Cell Biological Basis of Epithelial Physiology

Organized by Jennifer  Lippincott-Schwartz (Janelia), Michael Caplan (Yale) and Patrick Chitwood (Janelia), this is one in a series of planning workshops that will help identify where Janelia can make the most impact with a new 15-lab, 15-year research program. 

In October, Janelia announced 4D Cellular Physiology as a new research area, complementing our first research area, Mechanistic Cognitive Neuroscience and two core areas, Molecular Tools and Imaging and Computation and Theory. 4D Cellular Physiology aims to understand the function, structure and communication mechanisms of cells within and across organ systems. We aim to develop and deploy creative new approaches that will improve our ability to study cellular function in intact tissues, in living animals.

This workshop will focus on the critical physiological roles that epithelia play in forming mechanical and chemical barriers in many tissues. Differentiated cell types of each epithelial tissue and organ acquire unique structures and subcellular specializations that endow them with the capacity to perform their physiological functions. For the vast majority of epithelial cell types, the essential cellular and physiological cues that produce their exquisite architectural and biochemical tissue-specific adaptations are not fully understood. Our goal in this meeting is to identify the most pressing questions and exciting directions pertaining to the interface between epithelial cell biology and physiology throughout the body. 

The virtual format will include 4-5 hours of short talks and discussion each day. All talks will be open to the broad scientific community. Presentations by invited speakers will focus on current challenges in the field and exciting new directions that could lead to transformative advances. If you wish to attend any of the sessions, click the "sign up" button on this page to receive the meeting agenda and zoom link to join when they become available.

This workshop will serve an important role in shaping Janelia’s ongoing research program, providing critical background for a new approach to collaboratively tackle some of the most important problems in modern biomedical research. 

Early career researchers, including graduate students and postdocs, are invited to submit an abstract for consideration for a 10-minute talk focused on how the development of new tools and approaches in the area of epithelial physiology could drive your research forward. 

Applications are closed for this workshop.