Adhesion and Polarity Convergence Across Scales

The convergence of adhesion and polarity signals across molecular, cellular, and tissue scales is crucial for cell positioning, morphogenesis, barrier formation, tissue integrity and function. Disruptions in these pathways lead to loss of tissue architecture, promoting diseases such as cancer, developmental disorders, and chronic inflammation. Understanding their interplay offers therapeutic insights for restoring tissue homeostasis in pathological conditions. This GRC presents a new opportunity to bring together adhesion and polarity communities from across disciplines, share the latest mechanistic and technological breakthroughs in the field, and create new and impactful collaborations. Sessions will cover emerging areas at the intersection of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and polarity signaling, spanning whole organism to single molecule, and the influence of physical and chemical factors on these processes. The meeting will unite a diverse group of current and future leaders in the field and enable an interactive atmosphere where all attendees are actively involved in exchanging their ideas. There will be opportunities for trainees and early-career investigators to showcase their research, gain visibility, and receive constructive feedback through poster sessions and short talks chosen from the submitted abstracts. An associated two-day Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will precede this GRC, exclusively for graduate students and postdocs.