Advanced Courses – ý Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:50:02 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Molecular mechanisms of synaptic vesicle dynamics /event/molecular-mechanisms-of-synaptic-vesicle-dynamics/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:41:11 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=15044 Continued]]> The will be held in 12–18 October 2026 on the island Spetses, Greece. Brain function depends on the exquisitely controlled spatial and temporal release of neurotransmitters, which are stored in synaptic vesicles (SVs). In addition, synaptic function relies on profound cargo and lipid flux and on organizational principles to recycle and enrich distinct sets of proteins/lipids in local functional and dynamic environments. Recent advances in techniques such as high-resolution imaging, in vitro reconstitution, electrophysiology, molecular modelling, and biophysics have provided remarkably detailed and unsurpassed insights into the molecular components and mechanisms, structural architecture, signaling pathways and pathogenesis underlying neurotransmitter release.

This course aims to provide an integrated perspective on synaptic vesicle dynamics, bringing together experts at the forefront of closely related and highly relevant topics including membrane trafficking, lipid dynamics, neuronal exocytosis, and the organization of supramolecular structures and molecular condensates. The talks will emphasize molecular mechanisms, structure-function relationships, molecular causes of neurological disease, and state-of-the-art technologies. In an informal setting, poster sessions, oral presentations, and casual meet-the-expert rounds will stimulate interactions between students, postdocs and lecturers, establishing scientific and personal networks.

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Advanced proteomics /event/advanced-proteomics-2/ Thu, 15 Jan 2026 07:19:02 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14974 Continued]]> Proteomics technologies have become an integral part of modern-day scientific research.  It is an essential component of systems biology alongside the genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. Furthermore, proteins are, by far, the most ‘reactive’ part of the cell as they execute and control the majority of biological processes. The advent of high-performance proteomics makes it possible to study protein expression and regulation on a systems-wide scale. The technological developments made over the past decade have allowed the development of tools to interrogate the primary protein sequence, post-translational modifications, and secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure. Advances in mass spectrometry and protein chemistry now allow the characterisation of the proteome, its interactions with other biomolecules within cells and tissues, in a quantitative manner with temporal and spatial resolution.

The ý Advanced Lecture Course ‘Advanced proteomics’ / contains educational talks, interactive tutorials, and workshops covering technological basics, current best practices, and future developments given by leading academic and industry experts.  The extracurricular activities and the social events in the gothic cellar vault at our venue have proven to be an excellent environment for student and speaker interactions. The registration fee includes access to all lectures, workshops, and social activities, and accommodation (two people sharing a room), as well as all meals. Our summer school is designed to provide graduate students and young postdoctoral scientists from academia and industry with deep insights into state-of-the-art proteomic technologies and applications in the life sciences.

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Membranes and their lipids and proteins in organelle biogenesis /event/membranes-and-their-lipids-and-proteins-in-organelle-biogenesis/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:49:10 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14971 Continued]]> Without biological membranes, life wouldn’t exist, hence biomembranes can easily be considered as the most essential structures of living cells. These membranes, containing both lipids and proteins isolate cells and their internal organelles from their surroundings and are complex structures that vary considerably in composition depending on their functions and location. A full understanding of the structural and compositional complexity of these membranes, their biogenesis, their interactions and their function will require multi-disciplinary approaches. To obtain detailed insights into the pathways and mechanisms leading to the assembly and proper functioning of membranes, co-operative research efforts of biochemists, biophysicists, structural biologists, and molecular and cell biologists are required.

The provides an excellent platform and opportunity to acquire an integrated overview of the structure, function and biogenesis of biological membranes in the context of the biogenesis of organelles and their components. It will also provide promising students in the field a chance to get personally acquainted with leaders of the various disciplines, to acquire insight into the possibilities offered by different experimental approaches and to discuss and learn about the multiple techniques in membrane-related research. In addition to scholarly scientific lectures, the program also contains as an essential element various mentoring sessions on work-life balance, career planning, and responsible conduct of science. Moreover, the program will allow for a total of 20 young scientist participants to give oral presentations of their work.

Watch a short promotional .

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Tumour microenvironment: From tumour heterogeneity to therapy resistance /event/tumour-microenvironment-from-tumour-heterogeneity-to-therapy-resistance/ Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:04:12 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14936 Continued]]> The ý Advanced Lecture Course ‘Tumour Microenvironment: From tumour heterogeneity to therapy resistance’ will bring together an international and interdisciplinary community of basic, translational and clinical researchers to discuss key aspects and new conceptual advancements in the field of tumour microenvironment, mechanisms of therapy resistance, cancer cell heterogeneity and cell plasticity.

