The 2011 Gordon Research Conference on Fibronectin, Integrins and Related Molecules will be held May 1st - 6th at the Il Ciocco Hotel and Resort, Lucca (Barga), Italy. Initiated in 1982, this meeting series has developed into the premier international conference for academic, government and industry scientists interested in the structure, function, biochemistry, cell biology and in vivo significance of integrins and their ligands. Consistent with their position at the interface between complex extracellular matrices and intracellular cytoskeletal and signaling networks integrin adhesion receptors play essential roles in a variety of fundamental biological processes, are key elements in bi-directional signal transduction across the cell membrane and are therapeutic targets in a range of diseases. The 2011 Gordon Research Conference on Fibronectin, Integrins and Related Molecules will seek to reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the integrin field, spanning a broad range of techniques, technologies, and interests with the goal of better understanding integrins, their extracellular ligands and intracellular binding partners at the molecular, cellular and organismal level. The program, which is currently under development, aims to communicate major recent advances from this diverse field and highlight exciting new avenues of investigation, with a focus on new un-published data and stimulating active discussion among participants from different disciplines.

A notable addition for 2011 is that for the first time the Fibronectin, Integrins and Related Molecules Gordon Research Conference will be preceded by a companion Gordon-Kenan Research Seminar. This 2 day meeting designed for, and organized by, students and post-docs will focus on the Dynamics Of Integrin Adhesion And Signaling, providing a venue for young scientists to discuss their current research, learn from one another, network with their peers, and interact with leading scientists from the associated Gordon Research Conference. Students and postdocs are encouraged to attend both the Research Seminar and the Gordon Research Conference.