Gordon Research Conferences

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-07

PART 1: NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY The 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Nanoporous Materials and Their Applications: Innovative Applications and Breakthrough Technologies for Nanoporous Materials, and the associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will be held at Proctor Academy (Andover, New Hampshire) from August 3-8, 2025, and August 2-3, 2025, respectively. Porous materials, such as zeolites, metal-organic frameworks, covalent-organic frameworks, porous carbon, and related materials, are heavily utilized in today's most dynamic and diversified research fields. The program addresses important new findings related to the invention of novel materials, characterization of their unique properties, and the use of these materials in emerging applications involving catalysis, separations, gas storage, and other processes of commercial and environmental importance. Invited lectures, poster presentations, and general discussions focused on linking fundamental understanding to potential applications are core concepts of the Gordon Research Conference format. Beyond the technological aspects, the conference seeks to gather leading and emerging scientists in this field and bring them together to share ideas and foster new collaborations. This support from NSF's Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research enables the participation by U.S. graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and early-career researchers at the Gordon Research Conference and the Gordon Research Seminar through stipends for registration fees and/or travel support. PART 2: TECHNICAL SUMMARY The Nanoporous Materials and Their Applications Gordon Research Conference and Seminar focus on new developments in the field of nanoporous materials. For the 2025 iteration of the conference, emphasis is placed on intermingling different classes of nanoporous materials. The program balances theoretical and experimental approaches to addressing questions related to structure, properties and application with sessions on topics including “Engineering of Materials Assemply”, “Fundamentals of Structurs and Function”, “Advances in Synthesis and Characterization”, “Paradigms of Multifunctional Materials”, “Emerging Applications of Nanoporous Materials”, and more. With respect to this larger goal, the Gordon Research Conference seeks to provide a common language for all participants; to raise the comfort-level of student and postdoc participants; and, through these efforts, to develop a tightly-woven community held together by a common interest in nanoporous materials. This is facilitated by cutting-edge research presentations as well as opportunities for informal gatherings, and mentoring panels, and in general by providing a venue for scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm together and promotes cross-disciplinary collaborations in the various research areas represented. 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 2025 · 2025-07

The Gordon Research Conferences organization has a long history of providing a forum for the presentation and discussion of cutting-edge research in a variety of science and engineering fields, including in coastal ocean dynamics. This grant will provide a partial contribution toward attendee costs for the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) and Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Coastal Ocean Dynamics to be held at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire, from June 7–8 and 8–13, 2025, respectively. This GRC, convened every two years, brings together academic and federal researchers to share the latest advances and identify new challenges in coastal physical oceanography and related dynamics. NSF has a long track record of supporting attendee participation in this GRC and the funds will be used to support the attendance of US based students, postdocs, other early career researchers, invited speakers and discussion leaders, and other mid-career and senior researchers serving as mentors. This GRC and GRS support scientific advancement and workforce development that support societal well-being. Coastal oceans play important roles in the Earth system, for example by transforming freshwater discharges from land and by dissipating tidal energy. Understanding physical oceanographic and related processes occurring in coastal oceans is necessary to link ocean observations, models, and predictions to societal needs. By fostering collaboration among experts and mentoring of early-career scientists, the conference drives innovations in ocean modeling, observation, and prediction, improving our understanding of coastal systems, contributing to disaster preparedness and resource management, and benefiting coastal communities. The GRC chairs and vice-chairs, elected by attendees at previous GRCs, have designed the programs for the 2025 GRC and GRS on Coastal Ocean Dynamics to facilitate intellectual exchanges between researchers working in complementary areas of coastal physical oceanography and lead to new collaborations. The GRC plenary talks, given by invited speakers selected by the Program Committee, will cover topics including coastal ocean prediction, novel observing techniques, and machine learning. Scheduled session topics are: Coastal Extremes, Low-Latitude Regions, Ocean – Coastal Seas Interactions, Mid-Latitude Regions, Physical-Biogeochemical Processes, High-Latitude Regions, Observing and Predicting Multi-scale Dynamics in the Ocean, The Global Coastal Ocean, and Techniques and Technologies for Coastal Oceans. The poster sessions are open to presentations on any coastal physical oceanographic or related topic. Discussion Leaders have been recruited to stimulate and moderate discussion after each session. As session chairs, the Discussion Leaders work in advance with the speakers to ensure presentations address new, thought-provoking material and minimize review of existing work. 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 2025 · 2025-06

The use of complex datasets, combined with new experimental and computational approaches to drive both mechanistic understanding and critical decision making in pharmaceutical development of challenging drug molecules (including nucleic acids, proteins, peptides and multifunctional small molecules) enables more efficient advancement of promising therapies, bringing new treatments for unmet medical needs to patients faster. The purpose of the 2025 Gordon Research Conference and Seminar (GRC/GRS) on Preclinical Form and Formulation for Drug Discovery is to accelerate the translation of promising drug candidates into commercial medicines by: (1) disseminating the latest scientific and technical advances relevant to materials characterization, formulation and delivery of chemical, protein and nucleic acid medicines; (2) fostering a scientific network inclusive of all scientists; (3) educating and engaging the next generation of scientists. This GRC/GRS brings together expertise and unpublished data on a variety of therapeutics to highlight the form and formulation challenges and opportunities that span these modalities and integrate cross-cutting techniques and approaches. These therapeutics include bispecific and multi-functional small molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids therapies with broad applications ranging from infectious diseases to oncology. Formulation and characterization technologies cover both novel experimental and in silico approaches, as well as the application of artificial intelligence to drug characterization, formulation design, and delivery, with the ultimate goal of discovering general principles and tools that can be applied to many drugs to prevent failure and inefficiency. Dissemination and discussion of new knowledge and technologies are necessary to enable broad use and further progress that will translate more drugs efficiently into the clinic. Form and formulation can also enable solutions to critical global health challenges, and this meeting will amplify the need for World Health Organization zone 4 stability and distribution requirements, low cost, and easy to administer formulation and delivery systems. This conference will share successes, continuing difficulties, and lessons learned from academic, industrial, government, and non-profit scientists to meet the needs of patients across the world. An important component of this meeting is training the next generation of scientists and the combination of the Gordon Research Conference, for scientists at all career stages, and the Gordon Research Seminar, for graduate student and postdoctoral scientists, enables early career scientists to share their research and interact personally with leaders in the field to grow their networks and nurture their career goals.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-06

