The aim of the proposed conference is to promote interchange of new information and ideas on Fibroblast Growth Factors and FGF receptors and how they regulate developmental, physiological and pathological processes. FGF signalling pathways also interact with many other signalling pathways to regulate these processes. With the Gordon Research Conference format, we will bring together investigators that are leaders in the field of FGF biochemistry, structure, signalling, development, physiology and pathology. We will also include investigators who are linking FGF signalling pathways to that of other signalling pathways. The overall goal is to provide comprehensive coverage of the FGF field and to begin to address the important issues of how FGF signalling pathways interact with other signalling pathways to regulate the development and physiology of the organism.

FGFs and FGF receptors have been identified in multicellular organisms ranging from C. elegans to humans, and have been shown to have important roles in cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and metabolism. According to the complete elucidation of the human and mouse genomes, twenty-two FGF genes and five FGF receptor genes have been identified. Recent advances have greatly facilitated the elucidation of structures and functions of FGF and FGF receptors but many questions remain unanswered. The importance of FGF biology is illustrated by over 18,638 publications in PubMed. Clearly, FGF biology is an important and expanding field of research. 6599 of these papers were published in the last 4 years!