The Remarkable Life of Collagen: Biosynthesis, Biophysics, Function, and Dysfunction

The Collagen Gordon Research Conference (est. 1970) is the preeminent international meeting for the exchange of ideas related to the collagen superfamily – including chemistry, biophysics, biomaterials, biology, and medicine. Embedded into the fabric of this longstanding global conference is a rich history of reinvention that draws upon the collective strength of its diverse delegates that welcomes all career stages and walks of life – from longtime luminaries to the “collagen-curious”. Since 2013, the Collagen GRC has been kickstarted by the Collagen Gordon Research Seminar. Attendance at the GRS is an ideal way for early career researchers to find their footing, break the ice, and kick off the GRC with interactive energy. The networking opportunities and collegiality that have become a calling card of the Collagen GRS/GRC are enabled by the ample opportunities to interact outside of formal sessions and are enhance by the laidback setting of the Colby Sawyer college campus and its surrounding natural beauty.

Collagens are fundamental building blocks of all animal life that are at once both ubiquitous and unique. Members of the collagen superfamily are defined by their signature triple helical structure that is made by a repeating Gly-Xaa-Yaa amino acid repeat. They are further decorated with specific post-translational modifications and can be connected by chemical bonds that are not found in other biological contexts. These properties enable enormous functional diversity for members of the collagen superfamily, including molecular scaffolds, tissue barriers, multi-modal signaling platforms, and selective filters. Given this enormous diversity of structure and function, what chemical and biophysical properties are shared or distinct between different types of collagens? How have the secretory pathways of collagen-expressing cells adapted for these abundant proteins with so many special biosynthetic properties? What functions to do the complex and nearly limitless modifications confer to these protein complexes and how are the executed? What does the future hold for individuals with inherited collagen disorders or for collagen-related diseases including fibrosis and cancer?

At the 2025 Collagen GRS/GRC, a collegial gathering comprising newcomers and world experts alike will share their data and thoughts on these topics and more. Sessions that include advanced imaging, model organism research, biophysical and computational approaches will all offer distinct lenses through which to fully appreciate the complex and multifaceted field of collagen.