The course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the physiological functions of the distinct cell types that comprise the tumour microenvironment and how these cells are implicated in disease progression and therapy resistance. Topics that will be covered include tumour vascular biology, tumour adaptive and innate immunity, cancer metastasis, and cancer cell plasticity. New technologies and tools to study the tumour microenvironment, such as tissue biomechanics, gene therapy for immune cell reprogramming and single-cell technologies will be highlighted. The course will also showcase the clinical relevance of targeting the tumour microenvironment and will demonstrate how findings from basic research in model organisms can lead to improved therapeutic applications.

The scientific programme of the course includes seven thematic sessions and is designed to offer advanced training and in-depth discussions. Talks will be delivered by internationally recognised experts in the field, alongside selected presentations from young scientists, promoting active participation and scientific exchange across career stages. Young scientists will also have the opportunity to present and discuss their work during poster sessions and structured networking activities.

In addition to the scientific content, the course will place strong emphasis on training, networking, and career development. Dedicated workshops will focus on career paths in academia and industry, how to improve scientific writing & funding applications, and ‘meet the expert’ session, where young researchers will have the opportunity to meet in small groups with senior scientists who are leaders in their field and discuss specific issues. There will also be plenty of opportunities throughout the meeting for participants and speakers to informally interact in a relaxed and idyllic atmosphere, during the social events, and by spending free time at the beach.

Overall, the course will provide a stimulating and supportive environment for learning, discussion, and collaboration, and will contribute to the advancement of the tumour microenvironment research field.

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Functional imaging of cellular dynamics /event/functional-imaging-of-cellular-dynamics-2/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:51:23 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14892 Continued]]> The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond to their environment is the basis of development, tissue repair, and immunity as well as normal tissue homeostasis. Errors in the interplay, dynamics or localization of the involved molecules are responsible for many diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity and diabetes. By increasing the understanding of the complex interplay between these various components and their dynamics over time the related diseases can be treated more effectively. Because of the recent technological revolution in advanced light microscopy (i.e. functional imaging of molecules, development of caged compounds and biosensors) it is now possible to directly monitor the dynamics of these (single) molecules and numerous biosensors in living cells.  Microscopic techniques like Super-resolution Microscopy, FLIM-FRET, FRAP and FCS allow us to visualize cellular signaling complexes and their dynamics in time and will be the topic of this ý practical course.

This 6-day advanced microscopy course for up to 20 experienced graduate students, postdocs and scientists will integrate theoretical lectures with hands-on experiments and practical experience. National and international experts in the field of microscopy will give an overview of “state-of-the-art” imaging techniques and applications in biological research.

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Cancer research; from fundamental insights to clinical application /event/cancer-research-from-fundamental-insights-to-clinical-application/ Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:45:30 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14861 Continued]]> Cancer research is still pushing scientific boundaries and new developments and insights are entering the clinic at increasing pace. Most of the recent clinical successes come from a better understanding of basic processes that govern the malignant behavior of the cancer cell itself, as well as the way the cancer cell interacts with cells in its environment. Consequently, we see that new inhibitors of these processes, are entering the clinic very rapidly.

The molecular mechanisms by which cancer cell behavior is controlled are intensively studied in modern biology. In this Joint ý/EMBO Lecture Course ‘Cancer research; from fundamental insights to clinical application’ (co-sponsored by ) held in Spetses, Greece, we are bringing together a number of true experts in the field of cancer research, from basic to clinical oncology. This course will cover cancer signaling and metabolism, genome instability and tumor evolution, the tumor microenvironment, and novel ways of drug development. Finally, the application or translation of this knowledge into the clinic will be discussed by the speakers.

This joint course website is under construction. Please monitor the for when the link becomes available.

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Protein termini 2026: From mechanisms to biological impact /event/protein-termini-2026-from-mechanisms-to-biological-impact/ Mon, 29 Dec 2025 11:25:36 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14859 Continued]]> ճ will be the 5th biennial conference of the . The workshop’s four-day programme is structured around eight thematic sessions that follow the functional journey of protein termini — from synthesis and co-translational processing, through terminal modifications, stability and signaling, to applications in medicine and biotechnology.

The workshop will explore the critical roles of protein termini in biological processes, including proteostasis. As the first part of a nascent protein to emerge from the ribosome, the N-terminus undergoes co-translational modifications that dictate protein fate, while ribosome-associated factors and modifying enzymes act on both termini to influence folding, localization, and stability. The C-terminus, though historically less studied, is now recognized as equally important in regulating protein interactions and degradation. Additionally, protease-mediated processing generates new N- and C-termini, adding another layer of regulation. Understanding how these processes coordinate during translation and beyond remains a major question in biology with broad biological and therapeutic implications.

Through the thematic sessions, short and flash talks, poster sessions, optional activities, and informal networking opportunities, the workshop will foster interdisciplinary dialogue across structural biology, cell biology, proteomics, synthetic biology, and translational research.

