Edit

Year:

2020

Category
14 July 2022 Visualising the ocean below and above surface, showing several species and giving written details on the ocean microbiome composition

Priorities for ocean microbiome research

Science & Technology Microbial communities play essential roles in ocean ecology and planetary health. A recent publication highlights priorities for understanding and protecting ocean microbiomes.

2022

sciencescience-technology

13 July 2022 Decorative image showing a double helix DNA road and with what look like road signs.

Uncharted territories in the human genome

Science & Technology Scientists identify previously unexplored gene segments to be added to human genome databases.

2022

research-highlightssciencescience-technology

22 December 2020 Eulalia clavigera. Photo credit: Marine Biological Association

Darwin Tree of Life: looking back on 2020

Science & Technology Despite restrictions, 2020 has been a busy year for the Darwin Tree of Life Project. We take a look at some of this year’s achievements and highlights.

2020

sciencescience-technology

22 December 2020

Cells in the holiday spirit

Science & Technology It is that time of year to get into the holiday spirit, prepare for some time at home and relax after a strange and stressful year. Even the cells in our Picture of the Week are getting into the holiday spirit, forming this colourful Christmas tree.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

18 December 2020

Stronger together

Science & Technology Gene activation requires the cooperative activity of multiple transcription factors. Until now, the mechanism used by these factors to coordinate their actions has been poorly understood. EMBL’s Krebs group presents a DNA footprinting method that makes it possible to determine whether…

2020

sciencescience-technology

15 December 2020 Snowy mountains behind functional buildings. The Moon is up in the sky.

First powder over EMBL Grenoble

Lab Matters The first snowflakes have fallen on the Vercors Mountains, right behind the EMBL Grenoble building, and an almost full moon is showing up during a sunny morning.

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

11 December 2020 Woman with glasses wearing a parka stands in the snow outside a building at EMBL

EMBL Scientific Visitor Programme opens eyes and doors

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters Facilitated by EMBL’s Scientific Visitor Programme in 2019, Silvia Dias Almeida spent a year in the Diz-Muñoz group, helping solidify her career plans and set her up for a competitive PhD programme in biomedical imaging.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

9 December 2020 Illustration of a rod-shaped bacterial cell, superimposed on a red and blue background.

Heating proteins to understand how genes work

Science & Technology A new paper from EMBL’s Savitski team and Typas group describes their work on E. coli and how it brings a greater understanding of the way genes function and interact.

2020

sciencescience-technology

8 December 2020 Windowed façade reflecting leafless trees.

Clear views

Lab Matters With the external scaffolding removed, another step in the construction of the EMBL Imaging Centre is complete. Now we get a first glimpse of the final look of this stunning building.

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

7 December 2020 Female scientist stands in front of electron microscope that is taller than she is

Seeing deeper inside cells

Science & Technology While cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) was first envisioned in 1968, the advances the Mahamid group are bringing to this 3D method for studying molecules directly inside cells are new, and are likely to greatly expand its use.

2020

sciencescience-technology

4 December 2020 Haemoglobin protein structure shown over a matrix symbolising artificial intelligence

Solving the protein structure puzzle

Science & Technology How artificial intelligence can help us solve the mysteries of the protein universe

2020

sciencescience-technology

2 December 2020 Dark purple image with flashes of orange, gold, pink and paler purple that look a bit like lightning with a small sun-like image in the upper right section of the image

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative recognises EMBL scientists

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has recognised four EMBL researchers with their most recent awards, showing how tech trailblazers are integral to advancing science and medicine.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

2 December 2020 The image is a green coloured cell, with a wild and textured surface which is composed of many different shapes and shadows.

Scratching the surface on cell differentiation

Science & Technology Scientists in the Diz-Muñoz group at EMBL Heidelberg are working to build understanding of the role that mechanical properties play in affecting cell behaviour – a young and rapidly developing field of study. They have developed and successfully used a highly specialised technique to manipulate…

2020

sciencescience-technology

2 December 2020 Curly-shaped trypanosomes, grey with bright specks of green fluorescent protein, against a grey background.

Tackling tropical diseases

Science & Technology Members of the EMBL community are working to improve our understanding of the parasites that cause malaria and sleeping sickness

2020

sciencescience-technology

1 December 2020 The image shows the beamline P12 at EMBL Hamburg. In the centre, several cylindrical elements are connected into a pipe-like structure. In the front, it is connected to a white box-shaped device, and several smaller devices and cables visible around. There is also a grid visible around the beamline.

EMBL facilities support development of RNA vaccines

Science & Technology Biotechnology company BioNTech and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz conduct collaborative research with EMBL scientists at the beamline P12 in Hamburg

2020

sciencescience-technology

1 December 2020 Rainbow on a cloudy sky above technical buildings.

Rainbow over the Hanseatic city

Lab Matters Hamburg hosts one of EMBL’s six sites. The city is notorious for its windy and rainy weather. Lots of rain also means a high chance of beautiful rainbows!

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

25 November 2020 The conference key visual shows a variety of species engulfed by fire, reflecting the conference title, ‘Our House Is Burning: Scientific and Societal Responses to Mass Extinction’.

Science and society: global youth activism

People & Perspectives At EMBL’s Science and Society conference, Ugandan campaigner Vanessa Nakate spoke about the need to take action on climate change.

2020

eventspeople-perspectives

24 November 2020 Red loops on a black background are dotted with bright red flecks and pale blue ovals as part of a confocal microscope image of bone marrow cells.

A loopy baseline

Science & Technology Studying cancers means also knowing what healthy cells look like. In this case, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from healthy bone marrow are a bit ‘loopy’.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

23 November 2020 Tube-like structures of a cell at sub-cellular level in red and grey.

Replication cycle of SARS-CoV-2 in 3D

Science & Technology Researchers have studied SARS-CoV-2 replication in cells and obtained detailed insights into the alterations induced in infected cells. This information is essential to guide the development of urgently needed therapeutic strategies for suppressing viral replication and induced pathology.

2020

sciencescience-technology

23 November 2020

Statement on recent paper on mentorships in academia

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters EMBL’s Eileen Furlong, Chair of the Equality and Diversity Committee and Head of the Genome Biology Unit, responds to the recent Nature Comms paper on the potential effects of mentor–mentee relationships.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

20 November 2020 The Reichstag building (left) and Paul-Löbe-Haus (right) in Berlin, as seen in daylight from across the Spree river.

Sharing our vision for the future

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL Director General Edith Heard introduced EMBL’s future plans during a parliamentary event at the Paul-Löbe-Haus of the German Bundestag in Berlin. She shared examples of EMBL’s research and outlined how EMBL’s activities will develop.

2020

connectionslab-matters

17 November 2020 Internal structures of the lower portion of a mouse lung display as a conical shape, displaying a variety of brilliant colours.

ARISE fellowship programme readying for applications

Lab Matters Ever-evolving technology and related budgetary, regulatory, and management challenges prompted EMBL to establish its new ARISE fellowship programme, which begins accepting applicants in December.

