The Vascular Cell Biology GRS provides a unique forum for young doctoral and post-doctoral researchers to present their work, discuss new methods, cutting edge ideas, and pre-published data, as well as to build collaborative relationships with their peers. Experienced mentors and trainee moderators will facilitate active participation in scientific discussion to allow all attendees to be engaged participants rather than spectators.
The vascular system is a dynamic, multi-scale network whose resilience is established through coordinated molecular programs, cellular interactions, and tissue-level organization during development and across healthy aging, and whose disruption underlies a wide range of vascular and organ pathologies. Recent advances are transforming our understanding of how endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and vascular stem and progenitor populations integrate regulatory RNA and chromatin mechanisms, organelle-based signaling, and mechanosensory pathways to drive angiogenic specialization, tissue remodeling, and vascular control of organ physiology. In parallel, emerging technologies—including high-resolution in vivo imaging, multimodal omics, and artificial-intelligence-enabled analysis—are redefining how vascular cell heterogeneity, network architecture, and disease mechanisms are studied across organs. This 2-day seminar offers trainees an outstanding opportunity to engage with the core scientific themes, including vascular resilience across scales, molecular and epigenetic regulation, organelle-driven signaling, vascular cell heterogeneity and specialization, stem cells and regeneration, vascular malformations, and therapeutic discovery.
The 2027 Vascular Cell Biology GRS promises an engaging program designed to provide an immersive and trainee-centered environment prioritizing mentorship, professional development, and scientific exchange. In addition to trainee-led scientific sessions, the seminar will include small-group mentoring roundtables, “Ask Me Anything” sessions with invited mentors, and interactive workshops focused on grant writing, career development, networking strategies, and work–life balance. A key objective of the GRS is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where trainees can engage in meaningful peer-to-peer scientific exchange while also benefiting from accessible, low-barrier interactions with mentors. We warmly invite your participation in this trainee-focused meeting at the forefront of vascular cell biology.
Application Instructions
The seminar will feature approximately 10 talks and 2 poster sessions. All attendees are expected to actively participate in the GRS, either by giving an oral presentation or presenting a poster. Therefore, all applications must include an abstract.
The seminar chair will select speakers from abstracts submitted by October 4, 2026. Those applicants who are not chosen for talks and those who apply after the deadline to be considered for an oral presentation will be expected to present a poster. In order to participate, you must submit an application by the date indicated in the Application Information section above.
Program Format
Gordon Research Seminars are 2-day meetings which take place on the Saturday and Sunday just prior to the start of the associated GRC. The GRS opens with a 1-hour introductory session on Saturday afternoon, followed by a poster session, dinner and a 2-hour session in the evening. Sunday morning begins with breakfast and is followed by another 2-hour session, a second poster session, and lunch. A final 1-hour session takes place just after lunch, and the associated GRC begins later that evening.