This project will provide partial support for students, postdoctoral fellows, and young independent investigators to attend the 2025 Protein Engineering Gordon Research Conference (GRC), which will take place July 26 - August 1, 2025 at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI. The conference will foster interdisciplinary interaction and spark innovative collaborations across fields such as directed evolution, AI-guided rational design, metabolic engineering, biosensor engineering, and immunoengineering. By bringing together scientists from academia and industry, the meeting will advance understanding of the relationships between protein structure, function, and dynamics—a critical foundation for breakthroughs in medicine, industry, and technology. In doing so, the project supports NSF’s mission to promote scientific progress, enhance national health and prosperity, and contribute to societal well-being. Moreover, by emphasizing education and the development of early-career researchers (through a dedicated Gordon Research Seminar series), the conference will ensure that emerging talents receive collaborative opportunities needed to drive future innovations. The meeting will focus on three specific aims: (1) Assessment of Current Technologies: Delineate the present status of various biotechnologies within protein engineering and evaluate their current applications in industrial and medical practices; (2) Exploration of Emerging Fields: Facilitate in-depth discussions on cutting-edge areas such as directed evolution, AI-guided rational design, metabolic engineering, biosensor engineering, and immunoengineering, with an emphasis on integrating these diverse approaches to enhance the design and application of engineered proteins; and (3) International Collaboration and Information Exchange: Promote the free exchange of ideas and methodologies internationally, thereby encouraging new collaborative strategies that push forward the boundaries of protein engineering. The technical program will include keynote addresses, breakout sessions, and panel discussions led by prominent experts, alongside a novel Gordon Research Seminar series specifically designed for young investigators. This structure is intended to catalyze cross-disciplinary dialogues that are essential for the development of innovative strategies to better understand and manipulate protein structure-function-dynamics relationships. The outcomes of these interactions are expected to yield new research directions and practical applications that advance the field significantly. 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 2025 · 2025-06

This grant provides funding for ten graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and early-career investigators based in the United States to attend the 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Biomechanics in Vascular Biology and Disease, which will be held 19-20 July 2025, in Ventura, California. The award covers full conference registration fees. The GRC is a premier international forum for advancing research in cardiovascular biomechanics and mechanobiology, with a focus on translating fundamental insights from molecular mechanisms to clinical applications. The goal of this award is to support the professional growth of early-career researchers, including assistant professors appointed within the last three years. Preference will be given to those in biomedical engineering, quantitative biology, and related disciplines with strong interdisciplinary interests. The conference will foster collaboration and knowledge exchange across academic and clinical communities. The 2025 GRC will feature a keynote session, eight scientific sessions, four poster sessions, and a Power Hour focused on professional development. Topics include shear and wall stress, vascular remodeling, mechanotransduction, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and aneurysms. A newly introduced Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), held immediately before the GRC, will provide a platform for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to present research and receive mentorship from senior scientists. The GRS emphasizes career development, leadership, and community-building. The 2025 meeting builds on the legacy of the International Symposium on Cardiovascular Biology and Disease, traditionally held in Rotterdam. 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 2025 · 2025-06

Gordon Research Conferences (GRCs) are prestigious, non-profit, international scientific conferences that have been held since 1931. The goal of this R13 proposal is to support the GRC on Pancreatic Diseases: “Deciphering Disease Etiologies and Identifying Advancing Therapeutic Targets” and the associated trainee-led Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), to be held June 15-20th, 2025 in Newry, Maine. Recent years have brought rapid advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying pancreatic development, injury, regeneration, diabetes development, and malignant transformation at the single cell level. Furthermore, there has been an emergence of novel technologies to model these processes, which have revealed important lineage relationships and plasticity between pancreatic cell types. Historically, studies of the endocrine and exocrine pancreas have occurred in siloed communities; however, epidemiological studies show a clear association between pancreatic diseases, highlighting previously unrecognized relationships between diabetes, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and exocrine insufficiency. The objective of this GRC is to convene experts from the endocrine and exocrine communities to promote synergy between disciplines and fill important knowledge gaps underlying the co-occurrence of pancreatic diseases. To achieve this objective, this GRC will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of cutting-edge unpublished concepts from researchers studying all aspects of pancreas biology, leading to interdisciplinary collaborations and the discovery of novel therapeutics. Furthermore, this meeting will empower young scientists and early-stage investigators to showcase their work to peers and leaders in the field, while also providing them with important leadership opportunities within the meeting. The upcoming sixth Pancreatic Diseases GRC will focus on understanding the genetic and molecular etiologies of pancreatic diseases and will highlight how endocrine and exocrine cells communicate to one another in health and disease. A major thread throughout the conference will be the role that inflammation and metabolism play in organ homeostasis and pathology. The guiding principle of this conference is the presentation of new, unpublished results and unhampered discussion. Additionally, to further enhance career development opportunities, a GRS has been integrated into this meeting. The GRS is organized by trainees and early-stage investigators and features posters and talks given exclusively by trainees as well as mentorship sessions. Together, this GRC and GRS provide a rare platform for collaboration, the establishment of interdisciplinary approaches to human pancreatic diseases, and support of young researchers.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2025-06

