Conference Description
The Plasminogen Activation and Extracellular Proteolysis 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scientific conference focused on advancing the frontiers of science through the presentation of cutting-edge and unpublished research, prioritizing time for discussion after each talk and fostering informal interactions among scientists of all career stages.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 theme of the 2026 GRC will be mechanisms, functions, and translational and clinical implications of proteolytic enzymes, such as plasmin(ogen), plasminogen activators, thrombin, fibrin(ogen), and metalloproteases (MMPs). These enzymes are known to play important roles in blood coagulation and clot lysis. Recent discoveries revealed surprising roles for these proteases in homeostasis as well as human diseases, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic complications, and tumorigenesis. Age-dependent expression of blood proteases also has associations to the dysfunction of blood vessel and neurovascular coupling. Our invited speakers and discussion leaders are world-renowned experts on the structure and function of these proteins. Most of their recent and emerging work emphasizes the roles of fibrin(ogen), plasmin(ogen), plasminogen activators and inhibitors, MMPs, and membrane-anchored proteases in pathophysiological events, including cerebrovascular dysfunction with aging, coagulopathies and cerebral ischemia, musculoskeletal and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer development, and inflammatory diseases. Other notable work in this field revolves around the technological advances in targeting these proteases for new diagnostics and treatments for these diseases. This conference has a rich history of fostering new interdisciplinary collaborations, introducing and welcoming new researchers to the field, and nurturing promising scientists with similar interests. Importantly, the 2026 Gordon Conference will also be accompanied by a Gordon Research Seminar, which is focused on mentoring and attracting junior scientists, graduate students and postdocs, to this exciting field.
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 May 14, 2025. Please check back for updates.