2020

lab-matters

17 November 2020 Car parking rooftop with a solar power plant under construction on it.

Solar power

Lab Matters Despite the cold autumn weather, workers are busy on the rooftop of the parking garage at EMBL Heidelberg. The 2176 m² rooftop is getting transformed into a combination of a green roof and a photovoltaic plant. The planted green roof will retain rainwater, while the solar panels – installed in…

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

10 November 2020 Green coloured brain cells next to a microfluidic network.

Understanding malaria

Science & Technology To help understand cerebral malaria the Bernabeu group has created in vitro engineered networks of human blood vessels.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

4 November 2020 SARS-CoV-2 is represented as a sphere with spike proteins poking out of its surface, which give it a corona-like appearance. The spike proteins resemble triangular ‘bushes’ with three tips at the top. In the background, a cell surface is visible with ACE2 proteins poking out of it in many places. The virus is about to attach to the cell surface. The sybodies, represented as tiny V-shaped structures, bind to the viral spike proteins at their tips.

Scientists identify synthetic mini-antibody to combat COVID-19

Science & Technology By screening hundreds of sybodies (synthetic mini-antibodies), scientists have identified one that might stop SARS-CoV-2 from infecting human cells. This work, which holds promise for treating COVID-19, was conducted by EMBL Hamburg and collaborators from the Centre for Structural Systems Biology…

2020

sciencescience-technology

3 November 2020 Rainbow above the EMBL building in Heidelberg, surrounded by woods.

Under the rainbow

Science & Technology On autumn days without Heidelberg’s characteristic fog, the woods present themself in beautiful colours. You may even capture a rainbow.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

28 October 2020 A brain hovers over a chess board, lines flow from the hypothalamus to the pieces, symbolising control over reactions to an aggressor and territory.

Should I run, or should I not? The neural basis of aggression and flight

Science & Technology Researchers in the Gross group at EMBL Rome have investigated the mechanism behind defensive behaviour in mice. They have identified a specific area of the brain that encodes both spatial and threat cues to drive location-specific defensive responses.

2020

sciencescience-technology

27 October 2020 Microscopic image of a cell, nucleus visible in bright green, cell membrane stained with a purple dye against black background.

Party at the nucleus?

Science & Technology The nucleus of this cell fluoresces in bright green thanks to GFP-labelled nucleoporin proteins. EMBL scientists use engineered nucleoporins as 3D reference standards to improve super-resolution microscopy.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

23 October 2020 Futuristic image of deep learning schema superimposed on computer code

Bringing AI out of the black box

Lab MattersScience & Technology Why should researchers make artificial intelligence more transparent and how can they do it?

2020

lab-mattersscience-technology

22 October 2020 An artistic image of colorful wires connected to a could database.

EOSC: shaping Europe’s digital future

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL’s Rupert Lück is engaged in developing the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC): the infrastructure that will support the future of data sharing and analysis in Europe.

2020

connectionslab-matters

20 October 2020 Open access COVID-19 data sharing

Open data sharing accelerates COVID-19 research

Science & Technology Open access data benefits millions of scientists around the world and is essential for a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020

sciencescience-technology

20 October 2020 Greyscale image of two sheep grazing.

Ecological lawn mowers

Lab Matters In 2012, EMBL used ecological lawn mowers to keep the grass short around the Advanced Training Centre at EMBL Heidelberg.

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

19 October 2020 Green background with white sphere bearing the logos of the two MoU signors, EMBL and CIML

EMBL forms new collaborations in France

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL and CIML have signed a memorandum of understanding that will open up new scientific opportunities.

2020

connectionslab-matters

16 October 2020 Abstract graphic with big waves of black, white and grey somewhat like yin and yang, with two brain-shaped leaves in the upper right and lower left quadrants, one of which is green and more leafy-looking.

Taking charge by seeking ways to achieve gender balance

Lab Matters A three-day virtual conference, ‘Gender Roles and their Impact in Academia’, explored how biology, social structures, and unconscious bias shape gender roles, and discussed ways to achieve equal opportunities for men and women in academia.

2020

eventslab-matters

16 October 2020 Meytal Landau is standing next to a lab bench. On the bench, laboratory equipment is visible, such as pipettes, flasks, bottles with reagents, a calculator, and more.

Welcome: Meytal Landau

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives New associate group leader at EMBL Hamburg investigates the structure of functional amyloids in bacteria and in human disease

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

15 October 2020 Four blue circular objects are surrounded with green structures, and the central blue circle with pink structures. The blue circles are human cell nuclei, and pink and green structures are proteins.

Repurposing drugs for a pan-coronavirus treatment

Science & Technology Scientists from the Beltrao Group at EMBL-EBI and collaborators identified drug targets common to SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and MERS-CoV, three pathogenic coronaviruses. They also found potential drugs that could be repurposed as COVID-19 treatments, and against emerging coronavirus strains in the…

2020

sciencescience-technology

15 October 2020 Dr. Maria Arruda looks towards the camera with a serious but kind expression

Respecting diversity: the role of the scientist

Lab Matters Maria Arruda is on a mission to make scientists think more about the role they play in society. After a career in academia and the life sciences, she is trying to help others see the bigger picture when it comes to the responsibility of the scientist.

2020

eventslab-matters

14 October 2020

Seeing evolution happening before your eyes

Science & Technology Researchers from EMBL Heidelberg have established an automated pipeline to create mutations in genomic enhancers, letting them watch evolution unfold before their eyes.

2020

sciencescience-technology

13 October 2020 Molecular structure of essential light chain protein in Plasmodium glideosome. The atoms connected by bonds are symbolised by short connected lines. They are surrounded by electrons – the electron density is depicted as shapes resembling clouds. Water molecules are visible in several places as red spots. The data used to create this 3D model were obtained using X-ray crystallography at Petra III beamline, at EMBL Hamburg.

How deadly parasites ‘glide’ into human cells

Science & Technology A group of scientists led by EMBL Hamburg’s Christian Löw provide insights into the molecular structure of proteins involved in the gliding movements through which the parasites causing malaria and toxoplasmosis invade human cells.

2020

sciencescience-technology

13 October 2020 Edith Heard and Rosa Menéndez in front of the Spanish and the European flag, wearing face masks. Institute logos of EMBL and CSIC. Text: Memorandum of Understanding.

EMBL strengthens collaboration with Spanish research

ConnectionsLab Matters On 9 October, EMBL and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding that paves the way for stronger collaboration between these two leading research institutions.

2020

connectionslab-matters

13 October 2020 Sea anemone polyp in side view showing two arms.

Crazy arms

Science & Technology Sea anemones are amazing creatures. Despite their plant-like appearance and their tendency to remain fixed in one spot, they are actually animals.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

8 October 2020 Alvaro Crevenna, heads EMBL Rome’s Microscopy Facility. Credit: EMBL

Beyond the lens – microscopy at EMBL Rome

Lab MattersScience & Technology Research facilities play a crucial role in the advancement of science by supporting scientists with specialised expertise and state-of-the-art equipment. The Microscopy Facility at EMBL Rome exemplifies this role by making a wide variety of light microscopy technologies available to its researchers…

2020

lab-mattersscience-technology

6 October 2020 A series of images demonstrates the cell cycle trajectory, the first frame in each row shows a cell’s nucleus in grey. As it moves through its life cycle and enters new phases, markers change colour from red to green to pinpoint progression.

Deep learning captures cell cycle

Science & Technology Members of an EMBL-led research group with collaborators in Estonia and Russia have built and trained a deep learning model to better understand how cells grow and divide.