Project Summary The goals of this meeting are to cover the latest advances in chromatin structure and long-range gene regulation in normal physiology, in disease and in response to environmental insults, to bring together the international 4D- Nucleome community, to create a forum of learning and discussion, and to inspire future developments and collaborations. We propose an interdisciplinary conference to cover the 4D Nucleome theme across scales of genome regulation, from local chromatin processes involving transcription factors and epigenetic modulators, to the higher-order mechanisms of three-dimensional chromosome folding, and the functional and structural organization of the genome within the cell nucleus. We will especially highlight research that investigates 3D genome architecture across broad disease topics, including cancer, neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, muscle and hematological pathologies. Past decades have witnessed rapid conceptual and technological progress in deciphering the fundamental mechanisms that regulate 3-dimensional structure of the human genome, including targeted actions such as the NIH Common Funds 4D-Nucleome program. The meeting will address the latest challenges to determine the role of genome structure in development and disease, its interplay with epigenetic and chromatin regulation mechanisms. We aim to foster knowledge transfer between 4D Nucleome and disease modelling experts, stimulate interdisciplinary discussions, identify knowledge bottlenecks and collaborative opportunities. To reveal the complex mechanisms of gene regulation in time and space, major ongoing efforts aim to decode the rich genetic and epigenetic information stored in the genome sequence, to model it using universal physics concepts, and to derive predictive models. We will also highlight innovations in the engineering of genome topology, through optogenetics or other tools that can alter the molecular reorganization of DNA, RNA or proteins in the nucleus. We will highlight exciting advances in chromatin structure analysis with multimodality, such as parallel detection of chromatin accessibility and gene expression, with single-cell resolution and tissue spatial information, with special interest in human-relevant applications. The 4D- Nucleome field is poised to develop actionable strategies for innovative disease diagnosis, prognosis and therapy, and to contribute to precision medicine and to more efficient and impactful strategies for disease inception and therapy. The 2025 GRC/GRS meetings on “Genome Architecture on Cell Fate and Diseases: Probing and Controlling Gene Regulation in Space and Time” will foster exchanges of exciting concepts, new technologies, and interdisciplinary collaborations. We will provide an interactive, diverse, and inclusive forum for trainees and new investigators across interdisciplinary topics, highlighting their research through short talks, poster previews and poster sessions, while promoting networking opportunities with senior expert.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2025-06

Project Summary We seek funding for the 2025 Red Cells Gordon Research Conference (GRC), which will be held on June 8 -13 at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI. The Red Cells GRC was initiated in 1979 and is an international forum for the presentation of the latest unpublished data on erythroid biology. The 2025 Red Cells GRC will be accompanied by a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), which serves as a critical venue for trainees to present science in a unique environment that fosters interactions between trainees and established investigators. The aims of the 2025 Red Cells GRC are: (1) Provide a forum for the exchange of the latest findings in erythroid biology; (2) Facilitate translation of basic science discoveries to new therapeutics; (3) Foster interdisciplinary exchange by bringing together researchers from all aspects of erythroid biology; (4) Encourage the next generation of investigators and leaders in the field and related scientific realms. The Red Cells GRC has a long history of showcasing innovative cutting-edge research into erythroid biology. Remarkably, many of these results have proven to become widely applicable to all areas of biology and medicine. The success of this meeting is due to the informal GRC atmosphere that promotes social and intellectual interactions that lead to novel interdisciplinary collaborations. The Red Cells GRC brings together a wide-range group of researchers from academia, government and industry at all levels of expertise from trainees to senior investigators. It provides a unique environment to discuss research and opportunities for trainee professional development. Topics for the 2025 Red Cells GRC include developmental erythropoiesis, stem/progenitor cell biology, and translational science, which includes the use of induced pluripotent stem cells to study erythroid development. Analysis of the mechanisms that regulate normal and perturbed erythroid progenitor cell development and terminal differentiation, the interplay between iron transport and utilization and the effects of infection and inflammation of erythroid output, and updates on the unique cell biology of the erythrocyte membrane cytoskeleton will also be discussed. We will feature sessions that highlight new technologies for studying erythroid biology and gene control mechanisms involving transcription factors, epigenetics, and chromatin architecture. We will complement these sessions with discussion of emerging therapies for erythroid disorders. In addition, our distinguished keynote speaker, Dr. Stuart Orkin, Harvard University, will highlight transformative advances in the field. Overall, the Red Cells GRC serves an important mission to the NIH by promoting research into erythroid biology, which will lead to new and improved treatments for erythroid disorders, utilizing powerful erythroid systems to elucidate molecular and cellular principles, and enhancing the recruitment of new researchers in the field through support, encouragement, and exposure to innovative research and problems that will require intensive, multidisciplinary efforts in the future to solve.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2025-06

PROJECT SUMMARY We request funds to support the 25th Gordon Research Conference and Seminar on Fertilization and Activation of Development. This GRC will integrate research from different approaches, including physiological, biochemical/biophysical, molecular/cellular, genetic, imaging, evolutionary, and omics data across organisms. Therefore, the research of this GRC will reveal conserved mechanisms of fertilization, their adaptation and evolution, and their application to improve the human condition. The topics covered in this GRC have fundamental and applied implications in biology and medicine, respectively. The latter is reflected by the 2010 and 2012 Nobel Prizes awards for in vitro fertilization and the discovery of pluripotent stem cells, respectively. A pioneer in rendering gametes from pluripotent stem cells will speak at the 2025 GRC. This GRC is the only meeting worldwide focused on fertilization biology. In the recent past, researchers in this field have identified the processes that prepare and optimize sperm and eggs for fertilization, the molecules of gamete recognition, adhesion, and fusion, defined the roles of the reproductive tract, established the conditions to support fertilization, while identifying the signaling pathways and molecules of egg activation and early embryogenesis. The GRC 2025 Keynote speaker will be the developmental and cell biologist Dr. Jacob Hanna. His lab has created conditions that allow the complete formation of mouse and human embryos ex-vivo from induced stem cells. The 2025 GRC will also include topics not discussed in previous GRCs, such as the evolution of gametes and adaptive mechanisms for successful fertilization and the application of new methodologies to probe and uncover further insights into the molecules and mechanisms of early development. The GRC will be preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar, which attracts and scientifically nurtures young investigators in our field. This year’s mentorship event will have panelists discussing various career opportunities post-Ph.D. For the first time, panelists will address the commercialization of research findings, patents, and starting your own company. The panel will comprise four academically trained scientists who took different career pathways. We have confirmed Dr. Ed Grow, Assistant Professor, UT. Southwestern, TX, and Dr. Rita Vassena, CEO of Fecundis, and we are finalizing the other panelists. The GRS Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Paula Cohen, Professor of Genetics and Associate Vice Provost for Life Sciences at Cornell University. This GRC has a long tradition of providing a forum for presenting and discussing innovative research and fostering a vibrant atmosphere encouraging open scientific interactions. Thus, this GRC will advance and promote the exchange of science hypotheses and provide a supportive environment for established and new investigators.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-06

