Programme features

The programme will cover recent advances in transglutaminase biology across cardiovascular and neurological diseases, cancer, signalling disorders, coeliac disease and inflammation, as well as fibrosis and tissue remodelling. Emerging disease contexts and novel experimental approaches to study and modulate transglutaminase activity will also be addressed.

The Course will open with an introductory plenary session on the clinical relevance of transglutaminases, followed by seven thematic sessions, each jointly chaired by a senior investigator and a selected early-career researcher.

The title of the sections will be:

1. Mechanistic Roles of Transglutaminase in Cardiovascular and Emerging Pathologies
2. Transglutaminase in Cancer: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
3. Transglutaminase Pathways in Neurodegeneration and Neurological Disorders
4. Signaling Pathways: How Transglutaminase Shapes Cell Fate
5. Transglutaminase -Mediated Regulation of ECM Dynamics and Fibrotic Process
6. Triggering the Immune system: Transglutaminase in Celiac Disease and Inflammation
7. Tools and Strategies for Modulating Transglutaminase Activity

Over 20 invited speakers (a blend of senior and early carrer) will present their work in 25 min-periods (20 min talk and 5 min discussion). 
Additionally, there will be a total of 29 short talks (12 min talk and 3 min discussion) reserved to young researchers in the programme (based on scientific abstract) and up to 40 poster presentations (including flash talks). Prizes will be awarded to the best posters and presentations.

Keynote Lectures

The keynote sessions will feature leading scientists whose work has shaped and continues to drive the transglutaminase field. Mauro Piacentini will provide a comprehensive perspective drawn from a lifetime of research on transglutaminases, highlighting key conceptual advances and their impact on our current understanding of enzyme function in health and disease. Ian Maze, speaker supported by IUBMB, will explore protein monoaminylation as a novel regulatory mechanism in neural development and plasticity, discussing its emerging relevance to neurological disorders. Daniela Matei will focus on translational advances, presenting innovative strategies based on tissue transglutaminase degraders and their potential to open new therapeutic avenues in cancer and beyond.

Training activities

A dedicated Young Scientists Training Session will complement the scientific programme, focusing on essential skills for early-career researchers. Topics will include how to prepare an effective scientific talk, key principles for developing a competitive grant proposal, and a comparative perspective on career paths in academia versus industry.

Social activities

A rich programme of social activities will further encourage informal interaction and networking among participants. These will include visits to the Botanical Garden of Padua and the MUSME (Museum of the History of Medicine), as well as shared dinners and extended coffee breaks designed to foster discussion. The Congress will also open with a welcome cocktail on the terrace of the Botanical Garden, providing a relaxed setting for participants to connect at the start of the event.