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Epithelial Differentiation and Keratinization

Gordon Research Conference

Epithelial Development, Aging, Disease and Regeneration Across Cells and Systems

June 1 - 6, 2025

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GRC Education Requirements: Undergraduates or those who have not obtained a bachelor's degree in science/engineering (or acceptable equivalent) are not eligible to apply to attend Gordon Research Conferences or Seminars.

Chairs

and

Vice Chair

Ventura Beach Marriott

2055 Harbor Boulevard

Ventura, California, United States

Venue and Travel Information

Application Information

The application deadline for this meeting was May 4, 2025. You may still submit an application, which may be considered by the conference chair if there is still room available.

Conference Description

The Epithelial Differentiation and Keratinization GRC is a premier, international scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages. The conference program includes an array of speakers and discussion leaders from institutions 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 communities, with lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has designated time for poster sessions from individuals of all career stages, and afternoon free time and communal meals allow for informal networking opportunities with leaders in the field.

GRC Speaker Abstract Deadline: Although applications will be accepted until May 4, 2025, any applicants who wish to be considered for an oral presentation should submit their application by March 9, 2025.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Epithelial Differentiation and Keratinization" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

Sunday
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm	Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm	Introductory Comments by GRC Staff / Welcome and Introduction from the Chairs
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm	Keynote Session: Precision Medicine Through Molecular Biology Discussion Leaders: and
7:40 pm - 7:50 pm	Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:50 pm - 8:30 pm	"Decoding the Skin Barrier: Insights into Tight Junctions, Stratum Corneum, and Immune Modulation"
8:30 pm - 8:40 pm	Discussion
8:40 pm - 9:20 pm	"Cell-Cell Interactions in Regulation of Lung Homeostasis, Disease, and Cancer"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Epithelial Repair Across the Animal Kingdom Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:20 am	"Body-Wide Responses to Limb Loss in the Highly-Regenerative Axolotl"
9:20 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:40 am	"Mechanisms of Rete Ridge Development, Regeneration, and Induction in Mammalian Skin"
9:40 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Human Skin Organoids for Modeling Development and Disease"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 10:55 am	"Functional Interrogation of Melanocortin 1 Receptor (Mc1r) in the Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus"
10:55 am - 11:00 am	Discussion
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Mechanisms of Tissue Adaptation and Maladaptation"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Hair Follicle Epithelial Stem Cells Promote hiPSC-Derived Sensory Neuron Maturation"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 12:05 pm	"Spatial and Directional Patterning of the Epidermis"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	Talk Selected from GRS
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Stem Cells and Niches Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:50 pm	"Epidermal Stem Cells in Stress"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm	"Spatiotemporal Gradients of Mesenchymal Stiffness Control Sweat Gland Morphogenesis"
8:10 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"ECM Dynamics in Skin Morphogenesis"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	"Live Imaging Reveals Organized Transcription Pattern of Stem Cell Regulatory Genes in Homeostatic Skin Epidermis"
8:55 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:20 pm	"A Perspective on the Evolution of Skin Stem Cell Biology"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Epithelial Organization and Cell-Cell Interactions Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:20 am	"Desmosomes Coordinate Cell Cycle and Cytoskeletal Dynamics Promoting Epidermal Development"
9:20 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:40 am	"Alterations in Epidermal Stem Cell Heterogeneity in Response to Skin Inflammation"
9:40 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Exploring the Human Gut with Bioengineered Models and Single-Cell Technologies"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 10:55 am	"Tuning Morphogen Gradients to Coordinate Cell Cycle Exit with Molecular Differentiation During Hair Follicle Dermal Niche Formation"
10:55 am - 11:00 am	Discussion
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Role of Cell Volume in Regulating Epidermal Stem Cell Fate"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	Talk Selected from GRS
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 12:05 pm	"Cell Fate Specification in the Embryonic Skin"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Keratin 76 expression in Thymic Epithelial Cells is Necessary for Skin T Cell Tolerance"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Aging, Stress and Cellular Memory Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:50 pm	"A Genomic Toolkit for Sensing Cellular States in Neural Crest Development"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm	"Keratin 16 Spatially Inhibits Type I Interferon Responses in Stressed Skin"
8:10 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"Daily Skin Functions Require the Coordination of Local and Systemic Circadian Clocks: Impact on Homeostasis and Aging"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	"Nerve-Stem Cell Interaction Across Age and Sex"