This NSF award supports the 2025 Environmental Nanotechnology Gordon Research Conference that will be held in Newry, Maine June 1-6,2025. This conference will explore current, unpublished, state-of-the art research on the applications of nanotechnology for 1) water and food production, 2) energy development; and 3) protection of human and environmental health. Opportunity exists to create novel materials based on the enhanced catalytic, optical, magnetic and electrical properties of nanomaterials across a variety of sectors from human health to water purification, remediation, sensing, energy production, and security. Challenging and rewarding work must be done to seize this opportunity while designing nanotechnology with the environment in mind. The conference attendees will include environmental engineers, environmental scientists, chemists, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Attendees will exchange ideas and promote the development of new convergent research concepts focused on the environmental applications of nanotechnology. Formal and informal discussions facilitated by attendance at this conference will promote further development of the environmental nanotechnology field. Face-to-face interactions between conference attendees will facilitate transdisciplinary research activities. NSF funding will enable the conference organizer to provide travel grants to invited speakers, post-doctoral scholars, graduate students, and junior faculty. The specific objectives of the conference are to 1) provide a forum for generations of ideas regarding the use of nanotechnology to benefit the environment and society through technology development, and 2) to generate ideas and research programs that will foment prevention of potential environmental harms that may result from indiscriminate development and use of nanotechnology. These objectives will be addressed in technical sessions, via submitted posters, and through collaborative activities. This award will enable the conference organizer to provide travel grants to invited speakers, post-doctoral scholars, graduate students, and junior faculty. 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 2025 · 2025-06

The Gordon Research Conference on Lactic Acid Bacteria Biology, Symbioses, and Applications will bring together researchers to explore the beneficial roles of lactic acid bacteria in health, food systems, and the environment. This meeting will unite scientists from fields as diverse as microbiology, nutrition, medicine, and synthetic biology. Lactic acid bacteria are essential for making many fermented foods and are associated with health benefits, but much remains unknown about how they function. The conference will create a unique environment where scientists at all career stages, from students to senior leaders, can share new, unpublished findings and foster collaborations. A companion Gordon Research Seminar, organized by early-career researchers, will emphasize peer networking and professional development. By encouraging the exchange of ideas across disciplines and generations, the meeting will spark new discoveries with the potential to improve human health, advance food innovation and the bioeconomy, and strengthen scientific training. The Gordon Research Conference will focus on advancing mechanistic understanding of lactic acid bacteria across varied environments from fermented foods to the animal gut, with an emphasis on cross-disciplinary challenges in microbial genetics, host adaptation, metabolism, and therapeutic development. Specific research areas include the molecular basis of lactic acid bacteria-host interactions, metabolic cross-feeding within microbial communities, bacterial adaptation to different environments, and the development of lactic acid bacteria-based therapeutic delivery systems. The program will feature nine thematic sessions ranging from phage-bacteria dynamics to symbioses in the human gut and vagina. Experimental approaches discussed will include functional genomics, synthetic biology, live microbial imaging, and systems biology analyses. The conference aims to catalyze new collaborations and technical innovations that will push the frontiers of microbiome science, fermentation biology, and microbial therapeutics. 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 2025 · 2025-06

PART 1: NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY The 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Crystal Growth and Assembly: Mechanistic Understanding of the Growth and Assembly of Ordered Materials, and the 2025 Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Crystal Growth and Assembly are being held at Southern New Hampshire University on June 22-27 and June 21-22, 2025, respectively. Our society continuously benefits from the development of a wide range of advanced materials to solve technological challenges in applications ranging from catalysts, solar cells, and flexible electronics to new therapeutics for human diseases such as malaria. Such materials are developed by scientists with various backgrounds, including chemistry, physics, materials science, and engineering. Novel materials are often developed at the boundaries of these disciplines, and the aim of the Gordon Research Conference on Crystal Growth & Assembly is to bring together leading scientists from these different backgrounds to stimulate cross-fertilization. To promote broader impacts, the format of the meeting emphasizes active participation of young scientists, i.e., students and post-docs, to educate a new generation of researchers that will have to meet future materials challenges in a changing world where (some) resources become increasingly scarce. NSF's Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research support stipends for registration fees and/or travel support for some early-career participants at this conference because of its relevance to their programmatic scope. PART 2: TECHNICAL SUMMARY The Crystal Growth and Assembly Gordon Research Conference and Seminar is dedicated to the knowledge and understanding of the fundamental atomic and nanoscale chemistry and physics that are central to the nucleation and growth of crystals, as well as their assembly into ordered materials for a wide array of technologies. Such knowledge is needed to develop advanced materials for a wide range of applications. The 2025 conference has a particular focus on understanding and predicting dynamics and mechanisms of crystal nucleation and growth, formation of nano and complex hierarchical structures, crystal growth under external fields, and bioinspired assembly. This conference, with support from NSF's Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program in the Division of Materials Research, gathers leading scientists representing the major areas in crystallization and assembly, and brings them into contact with each other and, more importantly, with the next generation of researchers to promote broader outreach within the crystal growth community. With respect to this larger goal, the meeting seeks to provide a common interdisciplinary education for students; to raise the comfort-level of our student/postdoc participants; and, through these efforts, to develop a tightly woven community held together by a common interest in the principles of materials assembly. The accompanying Gordon Research Seminar, which is dedicated to and organized by graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, aids in the active participation of this new generation of scientists. 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 2025 · 2025-05

Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. The upcoming Gordon Research Conference and Seminar aims to create a forum to discuss bridging the basic science and applied technologies that are emerging utilizing silk-based materials (from medical devices to technical textiles). Our objectives are; to explore the impact of cutting edge paradigm-shifting basic science research, raise community awareness of today’s industrial and clinical challenges to help inform and guide effective research efforts, address knowledge transfer challenges in silk technology development, build and enhance cohesiveness, collegiality and collaboration whilst expanding our community to encompass more world-leading researchers. This will be achieved by bringing together experts in the field of silk from academia and industry from around the world to focus on current advances in the understanding and utilization of this unique family of proteins, from silkworms and spiders, from the perspectives of both basis science and applied technologies. With this conference we aim to inspire all our researchers and industrialists by introducing them to the variety of silk-related topics and integrating them into the silk community through networking sessions (via the GRS and Poster sessions) as well as panels devoted to all stages of career development (the GRC Power Hour). Our GRC/GRS will address silk challenges from both fundamental and applied/translational perspectives. Topics will include protein biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, zoology, materials science and engineering, biomedical applications. These key challenges and opportunities in the field of silk science and technology will be addressed through multidisciplinary discussions, serving as platforms to foster collaborations among peers and showcase cutting-edge research. Specific sessions will address silk protein structure-function relationships, analyze the performance of various silk fibers and material formats—including recombinant alternatives—and explore the design of new materials, systems, and devices based on silk. The conference will consider the state of advances in fundamental insights into silk polymer chain design, self-assembly, and functional outcomes, highlighting their implications for advancing device applications. With a focus on the commercialization of silk-based products, the conference will cover the entire value chain, particularly emphasizing the environmental impact of these materials. This is timely given the recent emphasis on sustainable technologies and green chemistry. Green silk production offers a promising avenue for sustainable innovation, such as applications of silk in preservation of food or textile industry. The conference will explore these and more topics, aiming to provide long-term, meaningful impacts on the sustainable polymer field.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-05

This award will provide travel and registration support for attendees of the 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) in Chemical Oceanography and the associated Gordon Research Seminar. The field of Chemical Oceanography addresses many issues of broader societal importance, such as the fate of human inputs to the ocean, sustainability of ocean ecosystems, and the scientific underpinnings of proper management of coastal and open oceans. The Chemical Oceanography GRC brings together scientists from all career stages and different parts of the chemical oceanography research field to discuss their newest ideas. The Gordon Research Seminar is a two-day workshop prior to the GRC meeting, focused on mentoring and cohort-building among researchers new to the field. The 2025 Gordon Research Conference will be held in July 2025 at Southern New Hampshire University. The theme of this year’s conference is “Fingerprints in the Ocean,” reflecting how the discipline of Chemical Oceanography uses chemical fingerprints left by physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes to understand the ocean. Nine topical sessions will showcase research advances in the chemical tools used by the scientific community to study the ocean and how it is changing. The sessions cover coastal biogeochemical processes, natural and anthropogenic carbon cycling, insights from autonomous observations, molecular chemical oceanography, trace elements and isotopes, biogeochemical modelling, a session devoted to marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), and what sediments tell us about past and present biogeochemical cycling. Interest in mCDR has expanded rapidly in academic, governmental, and entrepreneurial circles, and chemical oceanographers are uniquely qualified to address the fundamental bases for mCDR strategies. This year’s conference will provide a forum for examining several of these strategies in the context of other fundamental advances in chemical oceanography. 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 2025 · 2025-05

Summary This proposal seeks partial support for the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Muscle Excitation- Contraction coupling (ECC). This international conference has been a central hub for tremendous progress in this important field. The latest advances in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle ECC will be investigated at different levels (from biophysics, imaging, electrical and calcium-dependent signaling, to integrated function) to garner insight into normal physiological function, dysfunction in disease, and potential therapeutics. This GRC will meet June 1-6, 2025 at the Rey Don Jaime Grand Hotel near Barcelona, Spain. The program was developed in consultation with a broad advisory group of leaders in ECC research. This group and the GRC are chaired by Drs. Montserrat Samsó (USA) and László Csernoch (Hungary). Support is also sought for an associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) that is led by and focused upon early-stage investigators (ESIs; students, postdocs, and new faculty). This GRS immediately precedes the GRC and is chaired by two ESIs (Dr. Callum Quinn from the UK, and Dr. Christopher Ko from the USA). The GRC and GRS endeavor to create a forum for young and established researchers working in the most diverse fields of muscle research, where they can share their latest results, participate in discussions held in a stimulating environment and lay the foundations for collaborations. To this end, a program has been carefully constructed that discusses the function of the skeletal, heart, and smooth muscles in a broad sense, from the structure of molecules important in muscle function, to the further clarification of the role of sub-cellular organelles in the understanding of pathological processes. The application of novel high-throughput techniques and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in studying muscle function, helping to solve muscle related diseases, will also be discussed. The conference aims to pay special attention to motivating junior ECC ESIs to continue and complete their research careers by providing an interactive informal forum for presenting their work and promoting networking. The 2025 ECC GRC will have 38 speakers, 6 shorter talks to highlight selected posters, and 9 topic discussion leaders. Scientific sessions will detail the structure- function of ECC at multiple scales ranging from the molecular level to translation into new therapeutic strategies for ECC-related diseases. Sessions include, 1) muscle ultrastructure, 2) key regulatory proteins, 3) mechanosensation, 4) atrophy, regeneration and aging, 5) specialized surface membrane structures, 6) intracellular organelles, 7) high throughput approaches and AI, 8) new therapies for myopathies, and 9) a keynote session. The GRS will help ESIs develop self-confidence and encourage full engagement in formal and informal discussions with senior colleagues. The GRC will highlight ESI presentations in several ways (short talks, Poster Flash talks, and participation as discussion co-leaders). We expect to attract ~175 basic and clinical researchers across career stages, genders, races, heritages, research disciplines, institutions, and geographical locations.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-05

