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Analysis and integration of transcriptome and proteome data – Course and Conference Office

EMBL Course

Analysis and integration of transcriptome and proteome data

Overview

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

Course overview

Systems biology is a still expanding field of research aiming to understand at the molecular level how cells, tissues and organisms operate in their biological context. Among the key technologies driving this forward are next-generation sequencing and proteomics, as they provide powerful means to determine global expression levels of genes and proteins. Both fields have matured to a degree that they have now become accessible to researchers in many areas of biology.

During this course, participants will gain theoretical insight in the structure of sequencing and proteomic data, and they will receive training in data analysis for the annotation, quantification, and statistical analysis of gene and protein expression using various computational tools. In addition, training will be provided in the use of Cytoscape to derive biological insights from the integration of both data types.

Audience

This course is targeted at biologists and biochemists who are (starting to be) involved in both next-generation sequencing and mass spectrometry-based proteomics, but who are not experts in these fields.

Modules/resources

  • Principles of mRNA quantification
  • Principles of protein identification and quantification
  • Principles and application of bioinformatic tools for mining of transcriptome and proteome data
  • Data integration by Cytoscape

Learning outcomes

The aim of this practical course is to provide insight in techniques that are frequently used for transcriptome and proteome analysis, and to provide hands-on experience turning primary data into information that can be used for further biological interpretation. To achieve these goals, participants will gain insight in the basic principles of gene expression analysis (RNAseq data quantification and differential expression analysis), protein identification and quantification, and they will be trained in the use of software tools to analyse sequencing and proteomic data (SearchGUI, PeptideShaker, MaxQuant). In addition, the course will provide insight in the complementarity of transcriptome and proteome data by their integrative analysis via Cytoscape.

What past participants say about the course

“An intensive and inspiring course with worldwide top researchers in bioinformatics. Ideal for wet lab scientists who are now starting to work on RNA seq and proteomics analysis” – Marta Furtado, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Portugal

“In this course, I found lecturers and participants equally willing to share and learn. This, together with the high quality of each lecture and the care of the organisers, contributed to make this week a life-changing experience for me.” – Maria Cristina Petrella, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Spain

Speakers

Speakers, trainers, and staff

Vladimir Benes

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Raffaele Calogero

University of Turin

Italy

Daria Fijalkowska

University of Ghent

Belgium

Jeroen Krijgsveld

German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ)

Germany

Lennart Martens

University of Ghent

Belgium

Scientific organisers

Vladimir Benes

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Raffaele Calogero

University of Turin

Italy

Daria Fijalkowska

University of Ghent

Belgium

Jeroen Krijgsveld

German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ)

Germany

Lennart Martens

University of Ghent

Belgium

Course organisers

Iva Gavran

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Irena Provaznikova

EMBL Heidelberg

Germany

Preliminary programme

Are you on social media? Post using #EMBLDataIntegration (Event hashtag) and don’t forget to tag @EMBLEvents.

  • Some pre-course work (such as watching pre-recordings and protocol reading) with estimated time 0-10 hours will be required and will be shared in advance of the course
  • Some speakers may need to join virtually to give their lecture or Q&A, and the programme is subject to change

Day 1: Sunday, 3 May 2026

Day 2: Monday, 4 May 2026

Day 3: Tuesday, 5 May 2026

Day 4: Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Day 5: Thursday, 7 May 2026

Day 6: Friday, 8 May 2026

Practical information

Registration fees

The course is limited to 24 participants. For selection purposes, please note that your application will not be considered without a letter of motivation.

Registration fees

Your registration for this course includes:

  • Admission to the event
  • Meals and coffee breaks
  • Course materials
  • Access to the e-learning platform
  • A letter to support your visa application (for more information, check the ‘Travel and accommodation’ tab)

Accommodation and travel are not included in the fees — participants are expected to book and pay their own expenses.

Academia€740
PhD Student€740
Industry€1250

Confirmation and payment

The registration fee should be paid only after acceptance to the course. The results will be announced approximately 2-3 weeks after the application deadline.

Cancellation policy

If you are no longer able to take part in the course, please inform your course contact responsible for this event. Your registration and the submitted motivation letter will be deleted.

Please also check our Terms and Conditions for the cancellation policy.

Further details

For further information about registration, please refer to the FAQ page.

Submitting a motivation letter

After you have logged in and successfully registered, you will receive an email asking you to submit your motivation letter. Click on the link provided and enter your motivation letter in the text box provided. Alternatively you can submit your motivation letter by clicking on the link on the confirmation page directly after registering.

Instructions

  1. Include your relevant skills, experience and qualifications showing why you would be suitable for the course.
  2. Explain why you would like to attend, including what you can contribute and how you think you will benefit from the course.

