2026 Synaptic Transmission Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

About This Grant

Project Abstract The 2026 Synaptic Transmission Gordon Research Conference will bring together an array of scientific leaders and early-career scientists to discuss the latest developments and cutting-edge insights into the synaptic mechanisms that control the nervous system in health and disease. Synapses are the fundamental unit of information transfer in the nervous system underpinning the diversity of information encoding that enables complex adaptive behaviors across species. Dysregulation and degeneration of synapses are central to the pathophysiology of most, neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, elucidating the molecular and cellular principles governing synaptic biology is essential for understanding brain function and for the development of therapeutics to treat currently incurable brain disorders. This year’s program integrates pioneering research across a broad range of topics, including synapse development, nanoscale organization, signaling, Hebbian plasticity and homeostasis, the synaptic basis of behavior, and how synaptic dysfunction leads to brain disorders. A strong emphasis will be placed on cross-disciplinary dialogue and mechanistic insights, spanning molecular events to circuit-level phenomena throughout the sessions. The long-term goal of the 2026 Synaptic Transmission is to advance mechanistic insight, foster innovation, and bridge basic and translational neuroscience. Specifically, this meeting will focus on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern synapse formation, specificity, and diversity across neural circuits. Secondly, to reveal how synaptic plasticity unfolds across timescales, from milliseconds to years, and how these dynamic processes are integrated to drive learning, memory, and behavior. Finally, we will identify novel pathways for therapeutic intervention.by determining how disruptions in synaptic function contribute to neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases, with the aim of translating fundamental discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies that can restore synaptic function and improve outcomes for individuals affected by brain disorders.