Myeloid Cells: Functional Heterogeneity with Therapeutic Promise

About This Grant

Abstract Support is requested for a Keystone Symposia conference entitled “Myeloid Cells: Functional Heterogeneity with Therapeutic Promise,” organized by Drs. Charlotte L. Scott, Shalin H. Naik and Thomas Fabre, with scientific programming input from Keystone Symposia. The meeting will take place February 23–26, 2026 at the Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado, USA. Myeloid cells play crucial roles in the innate immune system, responding to infections and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Despite their significant therapeutic promise, the potential of myeloid cells is yet to be fully realized. This Keystone Symposia meeting aims to bring together key leaders in academia and industry to discuss recent insights regarding myeloid cell functional heterogeneity and how to target these cells for therapeutic interventions. This conference will highlight recent advances in our understanding of the role of myeloid cells in different disease settings, including cancer, infection and other immune-mediated disorders, which will enable new translational perspectives for understanding, treating, and preventing infectious and immunologic diseases. The meeting program will provide opportunities for attendees to gain a deeper understanding of unique and conserved myeloid cell populations across tissues and diseases and explore how these might be leveraged therapeutically. Through rigorous discussions, this meeting aims to outline key questions for future research that will harness the power of myeloid cells and showcase current and emerging technologies. A key feature of this meeting is that it will be co-located with another Keystone Symposia conference, “Hematopoiesis.” This partnership will provide valuable insights into the interconnected roles of hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid lineages in both health and disease. Inclusive poster sessions, panel discussions, shared meals and social activities will promote networking, encourage the sharing of cross-disciplinary insights and provide broader scientific perspectives important for future research collaborations towards the development of successful therapeutic strategies.