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Transglutaminases in biological processes /event/transglutaminases-in-biological-processes/ Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:08:03 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14857 Continued]]> The ý Advanced Lecture Course ‘Transglutaminases in biological processes’ will bring together an international and interdisciplinary community of researchers to explore current advances in transglutaminase biology and their relevance to health and disease. The course (which follows the ý Workshop ‘Transglutaminases in human disease processes’ in 2024) aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the physiological functions of transglutaminase enzymes, including their roles in signal transduction, protein crosslinking, and extracellular matrix organisation, as well as their contribution to a broad spectrum of pathological conditions. Topics covered will include cardiovascular and neurological diseases, cancer, inflammation and autoimmunity, fibrosis and tissue remodelling, metabolic disorders, and emerging disease contexts, together with new experimental approaches and tools to study and modulate transglutaminase activity.

The scientific programme is designed to offer advanced training and in-depth discussion, combining plenary and keynote lectures with seven thematic sessions led by internationally recognised experts. Each session will include invited talks alongside selected presentations from early-career researchers, promoting active participation and scientific exchange across career stages. Young scientists will also be involved in moderating discussions and presenting their work through short talks and poster flash presentations.

In addition to the scientific content, the course will place strong emphasis on training, networking, and career development. Dedicated sessions will address career paths in academia and industry, effective scientific communication, and funding opportunities, while ample time will be reserved for informal interactions and social activities. Overall, the course will provide a stimulating and supportive environment for learning, discussion, and collaboration, and will contribute to the continued development of the transglutaminase research community.

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Biochirality across scales /event/biochirality-across-scales/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:02:26 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14755 Continued]]> The ý Workshop ‘Biochirality across scales’ will be the first comprehensive interdisciplinary meeting dedicated to chirality in biology, spanning scales from molecules to whole organisms. Chirality, the property of non-superimposable mirror asymmetry, is a fundamental organizing principle in life, influencing amino acids, sugars, nucleic acids, cytoskeletal polymers, supramolecular assemblies, and organismal traits such as organ handedness and brain lateralization.

Despite its central role, chirality has so far been studied only in fragmented contexts, leaving a critical gap in understanding its integrative impact across biological systems. This workshop brings together leading researchers from biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, neuroscience, and biomedical fields to provide a holistic perspective on biological chirality.

The program emphasizes accessibility and training for early-career scientists, with clear, concept-focused lectures, interdisciplinary sessions pairing senior leaders with young investigators, and interactive formats including “Coffee Break / Whiteboard Discussions” and extended “Come with Your Question” poster sessions. Innovative features, such as “My Science in 3 Minutes”, will allow ten selected young investigators to present their research on a single slide in three minutes, with a prize for the best presentation. Poster sessions will encourage participants to present both results and open questions, fostering dialogue, mentorship, and interdisciplinary engagement.

By combining cutting-edge science with structured training, networking, and collaborative opportunities, this workshop aims to inspire dynamic exchange, promote mentorship, and cultivate the next generation of molecular life scientists, reflecting ý mission of supporting scientific excellence across Europe.

The course website is under construction. Please monitor the Advanced Courses calendar for when the link becomes available.

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Redox signaling in the physiopathology of the human body /event/redox-signaling-in-the-physiopathology-of-the-human-body/ Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:08:40 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=14721 Continued]]> Redox homeostasis is a prerequisite for human health, in which the physiological levels of nonradical reactive oxygen species function as the primary second messengers to modulate physiological redox signaling by orchestrating multiple redox sensors. However, redox dysregulation leads to biomolecule damage and subsequent occurrence of various diseases such as cardiovascular pathology, cancer and neurodegeneration.

The , jointly delivered with the , aims to tackle the intricate redox signaling network that has evolved around cellular metabolism, generation of radical species, and cellular responses that affect growth and death. The speakers will discuss different aspects of redox signaling involved in both physiological and pathological conditions and how dysfunction of this complex signaling network can be targeted to prevent/slow disease onset and progression. Further, different model systems as well as methodological approaches, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, will be discussed to provide students a wider perspective of questions, models, and approaches that can be developed for future studies.

The program offers a diverse array of activities, including training lectures, poster sessions, short presentations by all participants, and ‘meet the expert’ sessions that provide young scientists with the opportunity to engage directly with leading international experts in redox biology.

The course will target early-career researchers (ECRs) from different areas of basic biological sciences and medicine, primarily experienced PhD students and post-doctoral level scientists within 5 years after completion of their doctorate. ECRs will be selected primarily based on their qualifications relevant to the course content, their potential to contribute to the breadth of science, and the benefit they are likely to obtain for their future careers, while ensuring a broad participation from different ý constituent countries and a focus on equality and diversity.

Image: neurons stained with DCF, for ROS assay; from lab of M. Perluigi.

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