The Gordon Conference on Lysosomes and Endocytosis covers recent advances in our understanding of the ways in which the endocytic pathway and lysosomes function. Both the endocytic pathway and the lysosome play important roles in the physiology of cells and organisms. Many inherited and somatic diseases result from defects in lysosomal and endocytic pathways; many pathogens are destroyed by this pathway while others subvert the endocytic pathway or lysosomal function during infection. More recent developments reveal that endocytic organelles play critical roles in development, signaling, cytokinesis and secretion.

The 2008 meeting has a list of confirmed speakers and discussion leaders, shown below, encompassing the latest advances of endocytosis in membrane traffic, signaling, disease, pathogen invasion defence, and developmental biology. We have also introduced a new session on 'New Directions' in which all 4 speakers will be selected from submitted abstracts and will provide a forum for recent developments in new areas in the field.

The meeting will be divided into nine half-day sessions, with approximately 30 invited speakers and discussion leaders who are internationally recognized for their contributions. Importantly, significant time will also be allotted for platform presentations by junior investigators, who will be invited to speak based on submitted abstracts. Attendance by under-represented minorities, students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty is encouraged.