2026 Musculoskeletal Biology and Bioengineering Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY The biennial Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Musculoskeletal (MSK) Biology and Bioengineering has been the leading forum for the presentation and discussion of emerging paradigms in the field since the meeting was established in 1980. The impact of this meeting was further enhanced in 2014 with the addition of a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), which is focused on and led by trainees and early career investigators. Both the GRC and GRS promote presentation of unpublished data and prioritize formal and informal discussion time, and the program is developed in a way that facilitates participation and support of an array of new investigators in the musculoskeletal field. Participation is capped at 200 attendees to further enhance networking and discussion. In the current application, funds are requested for partial support of the 2026 GRC and GRS on MSK Biology and Bioengineering at Proctor Academy in Andover, NH. This venue provides an ideal environment for focused discussion of cutting-edge science and informal interactions during leisure and social activities each day. The theme for the 2026 GRC is “Retaining and Restoring MSK Function to Unlock Whole Body Health Span”, with the goal of facilitating the development of approaches that retain or restore MSK health through the lifespan. The GRC program, which consists of nine plenary sessions, will integrate biological, engineering, and clinical approaches in development, aging, and disease in the musculoskeletal system. In addition, short talks and poster presentations from early-stage investigators provide an important platform to highlight the next generation of MSK researchers. Areas of emphasis will focus on the retention or restoration of MSK health through the lifespan to improve healthspan, including metabolism, epigenetics, and immunology across the lifespan in MSK tissues. The two-day GRS program, themed “Thinking outside of the box - Innovative approaches for the maintenance and restoration of musculoskeletal health”, will immediately precede and integrate with the GRC program. GRS attendance is expected to be 50 individuals, and these participants are encouraged to attend the GRC. The GRS co-Chairs have worked closely with the GRC Chairs and Vice-Chairs to develop the scientific program, which includes a mentoring component focused on enhancing scientific communication and transparency. In addition to the keynote session and a career panel of early career and established investigators, the GRS features research of new investigators in two oral sessions and two poster sessions. Recognizing the need for this field to recruit and better support the success of the next generation of investigators, this meeting is designed to foster the development of our trainees through several mechanisms. Thus, the GRS and GRC will not only foster the vigorous exchange of emerging ideas but also support the engagement and development of a collaborative cohort of emerging basic and clinical investigators to accelerate the pace, breadth, and impact of musculoskeletal discovery.