Mechanisms of Collective and Single Cell Motility in Development, Homeostasis and Disease

Directed cell migration is a spectacular feature of normal development and tissue homeostasis. Without cell migration, embryos would not develop, wounds would never heal, and the immune system could neither form nor function. However cancer cells hijack these beneficial cell motility mechanisms to spread through the body. The objective of the 2017 Directed Cell Migration Gordon Conference is to bring together an international group of young and senior scientists who share a common interest in cell migration to exchange their cutting edge approaches and breakthrough discoveries. This conference will provide an opportunity to develop interactions and collaborations among scientists from multiple disciplines that are related to directed cell migration, including participants from the fields of immunology and inflammation, cancer invasion and metastasis, embryological development and tissue repair, as well as related fields, including engineering, physics and computational biology. This high level of scientific interaction will encourage the attendees to learn about latest research findings, develop novel hypotheses, and enhance insight into how cell migration contributes to disease. The session speakers, selected from a variety of fields, will emphasize novel, unpublished results directly related to gradient sensing and directed cell migration. Young investigators will be encouraged to present and discuss their findings in a supportive environment through the invitation of up to 20 additional speakers, selected from submitted abstracts, by participation in the posters sessions and through the associated Gordon Research Seminar. Throughout the conference and seminar, interactions between senior and young investigators will be promoted in both formal and informal settings.