8:55 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:20 pm	"Networks and Cues in Epidermal Homeostasis"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Tissue Development and Regeneration Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:20 am	"The Genetic and Developmental Basis for the Sweaty and Naked Ape"
9:20 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:40 am	"Defining the Role of Fibroblasts in Stretch-Mediated Skin Expansion"
9:40 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Hair Growth Regulation by Non-Hair Follicle Cell Types and Cell States"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 10:55 am	"Hyperinnervation Inhibits Organ-Level Regeneration in Mammalian Skin"
10:55 am - 11:00 am	Discussion
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Metabolic Regulation of Tissue Repair"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Skin Regeneration Underlies Cancer Resistance in Acomys"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 12:05 pm	"Cellular Plasticity in Tissue Regeneration: Lessons From Melanocytes"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Patterning and Regional Specification of Hairy Skin"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Clonal Evolution and Cancer Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:50 pm	"Mechanisms of Basal Cell Carcinoma Progression"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm	"LSD1 Orchestrates Retinoid-Immune Crosstalk to Balance Homeostasis and Cancer"
8:10 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:25 pm	"Shared Requirement for MYC Upstream Super-Enhancer Region in Tissue Regeneration and Cancer"
8:25 pm - 8:30 pm	Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pm	"Intravital Imaging of Stem Cell Dynamics During Skin Cancer Initiation"
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:10 pm	"A 5'-UTR Mutation in OXA1L Drives cSCC Metastasis via Tumor Dedifferentiation and Immune Evasion"
9:10 pm - 9:15 pm	Discussion
9:15 pm - 9:25 pm	"PRC2-Dependent H3K27me3 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma"
9:25 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am	Business Meeting Nominations for the Next Vice Chair(s); Complete the GRC Evaluation Forms; Election of the Next Vice Chair(s)
9:00 am - 12:30 pm	Genomics, Proteomics and Epigenetics Discussion Leader:
9:00 am - 9:20 am	"Chromatin Dynamics of Multi-Lineage Tissue Manufacturing"
9:20 am - 9:30 am	Discussion
9:30 am - 9:40 am	"Understanding Mosaic Tissue Dynamics Through Cell Competition"
9:40 am - 9:45 am	Discussion
9:45 am - 10:05 am	"Metabolism in Wound Healing and Epidermal Stem Cells"
10:05 am - 10:15 am	Discussion
10:15 am - 10:45 am	Coffee Break
10:45 am - 10:55 am	"Cell-Type Specific RNA Pol II Activity Maps in Intact-Tissues: Gateway to Mammalian Gene Regulatory Mechanisms in vivo"
10:55 am - 11:00 am	Discussion
11:00 am - 11:20 am	"Epigenetics of Feather Regionality and Temporal Transitions"
11:20 am - 11:30 am	Discussion
11:30 am - 11:40 am	"Dkk4: A Key Regulator in Hair Follicle Formation and Patterning"
11:40 am - 11:45 am	Discussion
11:45 am - 12:05 pm	"More Than Mutations: A Survival Guide for Emerging Tumours"
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm	Discussion
12:15 pm - 12:25 pm	"Dissect Molecular Pathogenesis and Silencing Mechanisms of Retrotransposons in Hair Follicle Regeneration"
12:25 pm - 12:30 pm	Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm	Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm	Free Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Poster Session
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm	Dinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm	Evolution of Epithelial Therapies Discussion Leader:
7:30 pm - 7:50 pm	"Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Hair Follicle Stem Cells and Their Niche"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm	Discussion
8:00 pm - 8:10 pm	"The Role of Linear Deubiquitination in Skin Biology"
8:10 pm - 8:15 pm	Discussion
8:15 pm - 8:35 pm	"Wnt Relaxes a Stressed Out Epidermis to Regenerate Hair Follicles"
8:35 pm - 8:45 pm	Discussion
8:45 pm - 8:55 pm	"Neuro-Epithelial Crosstalk Governs Localized Immunosurveillance in the Skin"
8:55 pm - 9:00 pm	Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:20 pm	"Rare Begets Common: Human Diseases Illuminate Basic Biology"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm	Discussion
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Breakfast
9:00 am	Departure

Contributors

Funding for this conference was made possible (in part) by (R13AR085362 and 3R13AR085362-01S1) from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and all co-funding support provided by National Institute On Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention by trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Conference Links

Conference History Epithelial Differentiation and Keratinization (GRS) Contribute Financially to This Conference

Conference Fees

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Poster Information

Poster sessions are an integral part of the our conferences, and offer all conferees an opportunity to discuss their research.

Preparing your GRC poster

Funding Opportunities

Financial assistance is available beginning in 2026 for qualified applicants through the Carl Storm Opportunity Fellowships program. Learn more.

Registration Fees

Conferee Single Room:

$1,720.00

Conferee Shared Room:

$1,375.00

Conferee Off-Site:

$945.00

Guest Single Room:

$1,530.00

Guest Shared Room:

$1,185.00

Guest Off-Site:

$755.00

Child 4-12 yrs Shared Room:

$593.00

Child 4-12 yrs Off-Site:

$378.00

Child Under 4 yrs Shared Room:

Free

Child Under 4 yrs Off-Site:

Free

Additional Fee Info

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