Symposium: Cell Competition in Development and Disease

Recent research on Cell Competition has put forward that cells are engaged in a ‘survival of the fittest’ battle throughout life so that this general evolutionary principle applies not only between species or individuals but extends to cells within most tissues of an organism. It is an important, non-immune mechanism that detects and eliminates cells that are different from their neighbours or are not well adapted to their microenvironment. The basis of cell competition is the ability of cells to directly monitor their neighbors, and only recently have signaling and effector mechanisms been identified. Cell competition shapes developing tissues, stem cell populations, and tumorigenesis. It has implications for human disease and may present new opportunities for prevention and therapy.

This conference aims to bring together researchers from diverse fields, who study competitive interactions between cells in various model systems including vertebrates. Registration is free but obligatory.