Please note:

  • The limit of 2,000 characters refers to manually typed text and excludes spaces. If an error occurs try using a different web browser (preferably Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox).
  • If you copy-paste the text into the form, hidden formatting might still be included which may cause the text to exceed the 2,000 character limit resulting in an error message. We recommend you clear all formatting before pasting in the text.
  • If you have special symbols in your text, make sure you are using Unicode characters, otherwise these will not be recognised.

For detailed instructions, please watch our video on how to submit a course motivation letter.

Further details

For further information about registration and motivation letter submission please refer to the FAQ page.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance

Limited financial assistance is provided by the EMBL Advanced Training Centre Corporate Partnership Programme and EMBO in the form of registration fee waiverstravel grants and childcare grants

Your place in the meeting is only confirmed by paying the registration fee, which is mandatory even when receiving a fee waiver.

Registration fee waiver

The fee waiver will cover the registration sum that you have paid to attend the course.

Travel grant

The travel grant will cover the cost of travel (airfare, train, bus, taxi, accommodation, visa) and is provided up to specified caps which are normally as follows:

– up to €400 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course within Europe.

– up to €1000 for participants travelling to an EMBL Course from outside Europe.

The organisers may reduce the grant cap to accommodate more participants. Recipients will be notified of their travel cap amount when they are informed of the outcome of their application. Original receipts must be provided with your signature for all costs incurred within two months of completion of travel. Scanned copies cannot be accepted.

Childcare grants

There is the possibility to apply for a childcare grant to offset child care costs incurred by participants, speakers, trainers and organisers when attending a course. Eligible costs include (but are not limited to) fees for a babysitter or child-care facility and travel costs for a caregiver. Please note that priority will be given to early-stage researchers. There is a limited amount of funding available for the childcare grants and funds will be distributed amongst eligible applicants.

Application

You can apply for financial assistance in the submission portal by the abstract deadline. Read the instructions on how to apply for financial assistance. Only submissions for financial assistance will be accepted. Presentation abstracts cannot be submitted here and will be declined. 

In your application you will be asked to summarise your current work,  answer questions regarding why your lab cannot fund your attendance, and how your attendance will make a difference to your career. Application for financial support will not affect the outcome of your registration application.

*For some events, applications for Childcare Grants will still be done by email. Information about the grant will be sent out shortly after the abstract/motivation letter deadline. Please contact the event Conference Officer if you have any questions.

Selection

A selection process will take place with the results announced by email to all applicants / submitters. We aim to announce 3 weeks (21 days) after the abstract submission deadline but delays may occur.

Selection results do not impact your admission to the meeting. Selection for registration fee waivers and travel grants is based on scientific merit, your current work or study location, the reasons for needing financial support, and the impact this event will have on your career.

Childcare grants will be allocated in the same timeframe (6-8 weeks before the event start date). Please note that priority will be given to early-stage researchers.

Further details

Check out this list of external funding opportunities

For further information about financial assistance please refer to the FAQ page.

Travel and accommodation

Visa

We can send you a registration confirmation to support your visa procedure (not an official invitation letter). Please contact the Conference Officer responsible for your event. For more information, please see here.

Travel

If you are travelling to Heidelberg via aeroplane, train, car, or long-distance bus, you can find useful information here.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in the registration fee.

24 single rooms have been reserved for 6 nights, from Saturday 2 May to Friday 8 May 2026, at a downtown Heidelberg hotel (tbc).

After the selection process, selected participants should contact the hotel directly to make a booking with a booking code (PRO26-01) by the deadline of 4 April 2026.

We recommend that all course participants stay at the dedicated hotel for the course.

Local transportation

Course shuttle buses

Shuttle buses will go from the dedicated hotel to EMBL and back, mornings and evenings. A bus schedule and location of the bus stops will be made available prior to the meeting.

Other local transportation

In addition to the shuttle busses, there is also the public bus 28 that serves the EMBL campus and taxis can be easily booked at any time. For more information, see here.

Further details

Address: EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany

For more information about travel and accommodation, please refer to the FAQ page.

On-site information

Here you will find useful information for when you are onsite at the event.

Catering

All meals and coffee breaks are included in the registration fee. Our catering staff will prepare a variety of vegetarian meals, meat and fish dishes, soups, pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as a variety of desserts.

Please wear your badge at all times when serving yourself.

No food or drinks are allowed in the auditorium.

Internet

Wi-Fi is available on campus using the EMBL-Events network and the event specific password, which will be provided on site. The eduroam network (secure, worldwide roaming access service developed for the international research and education community) is also available.

Photography

During the conference, an EMBL Photographer may be taking photos. If you would not like to appear in these, please inform the photographer or a member of the Course and Conference Office.

Charging stations

There are lockers available next to the stairs leading down into the Auditorium. You will find some of those equipped with sockets to charge your smartphone/tablet etc.

In most places the electricity is 220 volts AC (50 cycles). An adaptor and a plug that fits the German socket may be needed for your appliances/laptop (i.e. American, Japanese, etc.). A USB charging station for electronic devices is available at the registration desk.

