Myeloid cells are essential components of the innate immune system and play a key role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. We now have a good understanding of their development and diversity, as well as their distinct biological roles. However, how myeloid cell responses are shaped by the tissue microenvironment, including interaction with other cells, mechanics and osmotic influences in specific locations, remains less studied.

This meeting will address the different mechanisms underlying signaling, epigenetic, and metabolic adaptations of myeloid cells to their chemical and physical environment. It will bring new biochemical and biophysical concepts to the classical immunological and modern genomic views of myeloid cells.  Importantly, we will integrate these various aspects of how myeloid cells interact with their tissue environment, to unravel this complex relationship.

The meeting will bring together interdisciplinary groups of scientists who normally would attend more specialized meetings, to collectively integrate their knowledge and advance the field. To facilitate these cross-disciplinary interactions we will feature workshops and panel discussions on topics such as immune-mechano-sensing, which will engage attendees to think outside their typical siloes and integrate new perspectives.  Attendees of this meeting will form new conceptual views on the inter-connected life of myeloid cells in tissues, and develop new collaborations at the intersection of disciplines to advance their research, and the field.