2020

sciencescience-technology

6 October 2020 A filmstrip showing the healing process of a wound on cellular level.

Time heals all wounds

Science & Technology We’ve all had wounds at certain times in our lives. But they heal due to the self-repairing mechanisms in the body.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

5 October 2020 EMBL and Vilnius University logos on a background of genomic data

New partnership in Lithuania

ConnectionsLab Matters On 8 September, EMBL and Vilnius University Life Sciences Center signed a framework agreement for the establishment of the VU LSC–EMBL Partnership for Genome Editing Technologies.

2020

connectionslab-matters

1 October 2020 A group of people in an office are holding a videoconference. Some of the participants are wearing masks and gloves

Boosting the life sciences through alumni networks

Connections EMBL’s network of alumni plays a vital role in advancing the life sciences globally. EMBL provides research, services, and infrastructure that help former staff to do this effectively. For several years EMBL has been discovering more avenues to help the life sciences across Europe. A key part of…

2020

connectionsevents

29 September 2020 Oliver Billker, Director of MIMS, is standing at the podium in front of a microphone. Behind him, a projected slide says “Welcome to Umeå University”.

The Nordic EMBL Partnership: supporting national research

Connections The partnership between EMBL and four Nordic research institutions aims to stimulate scientific exchange and inspire scientific collaborations. This year’s conference of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine included many talks by EMBL researchers and a presentation by EMBL’s…

2020

connectionsevents

29 September 2020 A metal rack holding glass test tubes with yellow and red solutions in them.

Colourful test tubes

Science & Technology To study the effect of commonly used drugs on bacterial envelopes, EMBL scientists applied a biochemical assay using a colour reaction. The deeper the red, the stronger the disruptive effect of the drug.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

24 September 2020 The conference key visual shows a variety of species engulfed by fire, reflecting the conference title, ‘Our House Is Burning: Scientific and Societal Responses to Mass Extinction’.

Dinosaurs, dodos, and the future of life on Earth

Science & Technology EMBL’s 21st Science and Society Conference will address scientific and societal responses to mass extinctions. Ahead of his keynote speech, renowned palaeontologist Mike Benton explains how looking into the deep past can give us vital insights into the future of life on Earth.

2020

eventsscience-technology

22 September 2020 Black and white electron microscope image of Anopheles mosquito gametes, looking much like feathery fern leaf stencils

A bloom of crystals

Science & Technology How does your crystal garden grow? EMBL's Electron Microscopy Core Facility was able to capture this garden of blooming crystals as they studied mosquito reproductive cells.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

18 September 2020 Composite image of mouse cells and human cells showing different levels of luminescence, indicated as different colours.

Human and mouse cells run at different speeds

Science & Technology The internal clock that governs the development of embryos ticks slower for humans than for mice. Differences in the speed of biochemical reactions underlie the differences between species in the tempo of development.

2020

sciencescience-technology

17 September 2020 Colorful illustration conveys the balancing act women in science face, going between family and work responsibilities and wanting to succeed in both roles.

Indirect impacts of a pandemic on women in science

Lab Matters The EMBL conference that explored direct and indirect impacts from the current pandemic on women in science allowed for information and story sharing both in the form of lectures but also via online platforms like Slack and social media that included Twitter.

2020

eventslab-matters

15 September 2020 Fluorescent microscopic image of fruit fly larva with tubular heart cells in gold and the remainder of image in magenta

Fruit fly with a heart of gold

Science & Technology Not just another pretty fruit fly. This magenta and golden drosophila larva is lit up with a fluorescent molecule to help researchers study heart formation.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

10 September 2020 Two researchers at EMBL's state-of-the-art Electron Microscopy Core Facility (EMCF). A female scientist is using a binocular microscope, a male scientist is standing next to her.

Level up!

Lab Matters ARISE fellowships to offer first-ever comprehensive training for bioscience infrastructure operations

2020

lab-matters

8 September 2020

Fighting cardiovascular disease with acne drug

Science & Technology Researchers have found the cause of dilated cardiomyopathy – a leading cause of heart failure – and identified a potential treatment for it: a drug already used to treat acne.

2020

sciencescience-technology

8 September 2020 This image shows sections of the brain organoids that have been derived from pluripotent stem cells. The increasing use of organoids like this one be key to advancing personalised medicine.

Achieving personalised therapeutics

Lab MattersScience & Technology A decadal roadmap points the way to cell-based medicine for Europe

2020

lab-mattersscience-technology

8 September 2020 A network of tubes and cells in red and blue.

Not a galaxy far, far away

Science & Technology While this may seem like a nebula made up of interstellar clouds of dust and ionised gases, this image isn’t of a galaxy beyond the Milky Way.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

7 September 2020 Human silhouette showing internal organs including oesophagus and stomach. Circle with DNA bases A,T, C and G superimposed.

Genome sequencing accelerates cancer detection

Science & Technology The Gerstung Group at EMBL-EBI and collaborators have developed a statistical model that analyses genomic data to predict whether a patient has a high or low risk of developing oesophageal cancer.

2020

sciencescience-technology

7 September 2020 science diplomacy

Looking forward

ConnectionsLab Matters Two EMBL speakers gave presentations that looked toward the future and at ways to trailblaze on the endless frontier of science.

2020

connectionslab-matters

4 September 2020 Portrait picture of Erin Tranfield, member of the EMBL Alumni Association Board, against a blue-green background.

Supporting the alumni community

People & Perspectives Erin Tranfield recently joined the EMBL Alumni Association Board as one of 15 newly elected members. Here, she talks about her new role on the board and reflects on how a life-changing event made her refocus her perspective on work and life.

2020

alumnipeople-perspectives

3 September 2020 Left: Slice of a cell in grey. Right: Two 3D reconstructions of parts of the slice, showing the internal structure.

Nuclear pores in their natural context

Science & Technology Scientists from the Beck group have studied the 3D structure of nuclear pores in budding yeast. They show how the architecture of the nuclear pore complex differs inside cells compared to its form observed in vitro studies.

2020

sciencescience-technology

2 September 2020 Microscopy image of cerebral organoid cross section

An organoid cell atlas to enhance biomedical research

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters EMBL-EBI is one of the eight European institutes involved in the Humanoid Cell Atlas initiative, a new open-access platform that combines single-cell profiling and organoid technology

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

2 September 2020 Four different evolutionary steps showing the formation and grow of tentacle arms.

Eat more to grow more arms…if you’re a sea anemone

Science & Technology An international group of researchers, led by scientists from EMBL Heidelberg, have discovered that the number of tentacle arms a sea anemone grows depends on the amount of food it eats.

2020

sciencescience-technology

1 September 2020 EMBL Fellow's Career Service

EMBL Fellows’ Career Service celebrates first birthday

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters As the EMBL Fellows' Career Service program reaches a milestone, it reflects on its first year and looks forward to ways to improve its offerings to EMBL postdocs and predocs.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

1 September 2020 larval fruit fly cells

A luminous larval love light

Science & Technology Those heart-shaped cells aren't just for show. They help tell the story of two proteins working together

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

31 August 2020 3D image of plant cells. The ones identified by the algorithm are brightly coloured.

Intelligent software tackles plant cell jigsaw

Science & Technology Starting with computer code and moving on to a more user-friendly graphical interface called PlantSeg, the Kreshuk Group at EMBL and collaborators built a simple open-access method to provide the most accurate and versatile analysis of plant tissue development to date.

2020

sciencescience-technology

26 August 2020 Colorful illustration conveys the balancing act women in science face, going between family and work responsibilities and wanting to succeed in both roles.

