Single Cell Biology

Join us for the 6th Single Cell Biology conference, a global forum bringing together biologists, methods developers and computational modellers who are advancing our understanding of biology at single-cell resolution.

Over the past decade, single-cell profiling and complementary functional approaches have transformed how we study cellular diversity, behavior, and lineage. These technologies continue to reshape our knowledge of development, adaptation, tissue organisation, and disease.

This year’s programme will spotlight discoveries beyond traditional model organisms, new insights into cell-state dynamics and perturbation responses, and emerging strategies for recording cellular history. Additional sessions will explore recent advances in computational methods and the rapidly growing landscape of spatial technologies that reveal cells in their native context.

This interdisciplinary conference will showcase invited talks from leading international researchers, together with short talks selected from submitted abstracts, interactive poster sessions, poster pitches and networking events designed to spark collaboration across the community.

The conference will begin at approximately 12:00 on Monday, 10 June, and will conclude around 13:00 on Wednesday, 12 June 2026. All times are in BST.

A draft programme, including speakers and discussion topics, will be available soon.

Scientific programme committee

Stein Aerts
KU Leuven, Belgium

Leeat Keren
Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

Cole Trapnell
University of Washington, USA

Roser Vento-Tormo
Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK

Organisers – Wellcome Connecting Science
Scarlett Storr, Event organiser
Nagehan Ramazanoglu Bahadir, Programme developer

Registration deadline: 11 May (in person) | 1 June 2026 (virtual)

The in-person registration fee includes:

• Full access to scientific programme: oral and poster presentations, and networking on campus
• Access to the online conference portal to network with online participants
• Meals (lunch and dinner) and refreshments during the conference. Breakfast will be provided for delegates who have booked onsite accommodation.
• Recordings of the live-stream sessions, which will be available ‘on-demand’ for four weeks after the event ends

Virtual registration fee includes:

• Access to the virtual event portal (Log in details will be emailed a few days before the event starts)
• Live-stream sessions, including posters and online networking channels
• Recordings of the live-stream sessions, available ‘on-demand’ for four weeks after the event ends.

* To promote more inclusive scientific discussions with international colleagues at our conferences, virtual delegates based in Lower and Middle-Income Countries can register for free (see list of countries here).

If you are an editor or journalist, please contact the conference organiser for more information about the discounted fee or media pass.

Accommodation
Booked accommodation is for the nights of 10 and 11 June 2026.
Please note: there is limited onsite accommodation and this will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis; therefore, early registration is recommended.

If you wish to book campus accommodation either side of the conference dates, please contact the Hinxton Hall Conference Centre directly.

Accommodation services phishing scam – please be vigilant. More information.

Travel visas

Please check the UK government website for advice on whether you will need a visa or an electronic travel authorisation and how to obtain one: https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor. 

Confirmed attendees requiring a letter to support a visa application should contact our events team.

Bursaries

Bursary deadline: 16 March 2026

Wellcome Connecting Science offers registration bursaries (usually up to 50% of the registration fee) to those who would benefit from attending the conference but face financial barriers to attending events.

Priority will be given to PhD students/trainees, applicants from lower and middle income countries, or those from underrepresented/minoritised groups. Other early career researchers will be considered if funds allow.

To apply for funding support, please register and then select that you want to apply for a bursary. This will direct you to the online application form. Please explain why you need support and how you will benefit from attending the conference. Once you have submitted the application form, you will be emailed an abstract portal link. Please use this to submit your abstract before bursary deadline.

Applications without abstracts will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Additional funding opportunities

Visit our support page for information on financial support, including carer grants to help delegates with the costs of caring for children or dependent family members while attending a course or a conference.

Abstract deadline: 30 March 2026

We welcome abstracts from all areas relevant to the main themes of the meeting, for both oral and poster presentations. Several oral presentations will be chosen from the abstracts submitted. Presenters of oral presentations are expected to be onsite for the duration of the conference, whereas those presenting posters can do so in person or virtually.

To submit an abstract, you must first register for the conference. Once your registration is completed, you will be emailed a link to submit to the abstract submission portal. If you wish to edit your abstract following submission, please use the link in the abstract acknowledgement email.

All abstracts must be submitted and, if desired, edited by the deadline. The scientific programme committee will then assess your abstract and you will be notified about 2 weeks after the deadline whether you have been selected to present an oral or poster presentation. If you require acknowledgment that your abstract has been accepted earlier than this, please contact the event organiser.

Poster boards onsite will accommodate 118 cm high by 84 cm wide (A0-portrait) of printed material. Accepted abstracts will appear in the conference programme book; poster board numbers will be allocated at the conference.

All those accepted for a poster presentation will also have the opportunity present a ~1 min ‘poster pitch’ summarising their work.

If you are interested in supporting this meeting, please contact us.

For more information about the benefits of having a presence at this meeting, see our sponsorship page.

Single Cell Biology 2024 | Keynote lecture by Sarah Teichmann, University of Cambridge, UK

Single Cell Biology 2024 | Keynote by Marianne Bronner, California Institute of Technology, USA

What are your highlights from the single cell biology conference?