Conference Description
The Biology of Spirochetes 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scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.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 phylum Spirochaetota forms an evolutionarily and structurally unique group of bacteria. Spirochetes are ubiquitous in nature due to their ability to adapt and persist within an extraordinarily wide range of environments and hosts. The diverse phylum includes species associated with human and zoonotic diseases, such as Lyme disease, relapsing fever borreliosis, periodontal diseases, syphilis, endemic trepanemotoses, leptospirosis and dysentery. The global burden of spirochetal diseases, particularly Lyme disease, syphilis and leptospirosis, continues to increase annually due to a variety of factors, including climate change and limited access to health care. Due to the phylogenetic divergence of spirochetes from model bacteria, as well as their fastidious nature, our knowledge of the biology of spirochetes is still limited. Since 1994, the biennial Gordon Research Conference on the Biology of Spirochetes has served as the foremost forum for researchers who study this diverse and successful group of bacteria. The highly interactive format features presentation of cutting-edge, unpublished scientific research at the forefront of spirochetology followed by open, collegial discussions. The Biology of Spirochetes conferences have fostered numerous productive, often lifelong, collaborations between investigators from a broad spectrum of backgrounds, interests and experimental approaches. The conference also provides a welcoming atmosphere for trainees and early-career scientists to introduce themselves and their research to the spirochete community and interact with established investigators in the field. Critical to our mission of enhancing career development is the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), held the weekend preceding the Gordon Research Conference, which provides a relaxed, yet stimulating, setting for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to present their work, discuss their findings, and build collaborations. The 2026 meeting will cover topics from fundamental science to translational research at the frontiers of spirochete biology.
The conference will consist of nine sessions, on the topics listed below. The conference chair is currently developing their preliminary program, which will include the names of the invited speakers and discussion leaders for each of these sessions. The preliminary program will be available by April 23, 2025. Please check back for updates.
