In recent years, a number of molecular networks, regulating autophagy signal, nucleation, progression and termination have been identified. Due to the extreme relevance of autophagy in human physiology, in development, and in a constellation of diseases (ranging from cancer to neurodegeneration, from disorders of the immune system to muscle pathologies), autophagy has gained the highest importance in biomedicine. This sets the stage for an EMBO Conference series to discuss current status and the future directions in the field of autophagy. In this context, the main objectives of this EMBO Conference are to bring together leading experts, and to allow young researchers (Ph.D. students and postdocs) to appreciate the state-of-the-art and the novel opportunities from an integrative interdisciplinary approach encompassing all aspects of this compelling new field.

The conference will cover the following major themes:

• Autophagy, cancer and metabolism
• Autophagy and vescicular trafficking
• Autophagy signalling networks
• Autophagy molecular regulation and methods
• Autophagy and cancer
• Autophagy and immunity
• Developmental autophagy
• Autophagy and Organels