At the Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), IPEK PhD student Zoe Möller-Ramon from the Duchene-Megens Lab gave a talk entitled “Immature Neutrophils Exhibit CXCR2-Independent Cardiac Infiltration Following Myocardial Infarction.” The GRS provides a unique forum for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to present their work and build collaborative relationships with peers. Thanks to DZHK for supporting Zoe through a travel grant, which made her participation in the meeting possible.
During the main GRC meeting, IPEK group leader Johan Duchêne gave a talk entitled “Chemokines in Myocardial Infarction: All Models Are Wrong, but Some Are Useful.” The presentation highlighted limitations of a widely used mouse model for studying myocardial infarction, showing that it profoundly alters the chemokine system (and not only that) and emphasized that a more physiological alternative exist. Read pre-print here: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.05.709757
The conference concluded with a fantastic keynote lecture by former IPEK member Antal Rot (QMUL, WHRI, UK) entitled “Antalogy of Chemokinese Tales.” In his talk, he traced the origins of the field, described how it evolved over the decades, and highlighted why GAGs (glycoaminoglycans) and ACKRs (atypical chemokine receptors) are key components of the chemokine system. His lecture was inspiring, warmly received by both established and younger generations of researchers, and, as is always the case with Antal, delivered with great humor. Several attendees described it as the best keynote lecture they had ever attended!
Overall, this conference, organized by Daniel Legler (Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology Thurgau, University of Konstanz, Switzerland), showcased cutting-edge research and highlighted the latest developments and findings in the field. It also provided an opportunity to discuss and build consensus on chemokines and their receptors, including ACKRs. The conference fostered lively discussions during the scientific sessions as well as valuable exchanges and networking opportunities during free time.
The next GRC will be held in the United States in 2028 and will be organized by Deborah Fowell (Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, USA). We are particularly glad and proud that Zoe Möller-Ramon, together with Matheus Silverio De Mattos (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium), will organize the next GRS.