COVID-19’s indirect attack on women

Science & Technology More than 500 people have registered for an EMBL conference, "The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on women in science: Challenges and solutions." Scheduled for 9 September, the conference is free and open to all. Pre-registration is still available and required to attend.

2020

eventsscience-technology

25 August 2020

Training the next generation of molecular biologists

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters The EMBL International PhD Programme is one of EMBL’s flagship training programmes. It forms part of our efforts to train and inspire talented scientists to become skilled and creative future leaders. Submission of applications for the current PhD student recruitment round is now possible.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

25 August 2020 Circular beamline building, surrounded by illuminated Grenoble city in the evening and the alps in the background.

Upgraded beamlines at EMBL Grenoble unveiled

EMBL Announcements The beamlines run jointly by EMBL Grenoble and the ESRF reopen today, unveiling significant upgrades that exploit the brand new fourth generation ESRF synchrotron source.

2020

embl-announcementsscience

25 August 2020 Fruit fly larval cells looking like blue lightning

Breathing beneath the skin

Science & Technology Beautiful flashes of blue colour help light the way for researchers to study cells in fruit fly larva that provide oxygen to tissues.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

24 August 2020 Simone Mattei, the new team leader in electron microscopy service and technology development

Welcome: Simone Mattei

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives The new team leader offering services in electron microscopy discusses his hopes and plans for the forthcoming EMBL Imaging Centre

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

20 August 2020 A portrait photo of Geetika Malhotra, new Head of Web Development at EMBL-EBI.

Welcome: Geetika Malhotra

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives The Web Development team provides a central source of web design and development for EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI). In July, Geetika Malhotra joined the team as their new Head.

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

19 August 2020 A human heart sits at the centre of the illustration. The left ventricle is see-through, showing patterns of trabeculae. Around the heart are some notes from Leonardo da Vinci.

New clues to a 500-year old mystery about the human heart

Science & Technology An international team of scientists involving Ewan Birney's group has investigated the function of a complex mesh of muscle fibres that line the inner surface of the heart.

2020

sciencescience-technology

19 August 2020 An embryo of the fruit fly Drosophila.

Predicting how gene expression varies

Science & Technology Discoveries at EMBL will help researchers to interpret one of the most common types of experiments in genomics and medical studies.

2020

sciencescience-technology

18 August 2020 Three cells, each looking like a face.

Three little ghosts

Science & Technology Despite their ghostly appearance, these are very real cell nuclei infected with Influenza A virus – the only influenza virus known to cause pandemics.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

11 August 2020 Different parts of a fruit fly arranged into an artificial green eye.

The eye of science

Science & Technology This image is a composite of lateral pentascolopidial organs, a wing imaginal disc pouch, and an epithelial wound in a Drosophila larva. The organs are arranged here like eyelashes. Cells surrounding an epidermal wound appear as the iris and pupil of this artistic eye.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

7 August 2020 Black and white photo of Phil Avner sitting in his office and looking at his smartphone. a large stack of papers on his desk

Arrivederci Phil!

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives As he enters retirement, Head of EMBL Rome Phil Avner reflects on his scientific career and memories from his time as Head of EMBL’s site in Italy

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

6 August 2020 Logo of the European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems. Left: A chalkboard drawing of Europe. Right: the letters E L L I S in different colours.

Bridging artificial intelligence and the life sciences – launch of ELLIS Heidelberg

Lab MattersScience & Technology Researchers from all life science disciplines – from fundamental biological research to medical applications – generate immense datasets. Analysing these datasets and gaining new knowledge from them is a growing challenge for scientists. The fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine…

2020

lab-mattersscience-technology

5 August 2020 The tuatara, an iguana-like reptile with a crest of spikes, sits on a forest floor.

The curious genome of the tuatara, an ancient reptile in peril

Science & Technology A global team of researchers including the Flicek Team at EMBL-EBI has partnered up with the Māori tribe Ngātiwai to sequence the genome of the tuatara, a rare reptile endemic to New Zealand.

2020

sciencescience-technology

4 August 2020 A long string of cells - red in the centre, yellow at the border.

Fish close-up

Science & Technology This group of cells represents an interesting example of organ formation where cells simultaneously move and change their shapes in a highly coordinated manner.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

3 August 2020 A woman with glasses holds a book. The book cover says "Gene naming rules". Thought bubbles float around her head and display gene symbols like BRCA1.

Bagpipe and Pokemon, or how not to name a human gene

Science & Technology The human genome harbours about 19 000 protein-coding genes, many of which still have no known function. As scientists unveil the secrets of our DNA, they come across novel genes that they need to refer to using a unique name. The Human Genome Organisation’s Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) at…

2020

sciencescience-technology

31 July 2020 This visual representation shows the newly identified architecture (left) of the coupled molecular machines responsible for transcription (green; DNA in magenta) and translation (blue and yellow), accompanied by the protein interaction network from mass spectrometry (centre) and the cryo-electron tomography data (right) from Mycoplasma pneumoniae that was used to model the structure. Credit: Liang Xue and Julia Mahamid/EMBL

Visualising the cell’s molecular machinery in action

Science & Technology A new approach that allows researchers to see molecular machinery at work inside cells has offered a deeper understanding of how bacteria produce proteins and a unique glimpse into how they respond to antibiotics.

2020

sciencescience-technology

29 July 2020 Screenshot from the online SAXS course. Clement Blanchet, a senior scientist in the Svergun group at EMBL Hamburg, is presenting the P12 SAXS beamline at Petra III to the participants.

EMBL releases online course on solution scattering from biological macromolecules

EMBL Announcements The Svergun group at EMBL Hamburg has released the course ‘Solution Scattering from Biological Macromolecules’ in an online format for the first time. The course explores different aspects of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for studying the structure of macromolecules.

2020

embl-announcementsevents

28 July 2020 Atomic model of the entire condensin complex

Understanding chromosome organisation

Science & Technology EMBL scientists and collaborators help reveal the process by which enormous quantities of DNA are folded into cells.

2020

sciencescience-technology

28 July 2020 Small dots. Some in bright yellow.

An ocean of droplets

Science & Technology Bacterial cells are embedded in microfluidic droplets in oil. The fluorescence indicates the presence of the targeted DNA strain with the help of a characteristic DNA sequence.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

27 July 2020 Mosaic of microscopy images of tumour, forming two broken DNA molecules

Artificial intelligence finds patterns of mutations and survival in tumour images

Science & Technology Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence algorithm that uses computer vision to analyse tissue samples from cancer patients. The algorithm can distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissues, and can also identify patterns DNA and RNA changes in tumours.

2020

sciencescience-technology

21 July 2020 A row of ceiling windows

A bright view of the future

Science & Technology The image shows one of the four rows of roof lights above the atrium, which is the main public space of the Imaging Centre.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

21 July 2020 Top row: The evolution of tumour cells (green) within a normal organoid (grey) shown in three panels. Lower row: Surface rendition of tumour cells and labels new cells that arise from a single cell in the same colour.

A tool to improve cancer research

Science & Technology EMBL scientists have created a new, realistic 3D testbed that could help achieve the goal of stopping cancers before they start by studying cancer cells as they first form.

2020

sciencescience-technology

20 July 2020 A magnifying glass hovers over the human gut, revealing its biodiversity.

Unparalleled inventory of the human gut ecosystem

Science & Technology An international team of scientists has collated all known bacterial genomes from the human gut microbiome into a single large database. Their work will allow researchers to explore the links between bacterial genes and proteins, and their effects on human health.

