The neural crest lineage is a multipotent embryonic cell population playing a significant role in the development of various crucial components of the human body, including the peripheral and enteric nervous system, craniofacial structures, pigment cells, and numerous other tissues and organs. When defects occur during neural crest (NC) development, complex diseases called neurocristopathies can arise from the NC-derived cells and tissues and sometimes severely affect patient’s life. Understanding the fundamental bases of neurocristopathies represents a pressing societal challenge.

Entitled Neural Crest development and disorders: From patient to model system and back again, this international scientific conference is organised by the Ph.D. students of the NEUcrest project, a research and training consortium funded by EU Horizon 2020 program, aimed at deciphering the molecular bases of NC development, developing models of human neurocristopathies and experimental tools for NC research.

Together with an engaging series of plenary talks by leading experts in the field of Neural Crest biology in development and disease, this conference strongly highlights the new generation of young scientists of the Neural Crest research community.

Over the course of 2.5 intense days, attendees can expect exciting sessions and discussions exploring all facets of Neural Crest development, covering the initial phases of NC induction and specification over to NC cell differentiation, and Neurocristopathies. To include a patient perspective to the ongoing research, this conference also invited a speaker, living with a Neurocristopathy to share her experience and her view of the expectations from public and patients for current research.

We look forward to present our invited speakers Dr. Anestis Tsakiridis, Dr. Eric Theveneau, Dr. Maria Eleni Kastriti, Dr. Ruth Palmer, and our keynote speaker Professor Marianne Bronner.

Early career researchers, Ph.D. students and young scientists are encouraged to attend the conference, and to apply for an oral or a poster presentation.

Abstracts for a short talk will be selected to cover all aspects of NC biology. Ph.D students should also watch out for the early bird registrations, as the first 30 students to apply will be offered a highly discounted registration fee by the NEUcrest consortium. We look forward to meeting many new faces and exciting discussions on the NC.