About the Meeting
The 14th International Meeting on the Rapid Responses to Steroid Hormones (RRSH 2026) will be held from Thursday, September 24, to Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy.
RRSH is an international biomedical conference that serves as a meeting point for scientists, clinicians, and young researchers to explore, present, and discuss advances in the understanding of steroid hormone functions in both physiological and pathological contexts, from biological and medical perspectives.
The conference was conceived to celebrate the rapid, or “non-genomic,” actions of steroid hormones, while also embracing their well-known genomic effects. Through both classical and non-genomic mechanisms, steroid hormones regulate the immune, cardiovascular, skeletal muscle, and nervous systems, and their dysregulation contributes to major pathological conditions such as cancer, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders.
In Memoriam
This year, RRSH 2026 will commemorate two eminent scientists, Professor Brian J. Harvey (1957–2024) and Professor Étienne-Émile Baulieu (1926–2025), who left a remarkable legacy of scientific discovery and an enduring passion for research.
- Professor Brian J. Harvey was a pioneer in physiology and molecular endocrinology, renowned for his groundbreaking studies on the rapid responses to steroid hormones and their implications in diseases such as cystic fibrosis and cancer.
- Professor Étienne-Émile Baulieu was a trailblazer in the study of intracellular and nuclear receptors for steroid hormones. In 1982, he contributed to the discovery of the anti-progesterone RU 486 (mifepristone), a synthetic steroid that revolutionized reproductive medicine and transformed the lives of millions of women worldwide.
Scientific Topics
RRSH 2026 will feature sessions covering (but not limited to) the following areas:
- Steroid hormones in cancer
- Steroids in the nervous system
- Steroid hormone signaling in health and disease
- GPER: a steroid receptor dressed up as a G-protein
- Glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and thyroid receptors
- Targeting steroid receptors in diseases
Join Us in Naples
RRSH 2026 will provide a stimulating and collaborative environment for sharing new ideas and building connections within the international steroid hormone research community.
Prof. Pia Giovannelli (University of Naples), Chair
Prof. Marzia Di Donato (University of Naples), Co-Chair
📍 University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
📅 September 24–26, 2026
