Cellular mechanisms driven by phase separation

Overview

This conference will take place at EMBL Heidelberg, with the option to attend virtually.

Registration is not yet open for this event. If you are interested in receiving more information please register your interest.

Symposium overview

The realisation that intracellular phase transitions underlie the formation of membrane-less compartmentalisation in cells has transformed our understanding of cellular organisation in time and space. While the existence of membrane-less organelles, such as nucleoli, stress granules, and Cajal bodies had been known for a long time, it had remained largely unclear until recently how they were formed, maintained, and regulated.

To take full advantage of these newly emerging principles, we need to develop new tools and approaches to characterise the emergent properties of phase-separated states and their impact on biological function.

It requires a combination of cell biology, genetics, biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, soft matter physics and polymer physics, which will allow researchers to synergistically decipher how novel functions and pathologies emerge from the process of phase separation in biological systems, and what molecular underpinnings facilitate and regulate this key process.

This conference will bring together scientists from those diverse fields, to allow the fostering of new discoveries, nurturing a new generation of scientists who challenge the boundaries of existing fields, and thinking outside the box to tackle important emerging problems in the life sciences.

Session topics

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What past participants say about the Symposium

“The EMBO | EMBL Symposium on Cellular Mechanisms Driven by phase separation is a must-attend for anyone working in this field as it brings together an interdisciplinary mix of scientists from domains of physics, chemistry, and biology! Great opportunity to listen to excellent and current science.” – Ambuja Navalkar, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, India

“Attending this conference has been an incredible opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research in the field of bimolecular phase separation.” – Elnaz Hosseini, Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany

Sponsors

Sponsorship opportunities

We offer a variety of event sponsoring possibilities, with the flexibility to select a set sponsorship package or combine individual sponsorship options to suit your event budget. Discounts are available for companies sponsoring multiple events at EMBL Heidelberg. View other conferences, or contact sponsorship@embl.de for further information.

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About

EMBO | EMBL Symposia promote scientific communication and collaboration in the European research area. They provide scientists with a platform to discuss and exchange ideas on forward-looking topics and new developments in the life sciences.

Topics emphasise upcoming developments and the interdisciplinary nature of related fields. Jointly funded and organised by EMBO and EMBL – and complementary to their respective courses, workshops, and conference programmes – the symposia promote scientific communication and collaboration.

All symposia are held in the EMBL Advanced Training Centre (ATC) in Heidelberg, Germany, or virtually.