Hosted in the picturesque setting of Arantzazu, Spain, this FEBS Workshop – the  22nd European Workshop on Bacterial Protein Toxins (ETOX 2025) – gathers experts to explore critical developments in bacterial toxicology. Key topics will include the mechanisms of bacterial secretion systems (T3SS, T4SS, T5SS, T6SS, and T7SS), toxin–host interactions and immune response, and toxin structure and function. Esteemed speakers from around the globe will guide these sessions, joined by emerging scientists selected from abstracts.

The organizers, alongside an international advisory board, invite applications from researchers worldwide, with a submission deadline of 31 January 2025. Join us for an inspiring journey into the molecular world of bacterial protein toxins and a chance to foster collaborative advancements in this vital field.

Organizers: David Albesa-Jové, Patricia Bernal

The FEBS workshop “Conservation and Diversity of Gene Regulatory Mechanisms Across Eukaryotes” aims to bridge the gap between research on gene transcription regulation in model and non-model organisms. While model organisms have driven discoveries in gene expression, non-model systems offer unique insights into the conservation and diversity of regulatory mechanisms, including chromatin organization. The event will bring together researchers working on yeasts, flies, plants, mammals, and other less-studied organisms, using genomics, structural biology, and computational approaches. With enthusiastic support from invited speakers, this workshop will foster interdisciplinary discussions and highlight the evolutionary and mechanistic aspects of gene transcription across diverse systems.

Organizers: Folkert van Werven

This workshop aims to bridge the two different disciplines of biophysics and dynamic structural biology, covering time-resolved spectroscopic (optical and vibrational spectroscopy) and X-ray techniques (crystallography and scattering at synchrotrons and XFELs). The synergy of the experimental techniques will be complemented by computational approaches. Particular attention will be given to fostering collaborations between experts from these different areas and to the training of young researchers. To that end the lectures will have a strong educational element including training sessions with hands-on experience in the analysis of time-resolved spectroscopic and crystallographic data.

The following topics will be covered: time-resolved spectroscopy (infrared, Raman, circular dichroism, fluorescence), time-resolved serial crystallography at synchrotrons and XFELs, time-resolved cryo EM, fast-mixing techniques, sensory photoreceptors of optogenetic interest, rhodopsins, heme proteins, flavoproteins, cryptochromes, LOV domains, BLUF domains, UV-damage, computational biology (MD simulations, DFT, QM/MM), photophysics, membrane proteins, photosynthetic systems and software development for serial crystallography.

Organizers: Sofia Maria Kapetanaki, András Lukács, Giorgio Schirò, Sofia Jaho

Protease research has witnessed a substantial expansion; on one hand, genome sequencing has unveiled numerous new proteases, while on the other hand, the swift development of innovative technologies like quantitative proteomics and in vivo imaging have shed light on the physiological context of these proteases. These advancements have facilitated the discovery of physiological substrates and significantly enhanced our understanding of protease functions in diverse biological contexts. This FEBS Workshop aims to address current advancements, challenges, and expansion in the field of proteases, protein inhibitors, and their physiological and pathological control mechanisms. The workshop will cover various sections dedicated to proteases, protease inhibitors, regulation, and proteolytic control, with a focus on their role in diseases and novel therapeutic approaches, bringing together established and emerging scientists from around the world to discuss the current status and future trends in this exciting research field.

Event website under preparation.

Organizers: Boris Turk, Helena Kastelic, Andreja Kozak

The past decade has seen a broad increase in the understanding that protein function is regulated by co- and post-translational modification of their N- and C-termini. Active research in this field is expanding, including in mechanistic understanding of protein modification, in technologies for examining protein termini and in identification of routes by which protein terminal modifications can be exploited for beneficial purposes. This FEBS Workshop will bring together established expertise in the field with new contributors, and will highlight the opportunities to capitalize on knowledge of protein termini for translation into novel methodologies, therapeutics and agri-tech solutions. Session topics will include ‘Structural and biochemical characterization of protein termini’, ‘New insights into N-terminal processing’, ‘Protein C-termini’, ‘Advances in methodology’, ‘Physiological impact of protein terminal modification’ and ‘Exploiting protein termini’.

