This FEBS Practical Course highlights different microscopic and spectroscopic methodologies to study biomolecular processes in living cells such as: (multiphoton) confocal microscopy, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), super-resolution microscopy, total internal reflection microscopy (TIRF), fluorescence correlation microscopy (FCS), and single-molecule detected fluorescence.
Image taken by Andriy Volkov.

Organizers: Jan Willem Borst, Yvonne Stahl, Koen van den Dries, Stefanie Weidtkamp

Twenty years ago, the initial FEBS crystallization course took place in the Czech Republic, becoming a celebrated tradition for students and postdocs worldwide. Not even pandemics halted its continuity, with the ninth course held offline in August 2021. Given its enduring popularity, the organizers will organize the tenth-anniversary edition in June 2024. While cryoEM advances have transformed structural biology, X-ray diffraction remains vital, particularly for studying protein–inhibitor/substrate complexes. However, the challenges in biological macromolecule crystallization persist. The course aims to bridge the gap between new insights and practical application, fostering rational approaches. Renowned experts will guide students, maintaining the tradition of these successful courses, with added topics such as fragment-screening, intracellular crystallization, and cryo-EM basics. The course’s practical focus, theory discussions, and laboratory experiments create a unique learning experience, building on past successes. Lecturers from the past courses are invited, providing their valuable expertise to participants.

Organizers: Ivana Kuta Smatanova with co-organizers Pavlina Rezacova, Jeroen R. Mesters, Jose A. Gavira Gallardo

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 (single) molecules in living cells. Several new microscopy techniques are ideally suited for studying cellular signals but their application remains limited because most biologists have never been introduced to these technologies.

This 6-day FEBS Practical Course on advanced microscopy for experienced graduate students, postdocs and lab technicians integrates 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. The practicals will focus at the functional imaging techniques FRAP, FCS, FLIM, FRET & Optogenetics. In addition two (advanced) data analysis sessions for ImageJ will be included.

Organizers: Mark Hink

Over the past 20 years metabolomics has evolved into a powerful tool allowing the investigation of hundreds to low thousands of metabolites from many areas of metabolism and can be applied across the biological sciences to investigate cellular organisms from microbes to humans and plants. In this FEBS Practical Course we will combine lectures, hands-on laboratory sessions, computer workshops, and interactive group activities to introduce you to applying metabolomics in your research.

Organizers: Warwick Dunn ([email protected]), Cate Winder

This course addresses the mechanobiology community and aims at offering a comprehensive view on advanced approaches to measure and quantify the mechanical properties of biological materials at different scales, from molecules to cells and tissues. It will include scientific lectures, hands-on activity with state-of-the-art instruments, and evening discussions with researchers from university and industrial background. A social event will help cement the cohort of attendees.

Organizers: Massimo Vassalli, Lining Ju