Mitotic spindle:
From living and synthetic systems to theory

12-15 April 2026 I Dubrovnik, Croatia

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This conference will focus on the biomechanics of the mitotic and meiotic spindle in a range of biological contexts, across the evolutionary tree, and in both health and disease, including cancer. Our goal is to bring together scientists working on cell biology and quantitative imaging of the spindle, in vitro reconstitution of spindle subsystems, and theoretical models that link these experiments to provide new insights. The last three conferences on the same topic had great success, with many outstanding speakers who gave inspiring talks and ample opportunity for discussions and interdisciplinary exchange.

Previous editions of the conference:
www: Mitotic spindle 2019   and    X
www: Mitotic spindle 2021   and    X
www: Mitotic spindle 2023   and    X

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Invited Speakers

Renata Basto

Renata Basto

Curie Institute, France
Sue Biggins

Marin Barišić

Danish Cancer Institute, Denmark
Meredith Betterton

Meredith Betterton

University of Colorado Boulder, USA
Arshad Desai

Arshad Desai

UC San Diego, USA
Stefan Diez

Gautam Dey

European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
Sophie Dumont

Sophie Dumont

University of California, San Francisco, USA
Rebecca Heald

Rebecca Heald

UC Berkeley, USA
Sebastian Fürthauer

Tomoya Kitajima

RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
Geert Kops

Geert Kops

Hubrecht Institute, The Netherlands
Susanne Lens

Susanne Lens

UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands
Helder Maiato

Helder Maiato

Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, Portugal
Andrew McAnish

Andrew McAinsh

The University of Warwick, UK
Alex Mogilner

Alex Mogilner

New York University, USA
Patrick Meraldi

Andrea Musacchio

Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Germany
Thomas Muller-Reicher

Thomas Muller-Reichert

TU Dresden, Germany
Dan Needelman

Dan Needleman

Harvard University, USA
Sabine Petry

Sabine Petry

Princeton, USA
Marie-Helene Verlhac

Arp Schnittger

University of Hamburg, Germany
Patricia Wadsworth

Beth Weaver

University of Wisconsin, USA
Claire Walczak

Julie Welburn

University of Edinburgh, UK

Program

program

Organizers

Nenad Pavin

Nenad Pavin

Faculty of Science, Croatia
Iva Tolić

Iva Tolić

Ruđer Bošković Institute, Croatia

Local Organizers:

Kruno Vukušić, Ivana Šarić
Ruđer Bošković Institute
Ivana Brebrić
Faculty of Science, Croatia

Website by Nenad Pavin

Scientific Committee

Scientific Committee includes the organizers and:


Stefanie Redemann

Stefanie Redemann

University of Virginia, USA
Thomas Surrey

Thomas Surrey

Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain
Patrick Meraldi

Patrick Meraldi

University of Geneva, Switzerland

Technical Conference Organizer

e-Tours d.o.o.
Ulica grada Vukovara 5/1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Contact:
Monika Ilić
Tel: +385 1 55 08 229
E-mail: mice@etours.hr

Accommodation

Dubrovnik

For all conference participants accommodation is secured at the Hotel Kompas Dubrovnik at a special rate:

Hotel Kompas is located next to the Lapad Bay beachfront and its famous tree-lined promenade, less than 4 km from Dubrovnik’s historic Old Town.

Transfers: Taxi services are available from Dubrovnik Airport to Hotel Kompas, or you may book a private transfer: 1–3 people (per vehicle, one way): 60.00 EUR, up to 6 people (per vehicle, one way): 65.00 EUR.

For more information on registration, accommodation, transfers and travel please send an e-mail to mice@etours.hr

The meeting room offers state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and complimentary high-speed wireless internet.

Registration

Conference registration fee: 360 EUR.

The conference registration fee includes:

  • Attendance to all scientific sessions
  • Lunches and dinners
  • Gala dinner
  • Coffee breaks & poster refreshments
  • Guided tour to the old town of Dubrovnik
  • VAT

Register and book your accomodation by clicking the button below.

Deadlines

Abstract submission deadline

08 February 2026

Participants will be notified whether their abstract is selected for a talk or a poster by

15 February 2026

Registration

15 March 2026

Visa issuance procedures

To be submitted no earlier than 3 months prior to the date of planed entry into Croatia. The application will be decided on within 15 days from the date of submission of the application, and this period may be extended to 30 or 60 days for justified reasons. Click for more info.

Abstract submission

Poster guidelines

Venue

Dubrovnik

Spindle 2026 meeting will be held in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Dubrovnik is an old city on the Adriatic Sea coast in the extreme south of Croatia. Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik is one of the most prominent tourist resorts of the Mediterranean, surrounded by a brilliant-blue seascape, charming beaches and idyllic islands.
Dubrovnik has rich and fascinating history with many wonderful Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance churches, aristocratic palaces, red-roofed townhouses, and magnificent monasteries. It's known for its distinctive Old Town, encircled with massive stone walls completed in the 16th century, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The origins of the Croatian language and its classic literature can be traced back here, and the city remains an epicentre of culture, art, music and science.

Sponsors

This conference is supported by HRZZ - Croatian Science Foundation (CSF)

and European Research Council (ERC)