This grant will support registration fees and travel for selected participants at the 2025 Soft Matter Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) being held at Colby Sawyer College (New London, New Hampshire) 9-14 August 2025. This GRC and GRS will be relatively small gatherings of research scientists, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students who are scientifically focused on the interdisciplinary subfield of soft, squishy, deformable, and active materials. These are important materials in our everyday world, yet scientists and engineers still do not fully understand how they work or what technology can achieve with them. Such materials can be human-made or they can be biologically-derived, and the meeting will feature presentations from scientists working on both types of systems. A major highlight of the meeting is that unpublished research will be shared among the group, which will foster rapid communication and collaboration, and allow new scientific breakthroughs to happen much faster. The second goal of the meeting is to train the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists focused on soft matter. The meeting will have a significant number of training opportunities for students, including poster sessions for students to present their work, professional development sessions, and the opportunity to give short flash-talks. A variety of scientists from different backgrounds, and from both research-focused and teaching-focused institutions, will be present to offer advice and guidance to the students. The scientific objectives of the GRC and GRS are several-fold. The first goal is to gather a broad set of scientists working on all aspects of soft, living, and deformable materials to discuss unpublished work, which will accelerate results, create new collaborations, and result in novel scientific and engineering knowledge generation. The second goal is to educate and train the next generation of soft matter scientists and engineers through the presentations of new results, networking discussions, and leadership opportunities, educational panels, and mentoring. Soft Condensed Matter Physics is a highly interdisciplinary field of study undertaken by researchers in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, and sometimes even Biology departments. One of the main objectives of this effort is to educate and mentor the next generation of soft matter scientists and engineers. As the field has grown, the number of trainees working on soft matter questions has also grown. To train these students, the GRS will provide an extra set of presentations and mentoring sessions which is organized by trainees, for trainees. The GRC will also add a new component aimed at highlighting and training the next generation: trainee talks. These talks will both highlight trainees' research and drive higher participation in the poster session, which is mostly presentations from graduate students and postdocs. 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 2025 · 2025-05

This award will support the 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Seminar (GRS) on “Archaea: Ecology, Metabolism and Molecular Biology,” to be held July 20-25, 2025 at Les Diablerets Conference Center, Switzerland. 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 ecology, metabolism, and molecular biology of the Archaea, the oldest form of life on earth, ancestral to all other lifeforms. The conference will also discuss advances in archaeal genomics for understanding the origins of animal, plant, and fungal cells, as well as for biotechnology applications. The interactions of microbiologists, geneticists, biochemists, and cell biologists will increase our understanding of these microorganisms and how to harness their potential for future biotechnology tools, and the senior scientists will engage with and train junior scientists. This engagement is a priority of the conference and especially the seminar, in talks and poster sessions to allow all participants to display 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 archaeal taxonomy, genetics, and biochemistry. Sessions will focus on recent advances in such topics as “Viruses, CRISPRs, and Other Defense and Anti-defense Systems”, “Cellular Biology, Diversity and Evolution of Asgard Archaea”, “Ecology and Diversity of Archaea and the Human Archaeome,” and “Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology.” In addition to formal talks, engagement will be facilitated by poster sessions to stimulate interactions between researchers. NSF support will be used to defray travel costs to allow attendance of participants from early stages of their careers. This award is funded by the Cellular Dynamics and Function Cluster, the Genetic Mechanisms Cluster, the Systems and Synthetic Biology Clusters, and Division Office of the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences 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 2025 · 2025-05

Project Summary This proposal aims to support junior investigators, post-doctoral fellows, and students to attend the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Neurotrophic Mechanisms in Health and Disease at Salve Regina University, Newport, RI, from June 1-6, 2025, along with the preceding Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on May 31-June 1, 2025 for early career researchers. The conference aims to foster interactions among diverse researchers from all over the world, discuss new approaches and emerging concepts in neurotrophic factor research, and integrate young researchers into the neurotrophic factors' community. Emphasis is placed on diversity, inclusion, and a family-friendly approach, with significant representation of women and under-represented groups among the speakers and targeted efforts to promote attendance from these groups. For over 26 years, this interdisciplinary conference has brought together neuroscientists, cell biologists, and clinicians to lead advancements in molecular, cellular, and developmental neuroscience and translate neurotrophin biology into therapies. Neurotrophic factors play critical roles in nervous system development, including neurogenesis, neuronal survival and death, axon and dendrite growth and pruning, synaptic plasticity, myelination, and behaviour regulation. Emerging research reveals their involvement in stem cell niches, tissue regeneration, neuron-glia/immune signalling, and cancer progression. Neurotrophin signalling mechanisms are increasingly recognized in human developmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, chronic inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases, with neurotrophin-based treatments now available and in late phase clinical trials.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2025-05

Enter the text here that is the new abstract information for your application. This section must be no longer than 30 lines of text. Project Summary The objective of the 2025 Artificial Molecular Switches and Motors Gordon Research Conference (GRC) is to foster innovation and collaboration to advance molecular machines capable of sensing, computing, and actuating at the molecular scale. This year’s focus will follow the theme, "Molecular Machines in Action," which emphasizes the transformative potential of these systems for human health and other applications. This interdisciplinary event brings together bioengineers, organic chemists, physicists, bioelectronics experts, soft robotic scientists, and others to promote idea exchanges and lead to groundbreaking biomedical advancements. Addressing the critical need to understand and utilize molecular machines for health applications, the conference will cover diagnostics, drug delivery, cellular surgery, and smart therapeutic devices. By convening experts and emerging researchers, the event aims to accelerate the translation of these technologies from lab to clinic, enhancing scientific knowledge and clinical applications. The conference aligns with the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)'s mission to advance biomedical technologies for human health. The GRC format encourages deep scientific exchange through formal presentations, poster sessions, and informal discussions, facilitating collaboration and new ideas. Key topics include photopharmacology, soft robotics, wearable electronics, DNA nanorobotics, artificial muscles, and smart tattoos. Invited speakers, such as Dr. Dirk Trauner (photopharmacology) and Dr. William Shih (DNA nanotechnology), and many others will provide insights into the latest advancements and future directions in molecular machines. The associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will offer graduate students and postdoctoral researchers a platform to present their work and network before the GRC begins. By showcasing cutting-edge research and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, these events will drive innovation, support early career researchers, and advance novel biomedical imaging and bioengineering technologies. The conference will significantly impact the scientific community by promoting collaboration, new concepts, methods, and technologies aimed at improving human health.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2025-05

