2025 Muscle: Excitation-Contraction Coupling Gordon Research Conference and Seminar - Summary This proposal seeks partial support for the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Muscle Excitation- Contraction coupling (ECC). This international conference has been a central hub for tremendous progress in this important field. The latest advances in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle ECC will be investigated at different levels (from biophysics, imaging, electrical and calcium-dependent signaling, to integrated function) to garner insight into normal physiological function, dysfunction in disease, and potential therapeutics. This GRC will meet June 1-6, 2025 at the Rey Don Jaime Grand Hotel near Barcelona, Spain. The program was developed in consultation with a broad advisory group of leaders in ECC research. This group and the GRC are chaired by Drs. Montserrat Samsó (USA) and László Csernoch (Hungary). Support is also sought for an associated Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) that is led by and focused upon early-stage investigators (ESIs; students, postdocs, and new faculty). This GRS immediately precedes the GRC and is chaired by two ESIs (Dr. Callum Quinn from the UK, and Dr. Christopher Ko from the USA). The GRC and GRS endeavor to create a forum for young and established researchers working in the most diverse fields of muscle research, where they can share their latest results, participate in discussions held in a stimulating environment and lay the foundations for collaborations. To this end, a program has been carefully constructed that discusses the function of the skeletal, heart, and smooth muscles in a broad sense, from the structure of molecules important in muscle function, to the further clarification of the role of sub-cellular organelles in the understanding of pathological processes. The application of novel high-throughput techniques and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in studying muscle function, helping to solve muscle related diseases, will also be discussed. The conference aims to pay special attention to motivating junior ECC ESIs to continue and complete their research careers by providing an interactive informal forum for presenting their work and promoting networking. The 2025 ECC GRC will have 38 speakers, 6 shorter talks to highlight selected posters, and 9 topic discussion leaders. Scientific sessions will detail the structure- function of ECC at multiple scales ranging from the molecular level to translation into new therapeutic strategies for ECC-related diseases. Sessions include, 1) muscle ultrastructure, 2) key regulatory proteins, 3) mechanosensation, 4) atrophy, regeneration and aging, 5) specialized surface membrane structures, 6) intracellular organelles, 7) high throughput approaches and AI, 8) new therapies for myopathies, and 9) a keynote session. The GRS will help ESIs develop self-confidence and encourage full engagement in formal and informal discussions with senior colleagues. The GRC will highlight ESI presentations in several ways (short talks, Poster Flash talks, and participation as discussion co-leaders). We expect to attract ~175 basic and clinical researchers across career stages, genders, races, heritages, research disciplines, institutions, and geographical locations.
