Cell migration and invasion plays a central role in important physiological and pathological phenomena including embryonic development, inflammation, cellular transplantation and tumor metastasis. Cell migration also provides an accessible model for understanding how individual cells function as integrated systems and interpret multiple, complex signals in their environment. Substantial progress is being made in understanding the molecular basis of cell migration and invasion. Examples include: elucidation of the receptors and signal transduction pathways involved, identification of the pathways that regulate the formation and release of adhesions, development of technologies for observing cellular and molecular dynamics in vivo, and elucidation of the mechanisms that regulate action polymerization and organization. The goal of this meeting is to bring together investigators studying basic mechanisms of migration with those interested in the role of migration and invasion in specific diseases and in developing therapeutic strategies. This will be the first time in 5 years investigators that investigators in the subdisciplines that comprise migration will meet together.
