2026 Visual System Development Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY The 2026 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) and Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) on Visual System Development are a paired set of biennial meetings that bring together investigators studying development, disease, and evolution of the visual system. Over the years, these meetings have provided an exciting and unique forum in which to explore the similarities and differences underlying visual system development and function across a broad range of species. The goal of these meetings is to foster an appreciation of common principles that mediate the construction and function of the visual system in diverse organisms, and to share the latest exciting new ideas and findings on this topic. By including sessions that highlight emerging topics with translational impact, such as “Retinal Stem Cells, Repair, and Regeneration”, and “Developmental Disorders, Diseases, and Aging of the Visual System”, the meeting is also expanding its scope and stimulating crosstalk between developmental biologists and investigators focused on translational aspects of vision science. The GRS provides a unique platform for students and postdoctoral research fellows in the visual research field to share current, unpublished research amongst their peers and receive career mentorship in the vision science field. The format of the GRC and GRS meetings provides a highly interactive and stimulating venue for cross- fertilization of ideas and development of new collaborations. The Visual System Development GRC has established a reputation as the leading conference in its field, and it is the only meeting on the topic that brings together vision researchers working on the full range of experimental systems in the field, ranging from Drosophila to human. The current proposal requests funds to help defray conference fees for attendees at both meetings. The Visual System GRC and GRS will feature scientists at the cutting edge of the field, with careful attention taken to ensure involvement of researchers around the world, with participation from scientists at all stages of their careers.