G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent a vast and diverse class of transmembrane proteins that orchestrate a wide range of physiological processes by responding to both endogenous and exogenous ligands [1,2]. These receptors are essential to critical functions such as metabolism, immune regulation, neuronal signaling, and sensory perception - including vision and olfaction. Due to their physiological relevance and membrane accessibility, GPCRs are the targets of approximately 34% of all prescribed medications, accounting for nearly 27% of the global pharmaceutical market [3]. 

Despite their pharmaceutical importance, key aspects of GPCR function remain elusive. The canonical activation model posits that agonist binding to the extracellular orthosteric site triggers allosteric changes - most notably, the outward displacement of transmembrane helices 5 (TM5) and 6 (TM6) on the intracellular side - ultimately leading to receptor activation [2-4]. However, recent evidence suggests a more nuanced mechanism. In several GPCRs, activation appears to involve cooperative engagement between the agonist and the G protein. For example, the G protein may disrupt an "inactivating ionic lock" - a salt bridge between TM3 and TM6 - while the agonist stabilizes the active conformation. In some receptors, this is complemented by the formation of an “activating ionic lock” between TM5 and TM6 [5-8]. These dual contributions are considered thermodynamically essential for full activation [7].

Adding further complexity, GPCR activity is regulated by conformational microswitches and finely tuned intra-protein interaction networks. These dynamic rearrangements are difficult to capture and often elude direct correlation with functional outcomes. Moreover, allosteric ligands - which bind sites distinct from the orthosteric pocket - are being increasingly identified [9-12], along with small molecules capable of biased signaling, i.e., preferential activation of specific intracellular pathways [11-13, 16, 17]. These findings reveal a rich and underexplored conformational landscape that governs GPCR signaling. In addition, native membrane components—such as lipids and interacting proteins, including GPCR oligomers—are known to significantly modulate receptor function [11, 18-22].

To disentangle these intricacies, computational modeling has become indispensable, offering atomistic insight into GPCR conformational dynamics and mechanistic understanding [1-2, 7, 11, 14, 16–21, 23]. Nevertheless, key questions remain - particularly regarding the structural basis of biased signaling, strategies for leveraging allosteric networks in pharmacology, and the modulatory role of the lipid environment. Addressing these gaps is crucial for both fundamental biology and the rational design of next-generation GPCR-targeting drugs with improved selectivity and safety profiles. 

These scientific challenges form the foundation of our upcoming workshop, which will focus on the latest experimental and computational approaches for studying the functional dynamics of GPCRs. Given the profound health, economic, and societal implications of modulating these receptors with precision, we aim to strengthen the interdisciplinary nature of the event by increasing the representation of experimental research and integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence applications into the program.

Building upon the success of the 2022 and 2024 editions - which led to new collaborations and a landmark publication in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery [24] - our goal is to further enhance communication and collaboration between experimentalists and theoreticians. The workshop will serve as a reference point for young scientists and students, offering a platform to interact with leading international experts. We are confident that this initiative will foster insightful discussions and contribute meaningfully to advancing the field of GPCR pharmacology.