Printing

We can help to print your boarding pass/train ticket. Please send it to events@embl.de and collect your print-outs at the registration desk.

Luggage

There are lockers available on-site to store your luggage, which require a 2 EURO coin to operate. There is another luggage room on level E0, which is free to use but remains unlocked during the conference.

Lost and found

‘’Lost and Found’’ items are kept at the registration desk until the end of the conference.

EMBL merchandise

If you are interested in purchasing EMBL merchandise (products presented in the glass display in the registration area), please email the EMBL shop to place an order.

Kindly note the EMBL shop is only open upon request and all purchases must be made in cash (Euros only).

Nursing room

There is a nursing room available in the ATC Rooftop Lounge on level A29.

Room for prayers, meditation, and yoga

There is a room for prayer, yoga, and meditation, located on level E0 behind the Auditorium. Please be respectful of others using the room.

EMBL campus map

Health and safety notes

Please take a moment to read our health and safety policy.

  • Do not smoke in any EMBL building.
  • Eating and drinking is prohibited in the Auditorium and all laboratories.
  • Do not enter any restricted areas or the laboratories unless instructed to do so.

If first aid is required

  • The first aid room is located next to the ATC Registration Desk (room 10- 205).
  • Dial the Emergency number 222 from any EMBL internal phone only.
  • Be prepared to answer the following questions: Where is the accident? What happened? How many injured?
  • Emergency number 06221-387 7821 from mobile phones.
  • Please report all accidents to the conference officer at the registration desk.

In case of fire

  • Press the nearest fire alarm button or the Emergency number 222 from any internal phone.
  • A loud fire alarm will go off if an evacuation is required. On hearing the alarm leave the building immediately following the escape route and fire wardens and head to one of the meeting points
  • Do not use the lifts.

Beyond first aid

The Heidelberg University Hospital or ‘Universitätsklinikum‘ has a 24 hour accident and emergency facility and is at ‘Im Neuenheimer Feld 672’. It is a 8km or a 20 minute taxi ride away from EMBL. In a medical emergency, the ambulance service generally transports patients to this hospital.

Please remember to bring your own medication, if needed, to the conference. Note that the next pharmacy is a 4-minute drive from the EMBL, but for many medications you will be required to see a doctor to get a prescription.

Ensure in advance that your medical insurance will cover you during your visit in the event that you do need to see a doctor while in Heidelberg.

The EMBL course and conference office team are able to advise you on where to turn for emergency or non-emergency medical treatment in Heidelberg and can assist you in making appointments and / or arranging transport to get to the pharmacy or a doctor of your choice if necessary. Please note, we are not however permitted to personally accompany you off campus.

Sightseeing

A variety of activities in Heidelberg can be found on the website of Heidelberg Marketing.

Technical requirements and event software

Additional software

The EMBL eCampus learning platform will be used to collaborate, communicate and network with all of the course participants. All participants will receive information on how to join shortly before the course. We recommend using Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox browsers for eCampus. 

Zoom will be used for the live talks and Q&A sessions. More information will be provided closer to the start of the course.

Other information

While using the software during the course, please make sure you have nothing else using your bandwidth.

Additional information

Please find additional information including FAQs and terms and conditions on our Information for Participants page.

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 events, or contact sponsorship@embl.de for further information.

If you are interested in becoming a media partner of this event, please visit our media partnerships webpage.

Warning

EMBL wishes to warn sponsors of EMBL conferences and courses of fraudulent schemes purporting to offer sponsorship opportunities on behalf of EMBL or affiliated with EMBL officials. One current scam campaign of which we are aware is conducted using the name ‘Judy Eastman’ (judy@gopcontact.a2hosted.com) and entails approaches to sponsors offering sponsorship opportunities on EMBL’s behalf. Please be kindly advised that all relevant communication regarding sponsorship of EMBL conferences, symposia and courses is handled by EMBL directly and is sent from an official EMBL account. EMBL does not work with any external providers on sponsorship acquisition.

Please also note that:

  • EMBL never provides attendee lists for purchase. Any offers of such are fraudulent.
  • EMBL will never call or email you to ask for your credit card details or to request a payment.
  • All payments are on invoice.

Suspicious communications purportedly from, for or on behalf of EMBL should be reported to EMBL at the following email address sponsorship@embl.de.

Media kit

Want to let others know you’re attending this event? Take a look at our shareable media and feel free to use them in your social media channels or presentations.

Date: 3 - 8 May 2026

Location: EMBL Heidelberg

Venue: EMBL Advanced Training Centre


Organisers:

  • Vladimir Benes
    EMBL Heidelberg, Germany
    • Raffaele Calogero
      University of Turin, Italy
      • Daria Fijalkowska
        University of Ghent, Belgium

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