In situ structural biology: bridging molecular mechanisms with system-wide approaches

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.

Conference overview

In situ structural biology is a rapidly advancing field focused on understanding the structure and function of macromolecular complexes within intact cells and tissues. There is a growing recognition that a mechanistic understanding of complex cellular processes depends on structural insights into the macromolecules that drive them. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy and tomography, mass spectrometry–based proteomics, fluorescence and super-resolution microscopy, protein structure prediction, and multiscale computational modelling have expanded the ability to study molecular structures within intact cells. While these technologies have independently generated valuable insights, a comprehensive understanding of molecular interactions and functions in their native environments requires systematic integration of complementary methods and data types.

Building on the successful meetings held in 2020, 2023, and 2025, this EMBO Workshop returns in 2027 to keep facilitating collaboration in the filed of in situ structural biology. We are bringing together experts and early-career researchers from diverse disciplines across the life sciences to:

• Showcase recent technological and methodological advances and promote their application as powerful tools for cell biology across multiple scales.
• Provide a forum for discussing structural biology approaches in the context of intact cells and tissues.
• Foster dialogue on effective strategies for integrating data from different experimental and computational methods.
• Identify the biological questions that can currently be addressed through in situ structural biology and explore future opportunities and challenges for the field.

What past participants say about the conference

“The conference was fantastic, with an amazing list of speakers. As an early career researcher, I found these events very inspirational and broadening for research opportunities later.” — Kamila Kamuda, University College London, UK

“I immensely benefited from the workshop organised by EMBL through talks of so many brilliant scientists who had explained the fast-evolving technique to capture the whole cell structure at the near-atomic resolution.” — Samar Ballabha Mohapatra, Indian Institute of Technology, India

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.org for further information on sponsoring possibilities.

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