The 6th International Symposium on Mechanobiology (ISMB 2026) will bring together leading researchers from across the globe to explore how mechanical forces shape biological systems, from molecules to organisms. 

The symposium opens with a plenary session on Mechanobiology in Disease and Mechanomedicine, examining how mechanical cues contribute to conditions including cancer, fibrosis, and cardiovascular disease, alongside emerging therapeutic strategies. A second plenary showcases Advanced Tools for Multiscale Mechanobiology, highlighting optical and biophysical technologies that are transforming our ability to probe mechanical properties across scales. The third plenary addresses Cell Mechanics Across Length Scales, tackling the challenge of connecting nanoscale molecular forces to tissue-level function.

Parallel sessions address specialised topics reflecting the field's expanding frontiers. Nuclear Mechanobiology explores force transmission to the nucleus and chromatin remodelling, while Immunomechanobiology examines how physical forces shape immune responses. Mechanochemistry presents strategies for engineering force-responsive molecules and materials, and Mechanobiology of Ageing investigates mechanical contributions to cellular senescence and age-related decline.

The programme also bridges fundamental and applied research through sessions on Mechanobiology of Development and Tissue Engineering connecting morphogenesis with biomaterial design, and Sonomechanobiology, an emerging field harnessing ultrasonic stimulation for cell and tissue engineering. In vivo Mechanobiology moves beyond reductionist approaches to study mechanical signalling in living organisms, while ECM Mechanobiology in Physiology and Disease examines how extracellular matrix properties regulate cell behaviour in health and pathology.