2020

sciencescience-technology

16 July 2020 A collage of portrait photos of Jessica Vamathevan, Jan Korbel, and Nassos Typas.

Changes in senior roles at EMBL

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters Three changes in senior staff positions have been confirmed at EMBL today. Jessica Vamathevan becomes Head of Strategy, Jan Korbel becomes Head of Data Science for EMBL Heidelberg, and Nassos Typas becomes Senior Scientist.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

14 July 2020 The image shows a larva of Platynereis dumerilii, a marine worm. The body of the worm is shown in grey. Muscle strands are coloured in red. The muscles of one individual strand are highlighted in different, brighter colours.

Muscular worm larva

Science & Technology The image shows a larva of Platynereis dumerilii, a marine worm. The image here was produced by Constantin Pape, a visiting predoctoral fellow in the Kreshuk group at EMBL Heidelberg.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

13 July 2020 scientists teaching about the microbiome

Applications for virtual learning lab open

Lab Matters The European Learning Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS), EMBL’s education facility, invites secondary school science teachers to participate in a virtual training course this autumn entitled ‘Introducing your microbiome’.

2020

lab-matters

8 July 2020 The national flag of Latvia: A carmine field bisected by a narrow white stripe (one-fifth the width of the flag)

Latvia becomes EMBL prospect member state

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters Latvia has joined EMBL as a prospect member, starting a three-year process toward full membership.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

8 July 2020 Alexander Aulehla on the left and Paul Flicek on the Right

Two EMBL scientists become EMBO Members

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters This year, EMBO elected 63 new members, including Alexander Aulehla, Group Leader and Senior Scientist at EMBL Heidelberg, and Paul Flicek, Associate Director of EMBL-EBI Services, Senior Scientist, Group and Team Leader at EMBL-EBI.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

8 July 2020 The Logo of the ALPX company.

ALPX – smart crystallography

Lab Matters The CrystalDirect® technology, combined with the web-based CRIMS software enable a fully automated, remote-controlled protein-to-structure pipeline.

2020

lab-matters

8 July 2020 Artwort illustrating various aspects of infection research. The centre of the image shows a cartoon representation of a coronavirus. The spheric shape has been overlaid with a map of the world to illustrate the global spread of viruses. The edges of the artwork feature images of potential virus hosts (bats, poultry, dromedary), a group of humans, a microscope, pills, a syringe and vaccine vial, protein structures, and an illustration of a human lung. The background is set in yellow and red colour.

What COVID-19 is teaching us

Science & Technology The virtual EMBL Conference ‘SARS-CoV-2: Towards a New Era in Infection Research’ explored the importance of fundamental research, collaboration, and data science in containing the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and discussed opportunities to improve our response to pandemics in the future.

2020

eventsscience-technology

7 July 2020 The rainbow pride flag hanging in front of the Advanced Training Centre at EMBL Heidelberg. Picture taken in summer 2020.

Pride at EMBL

Lab Matters EMBL brings together more than 1700 people from all over the world, from a variety of academic and cultural backgrounds. This creates an environment in which there is constant exchange of both scientific knowledge and cultural heritage. While it seems obvious that EMBL, as an international…

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

6 July 2020 EMBL Director General Edith Heard standing at a laboratory work bench, facing the camera. Edith Heard on the left side, lab bench with pipettes and equipment on the right. Photo taken by érôme Brébion at Institut Curie, Paris.

Edith Heard elected senator of the Max Planck Society

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters EMBL Director General Edith Heard has been elected a senator of the Max Planck Society, one of Germany’s leading scientific research organisations. She joins the Senate along with Nobel Laureates and EMBL alumni Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard and Stefan W. Hell, as well as nine additional new…

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

3 July 2020 stem cells neurons differentiation

From stem cells to neurons

Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL Heidelberg have investigated stem cells and how they differentiate to become neurons. Their approach included an assessment of the complex interplay of molecules during the differentiation process and generated fundamental new insights into the role of a protein called Sox2 in…

2020

sciencescience-technology

2 July 2020 Edith Heard

Restructure of senior management

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters The governing Council of EMBL has approved Director General Edith Heard’s restructure of senior management with effect from 1 July 2020.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

2 July 2020 epigenetic reprogramming, epigenetic memory, Hackett group

Unravelling epigenetic reprogramming

Science & Technology A study conducted by the Hackett group at EMBL Rome has identified key factors controlling the complex system of gene regulation during early embryo development, shedding new light on the mechanisms behind these events and on their evolutionary implications. Their findings are published in Nature…

2020

sciencescience-technology

1 July 2020 New Informatics Science Director at Open Targets, Ellie McDonagh

Welcome: Ellie McDonagh

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Open Targets welcomes new Informatics Science Director

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

30 June 2020

EMBL boosts national and international sharing of genomic data

ConnectionsLab Matters A national consortium including EMBL and the DKFZ is set to launch the German Human Genome–Phenome Archive, creating an invaluable bridge between fundamental biomedical research and applied healthcare.

2020

connectionslab-matters

30 June 2020 Beekeeper checking one of the hives near the Adacned Training Centre at EMBL Heidelberg.

Busy bees at the ATC

Lab Matters Local beekeeper Jörg Staffel has set up three bee colonies on the grass slope in front of the ATC building.

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

29 June 2020 Gene Editing and Embryology Facility at EMBL Rome

Editing the mouse genome to study SARS-CoV-2 infection

Science & Technology To study how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells, the Gene Editing and Embryology Facility (GEEF) at EMBL Rome will generate mice that express a human version of a protein called ACE2. The mouse line will be shared with preclinical research collaborators carrying out vaccine and antibody trials, and with the…

2020

sciencescience-technology

26 June 2020 Key visual for ‘Life Science Across the Globe’

Sharing our passion for science with the world

Lab Matters EMBL is joining the virtual seminar series ‘Life Science Across the Globe’ – a timely initiative to foster international scientific exchange across countries and continents, starting on 1 July.

2020

lab-matters

25 June 2020 Scientists in the Hackett group at EMBL Rome doing lab work

Silencing the SARS-CoV-2 receptor with epigenetic modifications

Science & Technology EMBL scientists develop a new molecular tool to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice. This tool is able to cause targeted epigenetic modifications of specific genes in specific cell populations. They will use it in mice to target airway cells that express the ACE2 protein – the receptor that…

2020

sciencescience-technology

24 June 2020 Artist's impression of DNA lesions. Credit: Petra Korlevic

Unpicking the complexity of DNA mutations

Science & Technology DNA damage caused by chemical mutagens is not repaired immediately and can create more genetic diversity in tumours.

2020

sciencescience-technology

23 June 2020 EMBL's Equality and Diversity Officers. Zac O'Sullivan (left) and Luisa Vieites Rodrigues (right)

Equality and diversity at EMBL

Lab Matters EMBL is striving to make its labs and offices a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. To achieve this goal, EMBL's Equality and Diversity Officers, Luisa Vieites Rodrigues and Zac O'Sullivan, are working closely with leadership and the EMBL community. In this interview, they share their…

2020

lab-matters

23 June 2020

Delicious science

Lab Matters Elisa Kreibich from EMBL’s Krebs group baked an EMBL cake for the farewell of Alexandra Martitz, the first master student in their lab.

