Cell Bio 2026 - An ASCB|EMBO Meeting

December 12-16, 2026 San Diego, CA, United States

The joint meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), where the cell biology community gathers to share science, support one another, and spark new ideas. It's a space to connect with colleagues, celebrate discoveries, and grow together as a field. Come network with scientists, present research, explore the exhibit hall, and learn the latest in science and technology focusing on cell biology as the fundamental basis of biology as well as emerging interdisciplinary topic.

Visit Booth #1133 to learn about MilliporeSigma’s newest innovations for cell biology research:

• Cell Modeling, Analysis, and Prep Solutions, including advanced models and assays from HUB Organoids, now a part of MilliporeSigma, Millicell^® ERS 3.0 Digital Voltohmmeter for TEER reading, and MilliShot^™ Single Dose Antibiotics for efficient media preparation
• Accessible automation with the plug-and-play AAW™ Automated Assay Workstation, with accompanying modules and consumables to automate your sample preparation or assay workflows

…and more!

MilliporeSigma Exclusive 2026 Let Science Sparkle Pin*!

Want to add some scientific flair to your lab coat? Visit MilliporeSigma’s cell biology experts at Booth #1133 to receive your exclusive 2026 DNA pin! Let’s #LetScienceSparkle

*Limited quantities available

Organoid Science Unlocked: An Independent Evening Event During ASCB Week 

Sunday, Dec 13, 2026 | 6:30 PM – Hilton Bayfront San Diego

Address: 1 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA

Join us for an engaging, science‑forward evening during ASCB week at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel next to the conference center. This event brings together researchers, translational scientists, and industry leaders to connect, exchange ideas, and explore the next frontier of organoid innovation.

The evening opens with a networking reception and food and drinks, followed by a lively discussion with our expert panel and an opportunity for you to ask our experts all your organoid-related questions. We’ll close the night with a light‑hearted science trivia quiz, dessert and additional time for informal conversations, 1:1 interactions, and deeper technical discussions.     

Whether you are shaping organoid science, applying it in translational contexts, or navigating the path toward decision‑grade data, this is an opportunity to join an engaged community moving the field forward.

Join us for our tech talk!

Monday, Dec 14, 2026 | 1:15 – 2:00 PM – Theater 1

3D In-Vitro Fibroblast-Patient Derived Organoid Co-Culture: A High-Throughput Platform for IBD Drug Development

Presenter:  Sylvia Boj, Phd, CSO HUB Organoids, now part of MilliporeSigma

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) retain tissue-specific genetic and phenotypic characteristics and provide a physiologically relevant platform for modeling gastrointestinal disease. To incorporate the contribution of stromal cells to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we developed a novel high-throughput 3D co-culture assay combining intestinal PDOs with fibroblasts. PDOs derived from distinct gastrointestinal regions of five patients with IBD were co-cultured with small intestinal or colonic fibroblasts under basal or inflammatory conditions, including cytokine-induced epithelial damage. The assay integrates multiple readouts reflecting key IBD hallmarks, including epithelial integrity, inflammation, stem cell niche dysregulation, proliferation, and ion flux. The 3D co-culture system was robust and reproducible across experiments. Under inflammatory conditions, fibroblasts increased epithelial sensitivity to cytokine-mediated damage, while co-cultures showed reduced EdU incorporation, indicating altered epithelial proliferation. Treatment with tofacitinib dose-dependently inhibited inflammation-associated co-culture responses, demonstrating pharmacological responsiveness and supporting the translational potential of the assay. Bulk RNA sequencing further identified fibroblasts as major responders to inflammatory stimulation and linked these responses to phenotypic and morphological changes in the organoids. Together, these findings establish a scalable human fibroblast-PDO co-culture model that captures stromal-epithelial interactions relevant to IBD and provides a translational platform for investigating disease mechanisms, identifying molecular signatures, and evaluating therapeutic candidates.

See you in sunny San Diego!