Conference Description
The Vascular Cell Biology 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scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.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 a diverse range 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.
The 2025 GRC/GRS on Vascular Cell Biology is subtitled “New Perspectives on Vascular Cell Diversity and Function in Health and Disease”. The unique aspect of this conference is its exclusive focus on vascular cell biology, highlighting the inherent diversity and heterogeneity of the endothelial and mural cells that make up the blood and lymphatic vascular systems. Understanding this heterogeneity, and how it is established and maintained, is essential for comprehending the development, function, repair and regeneration of blood and lymphatic vascular networks. By bringing together researchers investigating different facets of cell and molecular biology, including those exploring novel pathways and mechanisms outside the vascular biology field, our conference aims to unravel fundamental mechanisms of vascular specialization and elucidate the role of vascular cell phenotypes in maintaining overall health and preventing disease. We also aim to shed light on the unique biological characteristics of male vs. female vasculature, including hormonal influences, pregnancy-related adaptations, and sex-specific disorders. Join us as we catalyze collaboration and knowledge exchange to advance our understanding of vascular cell biology and its molecular regulation, paving the way for innovative treatments for blood and lymphatic vascular disorders.
The topics, speakers, and discussion leaders for the conference sessions are displayed below. The conference chair is currently developing their detailed program, which will include the complete meeting schedule, as well as the talk titles for all speakers. The detailed program will be available by September 14, 2024. Please check back for updates.
Establishing Vascular Heterogenity
Discussion Leaders
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Ralf Adams (Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Germany)
Speakers
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Kristy Red-Horse (HHMI/Stanford University, United States)
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Brant Weinstein (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, United States)
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Lisandra Vila Ellis (Northwestern University, United States)
Maintaining Vascular Heterogeneity: Resilience
Discussion Leaders
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Luisa Iruela-Arispe (Northwestern University, United States)
Speakers
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Zorina Galis (National Institutes of Health, United States)
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Stefanie Dimmeler (Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany)
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Joshua Scallan (University of South Florida, United States)
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Joseph Miano (Medical College of Georgia, United States)
Regulation by Mechanical Forces
Discussion Leaders
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Ellie Tzima (University of Oxford, United Kingdom)
Speakers
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Martin Schwartz (Yale School of Medicine, United States)
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Rashmi Priya (The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom)
Epigenetic Regulation and Epitranscriptomics
Discussion Leaders
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Anna Randi (Imperial College London, United Kingdom)
Speakers
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Courtney Griffin (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, United States)
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Delphine Gomez (University of Pittsburgh, United States)
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Kaska Koltowska (Uppsala University, Sweden)
Sex-Related Differences in Vascular Biology
Discussion Leaders
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Mark Kahn (University of Pennsylvania, United States)
Speakers
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Nina Stachenfeld (John B. Pierce Lab/Yale School of Medicine, United States)
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Mete Civelek (University of Virginia, United States)
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Hester Den Ruijter (UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands)
Imaging and Genomic Approaches
Discussion Leaders
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Rui Benedito (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Spain)
Speakers
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Mary Dickinson (Baylor College of Medicine, United States)
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Mauro Siragusa (Goethe University Frankfurt, Institute for Vascular SIgnalling, Germany)
Cellular Damage, Repair and Regeneration
Discussion Leaders
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Christiana Ruhrberg (University College London, United Kingdom)
Speakers
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Maria Barna (Stanford University, United States)
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Mark Majesky (Seattle Children's Research Institute, United States)
Metabolic Regulation
Discussion Leaders
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Michael Potente (Berlin Institute of Health at Charité & Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Germany)
Speakers
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Olivier Pourquie (Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women's Hospital, United States)
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Zoltan Arany (University of Pennsylvania, United States)
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Timothy Hla (Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, United States)
Congenital Vascular Disorders and Therapy
Discussion Leaders
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Joyce Bischoff (Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, United States)
Speakers
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Miikka Vikkula (Institute de Duve / UCLouvain, Belgium)
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Taija Makinen (Wihuri Research Institute, University of Helsinki / Uppsala University, Finland)
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S. Paul Oh (Barrow Neurological Institute, United States)
The GRC Power Hour™
Organizers
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Victoria Bautch (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States)
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Mara Pitulescu (Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine Münster, Germany)