Dear Colleagues and Friends,

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, it is a pleasure to invite you to the 2^nd Matrix Biology Europe (MBE) Conference (being the XXV^th FECTS Meeting) to be held in Athens (Greece) on 11 – 14 June 2016.

MBE is the most important Matrix Biology conference in Europe. This international event is held every two years, and gives the opportunity to senior and young researchers to present their research and to interact with outstanding experts in the Matrix Biology field. The program will cover all aspects of Matrix Biology, including the role of proteoglycans, collagen modifications, and matrix degrading enzymes in health and disease, the importance of cell-matrix interactions and signaling in matrix biology, pathology and the tumor environment as well as the advances in matrix disease mechanisms and pharmacological targeting. Tissue engineering, matrix-related epigenetics and systems biology, and the role of matrix in stem cell niche and inflammation will be addressed.

The Conference is guided by the Hellenic Matrix Biology Section of the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and is organized by the Department of Chemistry of the University of Patras. The Organizing and Scientific Committees have put together internationally recognized experts as well as younger group leaders as invited speakers. The scientific program will involve several Plenary Lectures related to Workshops, parallel Workshops, Plenary Lectures devoted to specific matrix topics of high interest, the Rupert Timpl Award lecture, presentations by nominees of the Dick Heinegard European Young Investigator Award, a Plenary Workshop and several opportunities to visit the Posters. The Plenary Lectures and Workshops will provide you with an update of important new knowledge covering key areas of the field.

International Travel Fellowships and Young Investigators Awards sponsored by the International Society for Matrix Biology (ISMB), and the European Societies for Matrix Biology as well as Awards for Excellence in Matrix Biology sponsored by Matrix Biology journal/Elsevier will also be available upon application/selection procedure.

We are looking forward to welcome you in Greece for an exciting and memorable scientific meeting.

Nikos Karamanos

Chairman of the MBE 2016 Conference