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

18 June 2020 Illustration of gender balances in academia

Closing the gender gap

EMBL Announcements To explore the origins of gender imbalances in academia and possible ways of overcoming them, international experts will meet for the virtual EMBL | EMBO | HHMI conference ‘Gender Roles and their Impact in Academia’ from 13–15 Oct 2020. The conference’s outcomes will be integrated into a…

2020

embl-announcementsevents

17 June 2020 Crystal selection for X-ray diffraction experiments.

Investigating the structure and mechanisms of coronavirus biomolecules

Science & Technology While global research on coronaviruses has shed light on the function of many SARS-CoV-2 proteins, the role of some crucial components remains unknown. Researchers at EMBL Grenoble will use a range of structural biology methods to try to solve some of the puzzles of the molecular mechanics of…

2020

sciencescience-technology

16 June 2020 Tissue culture plates in an incubator.

Understanding how SARS-CoV-2 behaves in the gut

Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL and Heidelberg University Hospital are studying how the novel coronavirus behaves in the gut to try to better understand its epidemiology and prevent its spread. To do this, they are combining advanced imaging and sequencing technologies to study coronavirus in human intestinal…

2020

sciencescience-technology

16 June 2020 Composite image of fly larvae organs making up a flower

From fly to flower

Science & Technology In this composite image, visual artist Mona Kakanj assembled three different biological structures in fly larvae into a flower. The original images were taken as part of a research project by Parisa Kakanj in Maria Leptin’s group.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

15 June 2020 Arise logo

Life sciences open their doors for engineers

Lab Matters The European Molecular Biology Laboratory has secured 6.8 million Euros funding from the European Commission to launch a unique training programme. The ARISE Programme will train and develop Europe’s next generation leadership for research infrastructures in the life sciences.

2020

lab-matters

15 June 2020 Key visual for the virtual EMBL conference ‘SARS-CoV-2: Towards a New Era in Infection Research’. Credits: Aleksandra Krolik/EMBL

Improving our response to emerging pandemics

EMBL Announcements The emergence of previously unknown pathogens, such as the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, raises many questions. To explore these questions in an international scientific forum, EMBL will host the virtual conference ‘SARS-CoV-2: Towards a New Era in Infection Research’ on 3 July. Invited…

2020

embl-announcementsevents

12 June 2020

Blood pressure drug improves response to cancer therapy

Science & Technology Scientists discovered that antihypertensive agent alters the tissue characteristics of colon cancer metastases. This "stiffness" of metastases has an effect on the therapeutic success.

2020

sciencescience-technology

9 June 2020 This image shows the structure of a bacterial group II intron

Genetic cut and paste at atomic resolution

Science & Technology Researchers in the Marcia group at EMBL Grenoble and the De Vivo lab at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa have obtained some of the most detailed ever snapshots of the splicing process in systems known as group II self-splicing introns. The new insights will help scientists to develop…

2020

sciencescience-technology

9 June 2020 Beamline Hamburg

Shining high-brilliance beams on coronavirus structure

Science & Technology EMBL researchers are studying COVID-19-related molecules by exposing them to high-brilliance X-ray beams. The Svergun group at EMBL Hamburg is using biological small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as part of a global effort by scientists to elucidate the structural organisation of SARS-CoV-2…

2020

sciencescience-technology

9 June 2020 Mouse embryonic fibroblasts and their cell skeletons

Glow-in-the-dark cell skeletons

Science & Technology This image shows mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), their cell skeletons (green) and nuclei (blue) under a confocal microscope, photographed by Julia Hansen in the lab of Matthieu Boulard at EMBL Rome.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

8 June 2020 Microscopic image showing a macrophage that has been infected with Salmonella (green), causing cellular cathepsins (red) to locate to the nucels (blue).

Re-trafficking proteins to fight Salmonella infections

Science & Technology Scientists including members of EMBL’s Typas group have investigated how immune cells called macrophages respond to infection by the intracellular pathogen Salmonella enterica. They discovered that Salmonella causes newly produced cathepsins to accumulate in the nuclei of infected cells to…

2020

sciencescience-technology

2 June 2020

Organelles in space

Science & Technology This image is a 3D-rendering of the automatic segmentation of a HeLa cell, made by Julian Hennies from the Schwab team at EMBL Heidelberg.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

1 June 2020 An illustration of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq)

Enabling functional genomics studies in individual cells

Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL Heidelberg have developed a new method, called Targeted Perturb-seq (TAP-seq), which increases the scale and precision of functional genomics CRISPR–Cas9 screens by orders of magnitude. Their method overcomes limitations in previous applications of single-cell RNA sequencing,…

2020

sciencescience-technology

27 May 2020 Automated sample changer and diffractometer at the ID30B X-ray crystallography beamline at ESRF Grenoble.

Facilitating COVID-19 structural biology research

Connections EMBL and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) restart the activities of the Joint Structural Biology Group in Grenoble to support coronavirus-related projects. A new initiative will allow users to be granted access to the High-Throughput Crystallisation (HTX) lab at EMBL and to a…

2020

connectionsscience

26 May 2020 Bioinformatic analysis of over 4700 SARS-CoV-2 genomes revealed that many of the most interesting changes in the SARS-CoV-2 genome that have been reported so far are likely to be technical artefacts, rather than biological mutations.

Distinguishing coronavirus genome mutations from inadvertent errors

Science & Technology EMBL scientists have performed a large-scale analysis of over 4700 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences. They found that many of the most interesting changes in the SARS-CoV-2 genome that have been reported so far are likely to be technical artefacts, rather than biological mutations.

2020

sciencescience-technology

26 May 2020

Underwater butterfly

Science & Technology In the Leptin Group, Eva Hasel investigates the innate immune system in Japanese rice fish.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

22 May 2020

The hunt for neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

Science & Technology Scientists hope that a legacy of the novel coronavirus in recovered COVID-19 patients – antibodies in their blood – could lead to drugs to treat others. The Merten group at EMBL Heidelberg has pivoted its microfluidics platform to support the search for neutralising antibodies that could…

2020

sciencescience-technology

22 May 2020

EMBL scientists investigate rare lung disease

Science & Technology Researchers in EMBL’s Zaugg group have studied the causes of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a rare disease that causes high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. The study, carried out in collaboration with Stanford University School of Medicine, compared lung cells of patients…

2020

sciencescience-technology

19 May 2020 EMBL group leader Georgia Rapti

Welcome: Georgia Rapti

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives The nervous system has fascinated Georgia Rapti ever since her first introduction to biology. Her research group in the Developmental Biology unit will focus on understanding the early biological events involved in the nervous system’s formation.

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

19 May 2020

The birth of tentacles

Science & Technology The image shown here, taken by Anniek Stokkermans from EMBL’s Ikmi Group, shows a larva of Nematostella vectensis.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

15 May 2020 Cell division

Tracing the origins of cells

Science & Technology Researchers from the Sharpe group at EMBL Barcelona have published a method to track the developmental history of a cell using the gene editing tool CRISPR–Cas9, but without the need to create transgenic organisms.

2020

sciencescience-technology

14 May 2020 NetApp logo

EMBL welcomes NetApp in its Corporate Partner Programme

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL welcomes NetApp, a leader in cloud data services empowering global organisations to change their world with data, as member of the Corporate Partnership Programme of the EMBL Advanced Training Centre.

