2025 Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins Gordon Research Conference and Gordon Research Seminar

Summary The 2025 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins provides an international forum for the presentation and discussion of emerging research on fungal and algal toxins, their effects on human and ecosystem health, and the biology and ecology of toxin production. Fungal and algal toxins are naturally occurring food and water contaminants that adversely affect human and animal health globally, with a disproportionate impact in developing nations. A multidisciplinary approach is critical in detecting, understanding, managing and mitigating their health and economic impacts. The 2025 GRC on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins will provide a forum for academic, government, and private sector scientists to exchange ideas on harnessing advances in biology, chemistry, ecology, plant pathology, epidemiology, and risk assessment to address the problems associated with the occurrence of these natural toxins. The goal of the conference is to bring together a wide range of outstanding senior scientists and junior investigators (graduate students, postdoctoral investigators, and early-career scientists), from diverse backgrounds and geography, to address the task of ensuring the safety of food and water supplies. Interactions between junior and senior scientists, and across the two areas of expertise, will be strongly promoted in the best tradition of this GRC. Vigorous discussions, guided by recognized discussion leaders, will be key for identifying new strategies for dealing with the complex problems presented by biotoxins. Dedicated daily poster sessions and more relaxed social activities, such as a banquet dinner and traditional soccer and ping-pong matches during afternoon free- time, will also provide opportunities for fertile cross-disciplinary interactions and the evolution of new collaborations towards innovation. The 2025 Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), immediately preceding the GRC, will be organized and led by a graduate student and postdoctoral researcher. While the 2-day meeting shares common core and diversity aims with the larger GRC, it is unique in that only junior scientists attend, present their work, and engage in discussion with their peers. The environment will be welcoming and collegial and will provide an unmatched opportunity for future researchers to interact. The GRS leaders have also designed career mentoring into the meeting by inviting six mentors who are established in their disciplines. Additionally, two leading junior investigators from this seminar will be chosen by GRC chairs to present their research on the final day of the GRC.