Overview
The Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS): The Role of Organelles in Cancer Biology webinar series is designed to expand the traditional focus of cancer research by spotlighting the essential yet often overlooked functions of intracellular organelles. While cancer biology has historically emphasized genes and signaling pathways, HIPS highlights how organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, and lipid droplets actively influence tumor development, progression, and response to therapy. By fostering scientific dialogue among experts and emerging investigators, the series aims to advance understanding of organelle dynamics, promote innovative research methodologies, and inspire new hypotheses that bridge gaps in current knowledge—ultimately accelerating progress in cancer organelle biology.
Purpose:
The HIPS webinar series brings together established leaders and rising investigators to examine the varied and context-dependent roles of organelles in cancer biology. Through monthly seminars, the series will feature cutting‑edge discoveries, innovative imaging and profiling technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches. By focusing on organelle crosstalk, functional specialization, and emerging analytical tools, HIPS aims to stimulate new hypotheses, identify critical gaps in current knowledge, and accelerate research in cancer organelle biology. The series will serve as a platform for scientific exchange among experts in organelle biology, cancer research, and related disciplines, as well as early‑career investigators.
Objectives:
- Provide a forum for scientific discussion among established experts, emerging leaders, and young investigators in organelle and cancer biology.
- Define how organelles actively regulate cancer progression, adaptation, and metastasis, and elucidate the mechanisms governing their communication and functional coordination within tumor cells.
- Explore emerging technologies and methodological advances for studying organelle biology in cancer, and identify gaps and opportunities for future research and collaboration.
- Highlight intracellular organelles as active, dynamic regulators of cancer cell behavior and tumor evolution.
For questions about the meeting, please contact:
- Cheryl Cero: cheryl.cero@nih.gov
- Hannah Dueck: hannah.dueck@nih.gov
- Konstantin Salnikow: konstantin.salnikow2@nih.gov