TGF-β Family in Development and Disease

With over 25 years of watershed research, this unique conference will comprehensively cover TGF-β family signaling, ranging from the molecular details and complexities of signal transduction to biological responses during development and in adult tissue homeostasis. It will convene scientific leaders in industry and academia alongside early-career investigators to share cutting-edge research, foster collaborations, and advance our understanding of this critical signaling pathway. 

This year’s program will discuss immunoregulation in cancer, vascular physiology, tissue homeostasis, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine. Sessions will provide opportunities to bridge basic science discoveries within the field and its clinical applications.

Research presented at past conferences has been the catalyst for several breakthroughs, including advances in therapeutic targeting of TGF-β signaling in cancer immunotherapy, development of novel BMP antagonists for fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), and innovative approaches to modulating activin signaling in metabolic diseases. These discoveries have led to clinical trials and FDA-approved therapies such as TGF-β pathway inhibitors in oncology and BMP receptor modulators for rare bone diseases. 

Attendees will learn about:

· Novel paradigms of TGF-β family signaling mechanisms, especially signaling crosstalk.

· Therapeutic strategies for modulating signaling in cancer, fibrosis, and developmental disorders with direct clinical applications.

· Clinical insights into biomarker development and patient stratification approaches.

· Advanced methodologies for studying signaling dynamics, including single-cell approaches and computational modeling.

Program Topics

· TGF-β: History and Future Implications: Foundational discoveries and emerging models

· Immunoregulation in Cancer and Inflammation: Therapeutic targeting and resistance mechanisms

· Cancer Signaling Mechanisms: Molecular pathways and metastatic processes

· Development and Disease Intersections I & II: From embryogenesis to adult pathology

· Vascular Physiology and Angiogenesis: Cardiovascular applications and pulmonary diseases

· Tissue Homeostasis: Regeneration, repair, and aging processes

· Crosstalk Implications for Stem Cells and Regeneration: Therapeutic applications

· Therapeutic Challenges and Opportunities: Drug development and clinical translation

Workshops

A series of Meet the Expert sessions will feature interactive roundtable discussions where early-career researchers can engage directly with senior scientists from diverse backgrounds, including academia, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry.

The multi-track Career Development Workshops will cover transitioning from academia to industry careers, strategies for the new science funding landscape, scientific community leadership skills, developing research teams, and entrepreneurship in the biotech field.

Awards are offered - please visit this page for more information.