2026 Chromatin Structure and Function Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY This proposal requests support for the 2026 GRC and GRS meeting on Chromatin Structure & Function (focus on “Unlocking Genome Organization and Chromatin Dynamics in Gene Regulation”) near Barcelona in Spain from May 31st to June 05th, 2026. The 2026 Gordon Conference on Chromatin Structure and Function will bring together outstanding international experts, emerging talent and early career scientists to discuss their latest and most exciting research on chromatin as a powerful regulatory platform that shapes the activity of our genome across biological space and time. The conference addresses how chromatin-based genome regulation impacts all essential DNA-dependent processes, both at fundamental, mechanistic and systems levels, and also in the context of disease pathologies, and therefore is significant for its potential for human health. The field is evolving at a rapid pace due to adoption of novel integrative approaches, from fields such as genomics, chemical biology and increasingly also machine-learning. These approaches enabled new ways to visualize conformation and dynamics from the scale of single nucleosomes and their regulators to the scale of whole chromosomes. Such advances are allowing for deep testing of existing models such as heterochromatin spreading using synthetic biology approaches as well as the discovery of new mechanisms for major unanswered questions, including in the context of cancer and cellular homeostasis. At the same time, it is also becoming clear that many mechanisms discovered in more reductionist models vary in usage within specific cell type in an organism. It is thus critical to understand tissue-specific chromatin regulation, including in developmental contexts. Such studies are also key to identifying promising novel targets for cancer therapy. This GRC has a long history of attracting top researchers and new talent in our field. It has been one of the two most important global venues for fostering new ideas and collaborations, a tradition we will continue in 2026. We invited new, interdisciplinary colleagues, including promising early career PIs. This allows us to interrogate chromatin roles in transcription, repair, development and pluripotency to pinpoint actionable therapeutic targets. We will discuss nine areas of chromatin structure & function, highlighting emerging concepts and technologies in these fields. Many talks will be reserved for early-career scientists, and all applicants will have the opportunity to share their research through impactful poster sessions. Additionally, “poster previews” will highlight selected posters in short oral presentations. We will pay special attention and ensure sufficient discussion time to enhance the free exchange of ideas and interpretations. There will be ample time set aside in the afternoons and after the evening sessions for informal interactions, promoting exchange between newcomers and established scientists vital for the success of our conference and catalyze many collaborations for years to come. The GRC will be preceded by a GRS which will greatly enhance interactions and networking among the earlier-career conference participants, sustaining the talent pool of engaged and innovative chromatin pioneers.