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The goals of this conference are the following: 1) to enhance the exchange of information related to CAG expansion diseases. This is one of the few opportunities where scientists from a broad range of disciplines can attend a conference on all the CAG repeat disorders. They will hear about advances in other repeat disorders that illuminate common mechanisms and unravel the ones relevant to each of these diseases; 2) to stimulate global collaborative research to advance our understanding of human CAG triplet repeat diseases. The Gordon Research Conference on CAG Triplet Repeat Disorders has an outstanding record of fostering successful exchange and collaboration and has encouraged breakthrough research; 3) to provide junior investigators with an opportunity to present their latest work and interact with leading scientists, and to promote diversity among investigators of CAG triplet diseases. We will attract the best young minds in the field with a comprehensive and intellectually stimulating program. They will have ample opportunities to present their concepts and results in both poster and oral presentation formats, and the opportunity to receive mentorship and support in developing their research career. 4) to increase our understanding of the function and dysfunction of the disease-causing DNA, RNA, and proteins to advance the development of disease-modifying therapeutics. We are committed to developing a diverse program and inclusive atmosphere at the conference. We have already succeeded in having 50% of confirmed speakers and discussion leaders thus far who are women, and three confirmed/invited speakers/discussion leaders are from Asia. As we continue to invite speakers, we will ensure that >50% are women and that >5% are of minority racial and ethnic backgrounds since >50% of the talks will be chosen from abstracts. A Power Hour will be organized, which is an hour-long informal gathering to address diversity and inclusion in the scientific workplace by providing a safe environment for informal and meaningful conversations amongst colleagues of all career stages, supporting the professional growth of all members of our communities. Overall, the conference will provide a unique opportunity to gather a wide range of diverse scientists at all career stages from the global community to share and discuss the latest developments in CAG Triplet Repeat Disorders in an inclusive and stimulating environment.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2025-05

We request partial support for the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) titled "Wnt signaling: mechanisms, biology & therapy" to be held June 20-27th, 2025 at Bates College (Lewiston, ME). The GRC portion of the meeting will be chaired by Ken Cadigan (University of Michigan, USA) Madelon Maurice (UMC Utrecht, Netherlands) with Marian Waterman (University of California, Irvine, USA) and Rami Hannoush (Versant Ventures) as Vice-Chairs. The GRC include presentations from many prominent scientists, at varied career stages, active in the field of Wnt biology. The GRS will be held at the same location June 20- 21st, 2025 and will feature talks from graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. The GRS will be led by Drs. Lucie Wolf (post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto) and Pierfrancesco Pagella (Associate Professor, Linköping University; Dr. Pagella was elected co-chair of the GRS while still a post-doctoral fellow). The major goal of the conference is to provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of recent advances and new ideas in all aspects of Wnt biology and molecular biology. The Wnt signaling field is highly active (almost 1800 publications listed in PubMed in 2024 alone) and is required for countless developmental, tissue homeostasis and physiological functions throughout metazoans. In addition, de-regulation of Wnt signaling is widely recognized as a critical regulator numerous human disorders, from early developmental abnormalities to age- related diseases, such as cancer. Session topics have been selected to highlight active areas of Wnt signaling. Several sessions will focus on the rich Wnt biology that continues to expand, including development, stem cell biology and cancer. These questions will be explored in a wide variety of invertebrate organisms (cnidarians, Drosophila and C. elegans) as well as vertebrate models (frogs, fish and mice). Cell and organoid cultures will also be prominently represented and a session on therapeutic interventions will touch upon some of the efforts to drug this major pathway. Mechanisms of Wnt signal transduction, including ligand-receptor interactions, regulation of β-catenin stability and transcriptional regulation of Wnt targets will be examined at the genetic, biochemical and structural levels. A section on β-catenin-independent signaling recognizes the importance of the so-called "non-canonical" pathways by which Wnt regulate cell behavior. Based on past Wnt signaling GRCs, this meeting will attract a diverse array of junior and senior researchers from North America, Europe and Asia. This gathering will provide information exchange that is essential for keeping abreast of new developments, as well as provide an excellent entry point for younger researchers to appreciate the scope of this active field and make important contacts for their career advancement. We expect the reporting of new discoveries and the establishment of new collaborations that will continue to push this field forward in a cooperative manner.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2025-05

Project Summary Cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion underlie fundamental biological processes during development and disease. Advancing this field requires collaboration and communication between scientists in diverse fields including cell and developmental biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and engineering. The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Cell Contact and Adhesion is the premier gathering for investigators working on basic biology and therapeutic applications of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. This application requests funds primarily to sup- port the registration of graduate students, postdocs, and Early-Stage Investigators at the 2025 meeting and the associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) for graduate students and postdocs. The meeting is anchored by an international community of scientists who are leaders in studying cell adhesion and in training/mentoring the next generation of scientists. It brings together an interdisciplinary group including cell and developmental biol- ogists, biochemists, biophysicists, engineers, and scientists working in industry, and provides an exciting forum for exchanging ideas, tools, and techniques. It provides an outstanding opportunity for graduate students, post- docs, and Early-Stage Investigators to present their data, gain visibility, receive constructive feedback from leaders in the field, and engage in impactful community-building. Our aims are: Aim 1: Provide an interdisciplinary forum to discuss new discoveries in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhe- sion and help attendees think broadly about how basic science discoveries inform clinical approaches. Our program will include presentations ranging from those exploring the mechanisms mediating signaling at cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions, to those defining the roles of adhesive junctions in morphogenesis, homeo- stasis, and disease, to those profiling emerging ideas and techniques that will drive future advances. The com- bination of themes will make this meeting the premier conference in this field next year and will foster genera- tion of new ideas that drive research forward. The program includes 28 invited speakers representing diverse fields and career stages, including speakers who are underrepresented minorities or are from outside the US. 16 talks by graduate students, postdocs, and Early-Stage Investigators will be selected from the abstracts. Aim 2: Build a community among diverse meeting participants from all career stages that exchanges scientific ideas and mentoring advice. The intimate size and informal setting is central to success of the meeting and fosters interactions. Graduate students and postdocs showcase their research through a pre- meeting GRS and in selected talks and posters at the GRC. We encourage an inclusive environment where diversity of ideas and backgrounds is represented and will employ innovative mechanisms to foster community building and mentoring of early career scientists. Our Power Hour is on the theme of ‘Time management in Ac- ademic Research’. Structured and unstructured activities will promote interactions between faculty and train- ees, including afternoon mentoring discussions, shared meals, and poster sessions.

