EMBO | COB Workshop “Molecular mechanisms of developmental and regenerative biology”

This workshop will focus on the fundamentals of vertebrate development and regeneration. Sessions will include early development, pluripotency, organoids and tissue stem cell function, germline specification and regeneration. The overarching theme is the understanding of how cell identity is specified, maintained and re-specified. These fast-moving fields are being driven by innovations in quantitative methodology, super-resolution microscopy and single-cell omics. Examples include the utility of single cell multi-omic analyses to reveal complex intercellular interactions driving tissue maturation in embryos, stem-cell embryo models and organoids and delineating the biophysical parameters affecting transcription factor-chromatin interactions and cell state changes. Major advances will be covered, including recent insights into the extent of in vitro germ cell differentiation and the species-specificity of germ cell development and the adaptability of developmental mechanisms in regeneration. Understanding the underlying mechanisms at play will offer unique insights that may be exploited for regenerative medicine. This high-profile workshop will advance research in developmental and regenerative biology, by enhancing intellectual interactions and engendering collaborations, particularly at the interface of research disciplines.

This EMBO Workshop was made possible by funding provided by The Company of Biologists.