in the musculoskeletal system. In addition, short talks and poster presentations from early-stage investigators provide an important platform to highlight the next generation of MSK researchers. Areas of emphasis will focus on the retention or restoration of MSK health through the lifespan to improve healthspan, including metabolism, epigenetics, and immunology across the lifespan in MSK tissues. The two-day GRS program, themed “Thinking outside of the box - Innovative approaches for the maintenance and restoration of musculoskeletal health”, will immediately precede and integrate with the GRC program. GRS attendance is expected to be 50 individuals, and these participants are encouraged to attend the GRC. The GRS co-Chairs have worked closely with the GRC Chairs and Vice-Chairs to develop the scientific program, which includes a mentoring component focused on enhancing scientific communication and transparency. In addition to the keynote session and a career panel of early career and established investigators, the GRS features research of new investigators in two oral sessions and two poster sessions. Recognizing the need for this field to recruit and better support the success of the next generation of investigators, this meeting is designed to foster the development of our trainees through several mechanisms. Thus, the GRS and GRC will not only foster the vigorous exchange of emerging ideas but also support the engagement and development of a collaborative cohort of emerging basic and clinical investigators to accelerate the pace, breadth, and impact of musculoskeletal discovery.

NSF Awards · FY 2026 · 2026-05

Changes in precipitation have fundamentally altered water availability across the United States and much of the planet. Coupled with rising land and atmospheric temperatures, soil drying is enhanced through increased evaporation, plant water loss, and a rise in soil salinity. More frequent extreme weather events also disrupt agricultural systems and ecosystems. This international Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Symposium on salt and water stress in plants will directly address these challenges by bringing in experts in plant stress biology to discuss advances and challenges. The conference proposal aligns with the current NSF priorities in biotechnology and provides researchers and students from the USA an opportunity to showcase and discuss advances in the field that have broader impacts and benefit society, including global food security, ecosystem stability, and human well-being. Simultaneously, activities focused on networking and professional development will engage early-career researchers and students, thus strengthening the scientific workforce needed to address these challenges. The conference has three primary objectives: (i) Support the sharing of cutting-edge ideas and research on plant responses to water and salt stress; (ii) Facilitate and support collaborations and interaction between researchers conducting basic and translational research that advances biotechnology applications on enhancing stress resilience in crops; (iii) Broaden participation of all scientists in science and engineering, mentor and provide intellectual opportunities to junior and early career scientists. Travel awardees from institutions in the USA will share their research through oral or poster presentations, learn and synthesize information gathered by participating in various symposiums and professional development workshops. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

PROJECT SUMMARY We are organizing the third Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on the topic of the hypothalamus, scheduled to take place on August 16 - 21, 2026 at the Grand Summit Hotel at Sunday River, in Newry, Maine. This GRC will be held in conjunction with an associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on August 15-16, 2026 at the same location. The overall objective of the Hypothalamus GRC is to bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchers to highlight the latest research on the role of hypothalamic cells and circuits in health and disease. Our program will have sessions on the role of the hypothalamus across diverse physiological and behavioral phenotypes in multiple model organisms. Our speakers and discussion leaders represent a group of scientists from a variety of scientific backgrounds and across all career stages who each study the structure and function of the hypothalamus at different levels of investigation. Furthermore, the addition of an associated Hypothalamus GRS will allow many more graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to share their work and meet each other, helping to support the next generation of scientists in our field. As for all GRCs, the guiding principle of this meeting will be the presentation of new, unpublished results with ample time for free, unencumbered discussion. Taken together, the Hypothalamus GRC and GRS will provide an extraordinary opportunity for researchers across many biological disciplines with a common interest in the hypothalamus to interact, share ideas, collaborate, and ultimately advance the field.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

