Myelinating Glia and Their Interactions in Health and Disease

Myelinating glial cells exhibit a range of roles and interactions essential for healthy nervous system development and lifelong function. Reflecting their significance, disruptions to these cells are increasingly evident in various nervous system conditions, from neurodevelopmental disorders to age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Our understanding of myelinating glia and their interactions is rapidly evolving. Since the last Myelin GRC in 2024, we have gained significant insights. For example, myelinating glia close critical periods of functional plasticity during circuit formation. Oligodendrocyte lineage cells respond to neuronal activity by enhancing myelination, which can also be detrimental, promoting addiction and cancer cell integration into circuits. Promising clinical trials are underway, based on extensive research into peripheral and central myelin diseases. Additionally, myelinating cells are increasingly found to be involved in more diseases than previously known, with ongoing research likely to lead to new treatment strategies. Cutting-edge research is yielding conceptual, mechanistic, and translational insights, and the 2026 Myelin GRC will provide a platform for the community to share their latest findings. We will: 1) convene an international meeting of academic, clinical, and industry scientists studying myelinating glial cells in health and disease; 2) discuss exciting new developments by selecting presenters to share unpublished data, with many presentation slots reserved for talks selected from abstracts; 3) promote collaborative interactions to accelerate conceptual discovery and therapeutic advances; 4) offer attendees from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to present their work, engage with other scientists, and foster collaboration among participants. This GRC will be held alongside the "Myelin" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in both events must apply for the GRS and submit an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Note: This meeting is oversubscribed. Applications for oversubscribed meetings will only be considered by the conference chair if more seats become available due to cancellations.