Welcome

Dear colleagues and friends, 

We are delighted to invite you to the FEBS Advanced Lecture Course ‘Extracellular matrix in health and disease: Structural dynamics, cell–cell communication, and microbiome crosstalk’ hosted in Eretria, Greece 22-27 September. This course will bring together international experts and early-career researchers to explore the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its interplay with the immune system and tissue-associated microbiome – three interconnected biological systems that shape tissue homeostasis, regeneration, aging, and disease, yet are often studied independently.

Participants will be introduced to state-of-the-art concepts and experimental approaches through a programme of introductory and advanced lectures, discussion sessions, and meet-the-expert activities delivered by leading scientists in ECM biology, immunology, microbiome research, and regenerative biology. The scientific programme will address:

• Structure–function relationships of ECM macromolecules and their roles in tissue assembly
• Mechanisms of ECM remodeling and the influence of matrix-modifying enzymes on immune regulation
• Microbiota-driven modulation of inflammation and ECM dynamics, ECM-mediated signaling, stem cell niche regulation, and tissue regeneration
• Tools and models for probing microenvironmental interactions, including organoids, gnotobiotic systems, and decellularized scaffolds
• Systems biology approaches to integrate ECM, immune, and microbiome signaling networks

Alongside the lectures, the course will feature poster sessions, small-group discussions, and career-development activities. Mentoring and networking events will provide opportunities for participants to build collaborations and interact closely with faculty across disciplines.

What distinguishes this course is its holistic, mechanistic perspective on ECM–immune–microbiome crosstalk, integrating biological systems that are typically examined in isolation. Building on the strong legacy of previous FEBS ECM courses (2007–2023), which have generated highly cited The FEBS Journal MiniReview Series and Special Issues, this course aims to equip participants with the conceptual and technological tools needed to advance research in this rapidly developing field. FEBS Youth Travel Fund (YTF) grants will be available.

Nikolaos Afratis, Nikos Karamanos, Martin Götte, Laurent Duca, Valerio Izzi 

Course Organizers