The goal of this GRC is to delineate and promote innovative and impactful multidisciplinary research that could ultimately lead to new models for management of human mucosal disease. The GRC will capitalize on inclusion of the diverse realm of the biologic, physical, computational and clinical state-of-the-sciences in order to systematically achieve this goal in the years to come. There will be high emphasis on inclusion of Young Investigators throughout the Conference, thereby broadening participation at each Conference as well as enhancing development of the next generation of investigators. Fostering these new strategies for research in this field is necessary and important. Mucosal disease in humans can have profound clinical and economic impact. The diseases can affect single or multiple mucosal sites, including oral and gastrointestinal, conjunctival, genitourinary and respiratory tracts. Etiopathogenesis can be complex, with causation associated with autoimmune, allergic, infection, genetic dysregulation and/or treatment-induced mechanisms. In some cases, causes are unknown. It is thus essential that strategically innovative approaches be developed to either prevent mucosal disease, or enhance individual patient’s response to therapeutic interventions. This GRC will address this collective need and opportunity. By capitalizing on integration of the contemporary biologic, physical, computational and clinical sciences, the GRC is designed to advance this field of science in fundamentally new directions. The presentations and discussions throughout this GRC will occur in an informal, collegial atmosphere so as to foster innovative and synergistic dialogue regarding potentially paradigm-shifting new research. The GRC has been designed to systematically evolve in the years ahead, as the science of human mucosal health and disease continues to mature.