The 5th International Symposium on the Biology of Endothelial Cells was held in Dresden, Germany. The meeting included sessions on endothelial cell differentiation, tumor and lymph angiogenesis, endothelial cell junctions and barrier function, biomechanical control of endothelial function, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, hypoxia and VEGF-induced signaling, inflammation and angiogenesis. This report summarizes the key findings of the platform presentations of the meeting.