Physical Understanding of Membrane Protein Biogenesis

Membrane proteins are critical to cell functions and survival; thus, understanding how they fold and the disease states associated with misfolding is important. This GRC conference was created to accelerate research in membrane protein folding through sharing and discussion of the most recent discoveries. The 2025 conference marks the fifth biennial installment in our series, which makes it the 10-year anniversary of the inception of our community.

The Membrane Protein Folding GRC is the premier, international scientific venue for advancing the frontiers of integral membrane protein biology. The conference emphasizes cutting-edge, unpublished research and prioritizes time for discussion after each talk. Our sessions are designed to foster supportive, informal interactions among scientists at 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. Trainees and scientists from underrepresented groups (through Carl Storm Fellowships) are especially encouraged to attend and participate. Many of the talks at the GRC will be chosen from submitted abstracts, with dedicated slots for early-career researchers in both oral and poster presentations. Coupled with the trainee-centered GRS (Gordon Research Seminar), this conference provides an exceptional opportunity for early career researchers to showcase their research and interact with members of the membrane protein folding community from around the world. The link to the GRS page is under the Conference Links subheading.

Past conferences included topic areas such as membrane protein biogenesis and proteostasis, complex assembly, membrane protein design and structure prediction, therapeutic discovery, a-helical and ß-barrel folding, misfolding in disease, and membrane protein bilayer interactions. Scientists studying molecular, cellular, or biological aspects of membrane protein folding, either in normal or disease states are encouraged to apply.

The conference is five days long and held in the small beach town of Castelldefels, Spain to increase the sense of camaraderie and community, and to create lasting collaborations and friendships. In addition to premier talks, the conference has daily poster sessions, afternoon free time, and communal meals, which allow ample time for informal networking. Additionally, there will be optional excursions to nearby cultural attractions that provide memorable experiences and networking opportunities with conference attendees.