Project Summary/Abstract Myelinating glial cells play diverse and essential roles in nervous system development and function throughout life. Disruptions to these cells are increasingly recognized in a wide range of neurological conditions, from neurodevelopmental disorders to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Our understanding of their functions and interactions is rapidly advancing. For instance, myelinating glia are critical in closing periods of heightened plasticity during neural circuit formation. Oligodendrocyte lineage cells also respond dynamically to neuronal activity, enhancing myelination in ways that can be both beneficial and harmful—supporting neural adaptation but also contributing to addiction and facilitating the integration of cancer cells into neural circuits. Promising clinical trials are underway, driven by extensive research into both central and peripheral myelin disorders. Moreover, these glial cells are now implicated in more diseases than previously appreciated, and ongoing studies are likely to yield novel therapeutic strategies. Cutting-edge research is yielding conceptual, mechanistic, and translational insights, and the objective of the 2026 Gordon Research Seminar (GRS: May 23-24, 2026) and Conference (GRC: May 24-29, 2026) on myelin will provide an interactive platform for the community to share their latest findings and develop essential collaborations to advance the field. Taken together the 2026 Myelin GRC, “Myelinating glia and their interactions in health and disease” and the Myelin GRS, “The Leading Edge: Myelinating Glia at the Forefront of Health and Disease” will accomplish this objective by; 1) convening an international meeting of academic, clinical, and industry scientists studying myelinating glial cells in health and disease; 2) discussing exciting new developments by selecting presenters to share unpublished data, with many presentation slots reserved for talks selected from abstracts; 3) promoting collaborative interactions to accelerate conceptual discovery and therapeutic advances; 4) offering trainees as well as established investigators an opportunity to present their work, engage with other scientists, and foster collaboration among participants.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

Project Abstract The 2026 Synaptic Transmission Gordon Research Conference will bring together an array of scientific leaders and early-career scientists to discuss the latest developments and cutting-edge insights into the synaptic mechanisms that control the nervous system in health and disease. Synapses are the fundamental unit of information transfer in the nervous system underpinning the diversity of information encoding that enables complex adaptive behaviors across species. Dysregulation and degeneration of synapses are central to the pathophysiology of most, neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, elucidating the molecular and cellular principles governing synaptic biology is essential for understanding brain function and for the development of therapeutics to treat currently incurable brain disorders. This year’s program integrates pioneering research across a broad range of topics, including synapse development, nanoscale organization, signaling, Hebbian plasticity and homeostasis, the synaptic basis of behavior, and how synaptic dysfunction leads to brain disorders. A strong emphasis will be placed on cross-disciplinary dialogue and mechanistic insights, spanning molecular events to circuit-level phenomena throughout the sessions. The long-term goal of the 2026 Synaptic Transmission is to advance mechanistic insight, foster innovation, and bridge basic and translational neuroscience. Specifically, this meeting will focus on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern synapse formation, specificity, and diversity across neural circuits. Secondly, to reveal how synaptic plasticity unfolds across timescales, from milliseconds to years, and how these dynamic processes are integrated to drive learning, memory, and behavior. Finally, we will identify novel pathways for therapeutic intervention.by determining how disruptions in synaptic function contribute to neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases, with the aim of translating fundamental discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies that can restore synaptic function and improve outcomes for individuals affected by brain disorders.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

Abstract This application requests partial support for early career investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students to attend the 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and the accompanying Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on the Cell Biology of the Neuron, to be held in the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco, Italy, during the week of June 6–12, 2026. The Cell Biology of the Neuron GRC serves as the primary venue for presenting and discussing unpublished, cutting-edge discoveries in the international community of researchers in neuronal cell biology. The 2026 conference will highlight emerging themes and innovative technologies at the interface of cell biology and neuroscience, focusing on fundamental mechanisms underlying neuronal function, communication, and dysfunction. The in-depth knowledge of the complex cell biology within individual neurons is essential for understanding the neuronal communication that underlies virtually all aspects of behavior, sensation, and cognition. Molecular and cellular understanding of neuronal function is also critical to tackling questions of neuronal dysfunction in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Progress in this field increasingly requires interdisciplinary efforts that integrate cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, advanced imaging, computational modeling, and systems neuroscience. The Cell Biology of the Neuron GRC and GRS provide a unique venue to bring together neuroscientists interested in synaptic architecture and connectivity, cytoskeletal dynamics, organelle and RNA trafficking, neuronal polarity and regeneration, as well as those applying artificial intelligence (AI) and computational approaches to neuronal cell biology. Through invited and abstract-selected talks as well as poster sessions, the meeting will unite scientists employing different methodologies to tackle fundamental unresolved questions regarding neuronal cell function - questions crucial for elucidating neuronal pathologies at a mechanistic level and for providing new insights for their treatment. The multidisciplinary theme and shared focus will facilitate communication across the entire continuum of molecular and cellular neuronal biology. The specific aims of the 2026 GRC meeting will be to convene 32 invited speakers and 9 discussion leaders for a total of 200 participants for a five-day conference, which will; (1) advance emerging themes in neuronal function, homeostasis, and disease, and (2) support the next generation of neuroscientists by fostering cross-disciplinary interactions and by providing training and mentorship opportunities for early-career researchers. We anticipate a highly interactive meeting characterized by dynamic discussions among speakers, discussion leaders, and participants. The conference will catalyze new collaborations and research directions, continuing this GRC’s tradition of excellence and its vital role in shaping the future of neuronal cell biology.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