Organizers: Emily Flashman, Francesco Licausi, Cheol-sang Hwang, Carmela Giglione

Close to 40% of human genes encode long and small non-coding RNA, many of which are conserved throughout evolution. They perform many essential functions in germ and somatic cells, ranging from the suppression of retrotransposons to fine-tuning gene expression. Yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain incompletely understood. The goal of this meeting is two-fold. One is to review recent advances in studying non-coding RNA biology, from biosynthesis to function. The second is to discuss the use of therapeutic non-coding RNAs (including antisense, small interfering, and CRISPR RNAs) as tools to correct faulty gene expression in human disease.

Course thumbnail image courtesy of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Organizers: Andrei Thomas-Tikhonenko

The field of structural biology has been undergoing profound changes over the past few years, including the growing recognition of macromolecular dynamics being of paramount importance. Processes such as enzymatic turnover, protein transport and folding via biomolecular machinery, or the translocation of small molecules across biological membranes, fundamentally involve the sampling of multiple conformations of the proteins involved, i.e. dynamics. Moreover, the realization that many proteins are functional despite lacking a well-defined 3D structure, i.e. so-called intrinsically disordered proteins, has challenged our view of the structure–function relationship. Thus, in order to understand biological processes, it is instrumental to decipher the motions of proteins. The FEBS Advanced Course ‘Les Houches– Telluride Workshop on Protein Dynamics’ is a forum for presenting and discussing results from the application of state-of-the-art experimental (including, but not limited to optical, NMR and neutron spectroscopies, time-resolved X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and scattering methods) and computational and theoretical approaches to studying equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium protein dynamics.

Organizers: Enrica Bordignon, Paul Schanda, Lars Schäfer, Ben Schuler, Martin Weik, Junko Yano

The transglutaminase enzymes are extremely important to normal biological function, having been recognized to perform a myriad of roles relating to signal transduction and protein crosslinking. Dysregulation of their function or expression is the basis of a host of pathologic conditions including fibrosis, inflammation, cancer, celiac disease, skin diseases, diabetes, blood disorders and neurodegenerative disease, and there is a tremendous interest in transglutaminase type 2 as a therapeutic target.

The proposed FEBS Workshop is a much anticipated scientific meeting on known and emerging transglutaminase-related diseases, new methods for detection and novel translational aspects for treatment. It aims to bring together an international group of senior academic and industrial members, with as many as possible early career scientists, future leaders and drivers of this expanding field. The Workshop will feature presentations relevant to all the pathological conditions for which transglutaminase is a relevant target, and will also focus on emerging diseases associated with this class of enzymes, and new methods for their investigation. Additional training sessions will focus on career development and grant capturing. There will be plenty of opportunities for poster or selected oral presentations. Our evening programme is designed to encourage networking and to enjoy all that idyllic Bertinoro has to offer.

Image credit: Created with BioRender.com

Organizers: Elisabetta Verderio Edwards, Kiyotaka Hitomi

The 1^st FEBS Workshop on Redox Medicine will cover the most recent data on the redox regulation of biological functions ranging from fundamental to clinical research and therapeutic applications, as well as specific and sensitive tools and techniques to properly identify and quantify oxidants in complex biological settings. The main goal is to promote an environment in which young researchers can interact with prominent senior researchers. Join us for a workshop including lectures by invited speakers and short presentations by participants selected from submitted abstracts.

Organizers: Ana Ledo, Barbara Rocha

The past decades have witnessed a growing interest in inorganic polyphosphate (polyP), a linear polymer of phosphate that predates life. PolyP participates in many vital functions including bacterial virulence, blood coagulation, cancer, inflammation, and chaperone activity, among others. In addition, recent publications revealed novel fundamental knowledge in polyP biology. Following the success of the first polyP meeting, held virtually in 2021, this FEBS Workshop gathering will show the current progress and engage our researchers’ community.
The event website is in preparation.

Organizers: Adolfo Saiardi, Felix Ruiz, Roberto Docampo

Deadline for applications: 31 March 2023

The molecular and cellular pathways in hematopoietic aging and associated hematological disease remain poorly understood. Our Workshop will bring together basic, translational and clinical scientists to discuss key regulators of hematopoietic stem cell ontogeny, cell fate specification and self-renewal upon aging and malignant transformation, highlighting state-of-the-art technologies such as metabolomics, single-cell sequencing and model systems. The FEBS Workshop is also supported by the ARCH Marie Sklodowska Curie ITN and will take place in the beautiful setting of Fodele in Crete.

Organizers: John Strouboulis, Nina Cabezas-Wallscheid, Eleni Katsantoni, Antonella Ronchi

Deadline for applications: 20 March 2023