2020

connectionslab-matters

13 May 2020 Close-up photograph of servers at EMBL Heidelberg's data centre.

Understanding the role of our genes in SARS-CoV-2 infections

Science & Technology EMBL scientists will contribute to the new German COVID-19 OMICS Initiative to study the biological mechanisms contributing to coronavirus infections. EMBL group leaders Jan Korbel and Oliver Stegle, who is also affiliated with the DKFZ Heidelberg, will coordinate the set-up of IT infrastructures…

2020

sciencescience-technology

12 May 2020

Shine like an underwater star

Science & Technology This image of the starlet sea anemone was taken by Petrus Steenbergen using a stereoscope.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

11 May 2020

EMBL SPC facility supports COVID-19 projects

Science & Technology The Sample Preparation and Characterisation Facility (SPC) at EMBL Hamburg reopens to support scientists working on Covid-19 research. The SPC Facility is one of the best equipped facilities in Europe is therefore in high demand from external users. Re-opening the facility also allows experts at…

2020

sciencescience-technology

6 May 2020

Wings without wings

Science & Technology The image shown here, taken by Daniel Rios-Barrera from the Leptin Group shows the cells of the early wing tissue of the fly during larval development.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

5 May 2020 Liquid handling robot transfering protein crystalisation solutions

Responding to health threats posed by coronaviruses

Science & Technology By re-opening the High-Throughput Crystallisation (HTX) lab at EMBL Grenoble, EMBL is supporting structural biology projects to respond to the health threats posed by coronaviruses.

2020

sciencescience-technology

4 May 2020

Nordic EMBL Partnership awarded €210,000 funding

ConnectionsLab Matters The Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine has been awarded 210,000 euros. The funds will be used to train the next generation of specialists and research leaders in molecular medicine in the Nordic countries.

2020

connectionslab-matters

29 April 2020 The Influenza virus

Understanding the influenza virus

Science & Technology The infectious disease commonly known as flu is caused by the influenza virus. It spreads around the world in seasonal outbreaks, causing millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Stephen Cusack, Head of EMBL Grenoble, has been studying different aspects of the influenza…

2020

sciencescience-technology

28 April 2020

Dancing chromosomes

Science & Technology In human cells, the genetic material is packaged into 23 different DNA molecules, the chromosomes. Each chromosome is present in two copies, one inherited from the paternal sperm, and the other from the maternal egg. During most of the cell’s life, chromosomes take the shape of long,…

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

28 April 2020 Close-up view of the interior of a protein analytics system

Exploring synthetic antibodies to stop coronavirus

Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL Hamburg and Karolinska Institutet Stockholm aim to find synthetic antibodies – known as nanobodies – that bind a surface protein of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Nanobodies could prevent the virus from entering human cells and causing COVID-19.

2020

sciencescience-technology

27 April 2020 Artistic rendering of an RNA-binding protein interacting with an RNA molecule.

Helping researchers identify host proteins used by coronavirus

Science & Technology EMBL scientists working in the groups of Matthias Hentze and Wolfgang Huber have created RBPbase – a database of RNA-binding proteins – to assist the identification of proteins that interact with the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome.

2020

sciencescience-technology

24 April 2020 Collage of images representing wet and dry lab research and healthcare

Why share data during a pandemic?

Science & Technology In March 2020, planes were grounded, streets went quiet, and our lives changed forever. But while the world came to a halt, many scientists were ramping up their efforts to understand the new virus.

2020

sciencescience-technology

23 April 2020 Key visual for the EMBO | EMBL symposium ‘The Four-Dimensional Genome’

EMBL hosts its first virtual conference

Lab Matters The virtual EMBO | EMBL symposium ‘The Four-Dimensional Genome’ brought together 470 participants. Here, Jürgen Deka, Head of External Scientific Training, discusses how he and his team overcame the organisational challenges.

2020

eventslab-matters

22 April 2020 Earth Day 2020 logo

EMBL statement on Earth Day 2020

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters To address global challenges, we need to better understand life in the context of environmental change, says EMBL Director General Edith Heard

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

22 April 2020 Portrait photo of Brendan Rouse, EMBL's Environmental Officer

Welcome: Brendan Rouse

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Brendan Rouse came to Heidelberg in March as EMBL’s Environmental Officer, tasked with monitoring the organisation’s environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices. Here, he discusses his plans for the new role.

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

21 April 2020

Evolution of the eye

Science & Technology This Picture of the Week shows a stained cryosection of a retina – the light-sensitive part of the eye – of an ancient fish, the lamprey.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

20 April 2020 A 4D visualisation of single-cell expression patterns. Credit: Hanna Sladitschek/EMBL

Unprecedented single-cell studies in virtual embryo

Science & Technology Researchers from EMBL Heidelberg have created a complete description of early embryo development, accounting for every single cell in the embryo.

2020

sciencescience-technology

20 April 2020 COVID-19 Data Portal logo on globe background

EMBL-EBI launches COVID-19 Data Portal

Science & Technology The new collaborative space will help scientists, public health and healthcare professionals around the world to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

2020

sciencescience-technology

16 April 2020 Micropipette tips in a liquid-handling robot

Helping to scale up coronavirus testing

Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL Heidelberg are contributing their expertise in a community effort to develop large-scale testing methods for coronavirus. Their goal is to increase the capacity and speed of testing, which is crucial for containing the pandemic.

2020

sciencescience-technology

15 April 2020 Purified proteins on an SDS-polyacrylamide gel

Producing proteins for coronavirus research

Science & Technology The Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility at EMBL Heidelberg will produce proteins for several coronavirus-related research projects, to assist the development of new strategies to fight the virus.

2020

sciencescience-technology

14 April 2020

Gazing at healing wounds

Science & Technology What may look like a branch of a tree with the first flower buds emerging after winter are, in fact, tracheal cells of a fruit fly larva and their nuclei.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

9 April 2020 3D reconstruction of parental chromosomes in the mouse embryo

How chromosome structure influences development

Science & Technology EMBL researchers in the Heard group at EMBL Heidelberg explore the interaction between DNA organisation and gene expression in the early embryo

2020

sciencescience-technology

7 April 2020

Exciting science!

Science & Technology EMBL is all about exciting science, through which we aim to achieve a fundamental understanding of biological processes.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

2 April 2020 Map showing institutes involved with EMBL in Twinning projects

EMBL shares expertise with four European institutes

ConnectionsLab Matters Three international teams involving EMBL Heidelberg have been granted funding from the European Commission for three Twinning projects with institutes in Portugal and the Czech Republic.

2020

connectionslab-matters

1 April 2020

Understanding brain tumours in children

Science & Technology The causes of 40 percent of all cases of certain medulloblastoma – dangerous brain tumours affecting children – are hereditary. These are the findings of a recent genetic analysis carried out by scientists from EMBL and numerous colleagues around the world.

2020

sciencescience-technology

31 March 2020 Portrait of Bastian Drees, Head of Library

Welcome: Bastian Drees

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Bastian Drees is a biophysicist turned librarian, who joined EMBL in January as the new Head of Library. Here, he discusses the changing role of libraries and how they can help scientists organise and share their results.

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

31 March 2020

Artistic life sciences

Science & Technology Paola Bertucci, from the Arendt Group at EMBL Heidelberg, studies the evolution of Platynereis dumerilii – a species of annelid polychaete worm.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

24 March 2020

Springtime in Heidelberg

Lab Matters The iconic ATC – celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year – reflects the blue sky, the clouds and the rays of the Sun.

