Developmental processes continue throughout life to support tissue maintenance and cell replenishment, ensuring organism homeostasis. Cancer can result when cells are derailed from their normal developmental routes. Besides following abnormal trajectories, tumour cells are notorious for usurping the host's resources and generating complex microenvironments that favour their growth. Advances in genetic and genomic tools are giving us fresh insight about the molecular and cellular mechanisms of oncogenesis. At our meeting we aim to bring together scientists studying Cancer Biology together with Developmental Biologists to foster a cross-fertilization of ideas between the two fields. Ultimately, why can some tissues, or even whole organisms, regenerate while other tissues become cancerous?

This meeting is sponsored by the EU via the TWINNING programme SCENTINEL aimed to enhance Greece's capacities in modern single-cell genomics technologies. Greek participants are encouraged to apply.