An international corps of expert investigators describe their optimized techniques for both the identification of new cell adhesion proteins and for the characterization of novel adhesive structures. Their cutting edge methods will enable both novice and experienced researchers readily to identify and clone new adhesion proteins, to successfully produce inhibitors of the adhesive activity, to develop biological models for the assay of cell-to-matrix and cell-to-cell adhesion in vitro, and to measure the signaling activities of adhesion proteins. By illuminating these adhesive molecules and the possibilities for manipulating them, the new experimental strategies collected here will have considerable clinical potential for the regulation of immunity, inflammation, tissue remodeling, and embryonic development.