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

17 March 2020

Wrapped in purple

Science & Technology The medaka shown in this Picture of the Week was captured by Eva Hasel, a postdoc in the Leptin group at EMBL Heidelberg.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

11 March 2020 Leukaemia stem cells are located in a patient’s bone marrow (shown here in blue) in the so-called stem cell niche. The green structure is the bone itself. Credit: Dr. Raphael Lutz, Haas Lab

€2.45 m to investigate leukaemia causes and therapies

EMBL Announcements The Heidelberg-based LeukoSyStem consortium investigates leukaemia stem cells in acute myeloid leukaemia. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research financially supports this collaboration between Heidelberg University Hospital, HI-STEM gGmbH, the German Cancer Research Center and EMBL.

2020

embl-announcementsscience

10 March 2020

It’s Lab Ski Day!

Lab Matters This image, taken by Raphaël Cohen-Aberdam from the Cipriani team, shows that the weather for the Grenoble Lab Ski Day 2020 was just perfect!

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

5 March 2020

New insights into gene regulation

Science & Technology EMBL researchers investigate the role of a histone protein in regulating gene expression

2020

sciencescience-technology

3 March 2020

Snowy day

Lab Matters Colder winter weather has finally arrived EMBL-EBI. It’s the first time the site has seen snow this winter.

2020

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

25 February 2020

Accidental beauty

Science & Technology In the Trivedi Group at EMBL Barcelona, Krisztina Arató and Jia Le Lim study the early development of zebrafish embryos.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

20 February 2020 lucia-von-bredow

Welcome: Lucia von Bredow

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives EMBL’s new Science and Society Manager shares her plans for fostering multidisciplinary dialogue

2020

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

19 February 2020 Claire Deo

Welcome: Claire Deo

People & Perspectives New group leader at EMBL Heidelberg employs synthetic chemistry to develop novel tools for biology

2020

people-perspectivesscience

18 February 2020

Mapping space inside the cell

Science & Technology In this image, Julian Hennies from the Schwab Team has reconstructed the 3D structure of a human cell's organelles.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

11 February 2020

Breathe in, breathe out

Science & Technology This image shows the tracheal system of a live fruit fly larva. Daniel Rios from the Leptin Group and Dimitri Kromm from the Hufnagel Group used this advanced microscope to investigate the dynamics of tracheal cells during development.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

5 February 2020

The Pan-Cancer project

Science & Technology EMBL co-leads most comprehensive study of genetic causes of cancer

2020

sciencescience-technology

5 February 2020

Protecting data in the cloud

Science & Technology Cloud computing offers unprecedented opportunities for global-scale research collaborations. It also presents a unique set of challenges in terms of data protection and the ethics of data sharing.

2020

sciencescience-technology

5 February 2020

Characterising RNA alterations in cancer

Science & Technology The largest and most comprehensive catalogue of cancer-specific RNA alterations reveals new insights into the cancer genome.

2020

sciencescience-technology

5 February 2020

Cancer mutations occur decades before diagnosis

Science & Technology Researchers at EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) and the Francis Crick Institute have analysed the whole genomes of over 2600 tumours from 38 different cancer types to determine the chronology of genomic changes during cancer development.

2020

sciencescience-technology

5 February 2020

Analysis of human genomes in the cloud

Science & Technology Scientists from EMBL present a tool for large-scale analysis of genomic data with cloud computing. Main advantages of the new tool, called Butler, are continuous system monitoring and its ability to self-heal in case of failure, allowing for 43% more efficient data processing than previous…

2020

sciencescience-technology

5 February 2020

Studying DNA rearrangement to understand cancer

Science & Technology Using the dataset from the Pan-Cancer project, scientists has developed methods to group, classify, and describe large rearrangements of the genome that are a key driver of cancer.

2020

sciencescience-technology

5 February 2020

Chromothripsis in human cancer

Science & Technology Researchers at Harvard Medical School and EMBL-EBI have carried out the largest analysis across cancer types of the newly discovered mutational phenomenon chromothripsis.

2020

sciencescience-technology

5 February 2020

Finding genetic cancer risks

Science & Technology Using the data from the Pan-Cancer project EMBL scientists describe how our genetic background influences cancer development.

2020

sciencescience-technology

4 February 2020 Mouse genetic data identifies rare disease genes

Pinpointing rare disease mutations

Science & Technology New resource that categorises genes essential for supporting life could be used to identify rare disease mutations

2020

sciencescience-technology

4 February 2020

From cosmetics to blood cells

Science & Technology Morgan Oatley and her colleagues in Christophe Lancrin’s group investigated how haematopoietic stem cells emerge from the endothelium in developing mouse embryos.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

31 January 2020

Statement on Brexit

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters Today marks the next chapter in the UK’s relationship with Europe. While we wait to see what a future relationship brings, researchers will continue to work across borders to tackle society’s most pressing problems, such as climate change, ageing, and disease.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

28 January 2020

Injured lung

Science & Technology Muzamil Majid Khan, a postdoc in the Pepperkok team at EMBL Heidelberg, studied the piece of tissue visible in this image.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

27 January 2020 Maria Bernabeu

Welcome: Maria Bernabeu

People & Perspectives New group leader at EMBL Barcelona is investigating how malaria affects the human circulatory system

2020

people-perspectivesscience

24 January 2020

Hungarian Minister visits EMBL

Connections László Palkovics, Hungarian Minister for Innovation and Technology, visited EMBL Heidelberg

2020

connectionsevents

22 January 2020

Antibody engineering for therapy and diagnosis

Lab MattersScience & Technology The new EMBL spinoff company Araxa Biosciences GmbH aims to set new standards for the development of antibody-based therapeutics and diagnostics

2020

lab-mattersscience-technology

21 January 2020 Janet Thornton EMBL Insight Lecture

Ageing and disease

Science & Technology Dame Janet Thornton presents the 2019 EMBL Insight Lecture: Ageing and disease – what is the link?

2020

eventsscience-technology

21 January 2020 Kristina Haase

Welcome: Kristina Haase

People & Perspectives Kristina Haase brings an engineer’s perspective to vascular disease and regenerative medicine

2020

people-perspectivesscience

21 January 2020

Judith Reichmann receives Paul Ehrlich prize

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters Judith Reichmann will receive this year’s Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize for Young Researchers

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

21 January 2020

Look at these curves!

Science & Technology The image shown here is a 3D-rendering created by Julian Hennies from the Schwab team.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

20 January 2020

Science in School #49 available

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters The latest issue of the free magazine, Science in School, is now available for teachers worldwide.

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

15 January 2020

Bridging Excellence Fellowships

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters The call for applications for Bridging Excellence Fellowships is now open

2020

embl-announcementslab-matters

14 January 2020

Ring of fire

Science & Technology This image has been composed from thousands of individual super-resolution microscopy images. It was created by Markus Mund in the Ries Group.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

7 January 2020

Skittles for science

Science & Technology What might also be an artistic representation of a scattered bowl of Skittles is actually a 3D reconstruction of a high-pressure frozen HeLa cell.

2020

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

No matching posts found

EMBLetc.

Looking for past print editions of EMBLetc.? Browse our archive, going back 20 years.

EMBLetc. archive

Newsletter archive

Read past editions of our e-newsletter

For press

Contact the Press Office
Edit