The Gordon Research Conference on Environmental Sciences: Water is to be held June 14-19, 2026, in Holderness, NH. The 2026 conference theme is Novel Approaches and Tools to Address Aquatic Impacts on Human and Environmental Health and will feature a program of thought-provoking research by leading researchers and experts in the field of water quality science and technology. The conference will bring together 190 participants from multiple countries in an immersive and informal setting. The program will feature a series of plenary talks by established and emerging researchers, as well as daily poster sessions by conference attendees. The overarching theme of the 2026 conference recognizes that state-of-the-art research is needed to understand challenges facing water resources, and to develop solutions to address these challenges. Ensuring water quality is critical for protecting human and ecosystem health, as well as maintaining ecosystem services. This conference will showcase innovative researchers who focus on current water resources challenges, including the presence of persistent contaminants and pathogens, access to clean water for communities, and environmental stresses on water. This aspect of the conference will provide a forum for discussing and evaluating the most pressing water issues of our time. The conference will highlight scientists who directly study environmental impacts through field measurements and community engagement, along with those working at the science-policy interface. Specific aims of the conference are to: 1) Feature a scientific program that links water quality issues, the protection of human health, and sustainability of environmental resources through a plenary program of leading researchers from different fields and perspectives - themes include chemical and biological exposures, human health impacts, and innovative solutions for the management of water resources; 2) Advance discovery while promoting mentoring, networking and learning by offering a platform for graduate student and postdoctoral researchers to present their research at the full conference, as well as provide a venue for informal interactions between senior scientists and trainees and broad participation of scientists from different professional settings; and 3) Provide a conference that fosters discussion and debate of research results through close interaction of participants from academia, industry, and government laboratories. Funds will be used to support the attendance of invited plenary speakers, as well as graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. Outcomes related to the quality of the scientific program, discussion, management, and atmosphere will be evaluated through surveys of conference attendees. 1

NIH Research Projects · FY 2026 · 2026-05

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This conference grant application requests funds to help support the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) May 10 - 15, 2026. NPC is a deadly cancer arising in the nasopharynx which has high incidence in particular regions, including Alaska. The peak age at NPC diagnosis is in the mid-forties, which is two decades earlier than for many other common cancers. Thus, NPC has a significant socioeconomic impact globally. The etiology of this unique cancer includes three significant co-factors: host genetics, Epstein- Barr Virus (EBV) infection, and environmental influences. How these factors contribute to NPC development is the research focus of numerous labs worldwide. Because of its proclivity for early lymphatic spread, NPC is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when the cancer is harder to cure and requires aggressive treatment. An enhanced understanding in regard to how EBV and aberrations in cell signaling drive normal cells to become cancerous, how these cells escape from the immune surveillance, and their molecular signatures for early diagnosis as well as for development of novel targeted and immune therapy is expected to improve NPC treatment and outcomes. The fact that the development of NPC requires the convergence of many different factors, including Epstein-Barr infection, host genetics, impaired anti-tumor host immune function, and epidemiological factors, makes this unique cancer a powerful model to dissect out the host-virus-environment interactions, thereby yielding insights into tumor pathogenesis. Studying NPC provides opportunities to address contemporary issues in cancer research (for example, tumor microenvironment, tumor immune surveillance, stem cells, epigenetics, cancer vaccine and immunotherapy). We hypothesize that the 2026 meeting, by featuring cutting-edge NPC basic, translational and clinical research, will provide a unique forum for idea exchange among scientists, clinicians, and industry representatives to catalyze the translation of recent advances into patient care. We will address this hypothesis via three specific aims: 1) To advance knowledge of key NPC basic pathogenetic mechanisms and translational research. 2) To highlight recent advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis and treatment. 3) To provide a stimulating forum that strengthens interactions between basic scientists, translational researchers and physicians and also between junior and senior members of the NPC field. We believe that the scientific environment created at the 2026 NPC Gordon Research Conference meeting will help to advance NPC research and to improve NPC patient care.