NIH Research Projects · FY 2025 · 2025-05

PROJECT SUMMARY: Therapies that enhance tissue repair and regeneration have the potential to significantly improve human and animal health, as both under- and over-zealous responses to tissue damage represent major health problems. Compromised wound repair, for example chronic wounds and pressure ulcers in aging or associated with diabetes, are estimated to contribute over 10 billion dollars to annual healthcare costs in the US alone. Moreover, scarring and fibrosis following trauma or associated with a range of diseases are a significant cause of death in the developed world, as it causes many vital organs to fail, including heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control repair and regeneration in vivo and uncover the reasons why some organisms can regenerate while others cannot. This is key in progressing regenerative medicine to a new level. Advances in regenerative medicine occur through innovative research, and also through the rapid dissemination of breakthroughs in this field through fostering communication and collaboration in the scientific community. The Gordon Research Conference on Tissue Repair and Regeneration (GRC-TRR) has been pivotal in sharing the latest discovering and fostering collaboration in this field for three decades. The 2025 GRC-TRR will be the 16th meeting in this seminar series, aiming to unite top researchers, clinicians, and early career scientists to drive new ideas in regenerative medicine (previous programs can be found at the GRC website). Specifically, we have planned nine scientific sessions, ranging from basic science involving developmental biology and insights from model organisms, to the more applied and clinical aspects, such as tissue engineering, the role of infection, inflammation and immunity in tissue destruction and healing, as well as the latest approaches in clinical treatments. This will bring novel insights into how we can precisely manipulate tissues and organs in patients towards a regenerative outcome in a wide range of contexts, from developmental defects to fibrosis in chronic diseases.

NSF Awards · FY 2025 · 2025-05

This award supports the 13th Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Radiation and Climate, to be held at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, 20-25 July 2025. Additional support is provided for the seventh Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), convened over the two days preceding the GRC. The GRS is a pre-conference meeting targeted specifically at students and early-career scientists, intended to provide an environment in which participants with comparable levels of experience and education can come together to discuss their current research and build networks for long-term collaboration. This year's GRC is focused on improving understanding of key uncertainties of the climate system and its response to external forcing, with particular emphasis on new ways to connect observations and models across spatial scales. The focus area is motivated by novel Earth observations and applications of artificial intelligence to climate modeling. The GRC and GRS have scientific broader impacts by serving as a venue for the exchange of results and ideas among researchers attempting to understand the radiative processes that govern weather and climate. The meeting is expected to be particularly advantageous for early-career scientists, as it is formulated to promote in-depth interactions among junior and senior scientists over the course of a week, in a conducive setting of manageable size with few distractions. The topics to be addressed are of societal interest given the key role of radiative effects in determining Earth's climate. 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 2025 · 2025-05

Project Summary/Abstract Elastin, elastic fibers, and associated microfibrils are connective tissue molecules that provide recoil to tissues that stretch. They are critical to the function of numerous organs, with highest concentrations in arteries, ligaments, lungs, and skin but are also key to the function of female genitourinary organs, tendons, eyes, and bone. Elastin’s deposition is tightly developmentally controlled, but once in the extracellular space, it has a prolonged half-life. Currently, knowledge is lacking as to how to reactivate elastin deposition outside of early developmental periods, leading to limited ability of the body to repair and regenerate elastic tissues. Consequently, elastin’s eventual turnover is associated with many pathologic features of aging while accelerated turnover is seen in a variety of common health conditions ranging from aneurysm and emphysema to tendinopathy and pelvic organ prolapse. The Elastin, Elastic Fibers and Microfibrils Gordon Research Conference (GRC) will provide in-depth discussion of elastic tissue biology with an emphasis on sessions that delve into mechanisms governing the timing and extent of elastic fiber protein production and their contribution to disease. Sessions cover a broad range of topics including molecular properties of elastin relevant to biomaterials, mechanisms of transcriptional and translational control, inflammation and maintenance of elastic fibers, novel imaging and big data techniques to quantify elastin and assess its impact, and sex and tissue specific control of elastin deposition. Evening sessions are focused on disease mechanisms relevant to the biology discussed in the morning and cover a comprehensive set of key organ systems: heart, lung, musculoskeletal, integumentary and ophthalmologic. Featured sessions on women’s health topics as they relate to the regenerative potential of elastic fibers and one on therapeutics are also included. The aims of the conference are the following: 1) Generate novel research questions by integrating data from elastin-related and broader scientific fields; 2) Drive medical research by bringing to light new data with high translational potential in the areas of diagnosis, management, and treatment of acquired and genetic disorders involving elastic fibers and microfibrils; 3) Promote the early integration of young scientists from a variety of backgrounds into the elastin community; 4) Address issues related to rigor and reproducibility of data in the elastin biology field; 5) Provide an inclusive environment for a diverse set of scientists with broad expertise relevant to elastin to exchange ideas, accelerate research, and catalyze collaborations. The 2025 Elastin, Elastic Fibers & Microfibrils GRC will focus on recent novel, unpublished data and will stimulate collaborations, and novel hypotheses by integrating participants from varying disciplines and backgrounds. The accompanying Gordon Research Seminar will allow trainees to interact with established investigators, present their data, and learn career development skills.