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2021

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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 2021 Scientific illustrations of MEG3, a very large RNA involved in cell proliferation. IAB and EMBL logos are located in the center of the illustration.

EMBL-IAB collaboration on the rise

ConnectionsLab Matters The memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between EMBL and the Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB) a year ago has already catalysed new grants for joint research projects related to cancer and infection biology, thereby deepening collaborative activities.

2021

connectionslab-matters

21 December 2021 A model of the doughnut-shaped nuclear pore complex. Individual molecules are marked in various colours.

Observing the secret life of molecules inside the cell

Science & Technology EMBL Hamburg’s Kosinski Group, the Beck Laboratory at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, and colleagues at EMBL Heidelberg recorded the nuclear pore complex contracting in living cells. They visualised the movement with an unprecedented level of detail with help of new software called…

2021

sciencescience-technology

20 December 2021 Concentric circles and lines in different colours, representing fingerprints. Text: "Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy."

Fostering diversity and equality

Lab Matters Showing a continued commitment to providing a diverse and inclusive organisation for conducting leading molecular biology research, EMBL has launched an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy.

2021

lab-matters

20 December 2021 A detailed structure map shows two proteins interacting in the foreground, each shown in a different colour. The background shows small green dots marking bacteria

Solving molecular puzzles to find the perfect fit

Science & Technology Using cryo-EM and structural biology techniques, EMBL researchers have shown how two proteins of Legionella pneumophila interact. This finding sheds light on a mechanism critical to the infection process and could lead to the development of new drugs to treat pneumonia.

2021

sciencescience-technology

15 December 2021 An outline of Earth, covered with depictions of bacteria. The image of Earth is within a the frame of a computer window. There is an “Upload file” button on the bottom left, and a mouse cursor on the right.

Connecting the dots between bacterial genes around the world

Science & Technology Bork Group at EMBL Heidelberg analysed a new global gene database to study how genes emerge and spread across various habitats on our planet. In the future, the group will expand the database and use it for studying microbial gene evolution and dispersal at a finer-grained scale.

2021

sciencescience-technology

9 December 2021 Colourful interwoven coils are displayed against a grid of small black and white photographic images.

A gallery of human RNA polymerases

Science & Technology New structural biology research provides fundamental information critical to understanding enzyme mutations connected to rare diseases and cancers.

2021

sciencescience-technology

9 December 2021 Portrait photo of Eileen Furlong against blue-green background.

Eileen Furlong honoured with Leibniz Prize

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters EMBL Senior Scientist and Head of the Genome Biology Unit is among the researchers honoured for outstanding work by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG).

2021

embl-announcementslab-matters

9 December 2021 Logos of CNRS and EMBL with text “memorandum of understanding”

Strengthening collaborations in France

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) signed a memorandum of understanding.

2021

connectionslab-matters

8 December 2021 An illustration of the human gut, with coloured shapes representing bacteria. Three different drugs and drug combinations are shown affecting the bacteria, represented by changes in colour

The impact of drugs on gut microbes is greater than we thought

Science & Technology Researchers studying a massive cohort of European patients have found that commonly prescribed drugs for cardiometabolic disorders can have long-term effects on the gut microbiome. Such effects can complicate the understanding of how disease affects the microbiome and must be taken into…

2021

sciencescience-technology

7 December 2021 A cartoon image showing a person's arm and a needle with a vaccine being injected into it. The text on the left reads: "EMBL research: How structural biologists at EMBL Hamburg help to develop and improve RNA vaccines"

How structural biology helps to make RNA vaccines

Science & Technology RNA vaccines, such as the ones for COVID-19, represent a new approach in vaccine technology. Cy Jeffries, faculty staff scientist at EMBL Hamburg, explains the clever technology behind RNA vaccines, and how structural biology contributes to its development. EMBL Hamburg collaborated on several…

2021

sciencescience-technology

29 November 2021 Male scientist in front of blurred woodland background

Welcome: Niccolò Banterle

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Using gene editing and three types of microscopy, one of EMBL’s newest group leaders is deciphering the functions of one of the smallest molecules involved in cell division, motility, and signalling, known as a centriole.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

25 November 2021 Female scientist in front of a background of green plants

Welcome: Maria Zimmermann-Kogadeeva

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Maria Zimmermann-Kogadeeva is one of EMBL’s newest group leaders and a computational biologist whose research group applies computational modelling to better understand the metabolism of gut bacteria and their potential to have far-reaching impacts on other organs.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

24 November 2021 A man standing in front of hedges

Welcome: Tudor Groza

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Tudor Groza joins EMBL-EBI as our new Phenomics Team Lead. We found out from Tudor exactly what this new role will entail

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

16 November 2021 Collage showing different species that play an essential part in global food security, including cattle, pollinators and plants

Can data help feed a hungry world?

Science & Technology How genomics, open data, and multidisciplinary science can improve food security.

2021

sciencescience-technology

15 November 2021 3D visualization of the vascularized placenta barrier model on-a-chip.

Building a 3D placenta on a chip

Lab MattersScience & Technology A new model could serve as a platform to investigate critical placenta barrier phenomena, including defence against bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

13 November 2021 close-up of 3 birds

EMBL alum takes DNA sequencing to the field

Science & Technology EMBL alum Lara Urban has developed mobile DNA approaches to monitor impacts upon biodiversity in remote areas of New Zealand and elsewhere.

2021

alumniscience-technology

12 November 2021 Pia Lavriha and Anna Steyer look at cryo-electron microscopic images on a computer screen.

EMBL Imaging Centre welcomes first external user

Lab MattersScience & Technology Correlative microscopy service enables PhD student from Switzerland to study structure and location of proteins cells use to communicate.

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

10 November 2021 Logo showing an opened padlock and the words “Data Use Ontology” and biomedical samples in background.

DUO: streamlining access to biomedical datasets

Science & Technology The GA4GH Data Use Ontology (DUO) supports a data authorisation and access framework to streamline consent to use biomedical data

2021

sciencescience-technology

10 November 2021 Graphic representations of different types of bacteria.

Making sense of bacterial DNA data

Science & Technology A vast, curated collection of bacterial genomes is now organised, searchable and open to the community.

2021

sciencescience-technology

9 November 2021 students looking a computer monitor and microscope

New horizons for the EIPP

Lab Matters EMBL's PhD and postdoc programmes evolve to the more multidisciplinary way of doing great molecular biology research.

2021

lab-matters

8 November 2021 A scientist is carefully handling capilars at the P12 beamline at EMBL Hamburg.

EMBL Hamburg trains future generations of life scientists in using SAXS

Lab MattersScience & Technology Each year, EMBL Hamburg’s Svergun Group offers practical EMBO courses and lecture courses on biological small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The courses provide young scientists an opportunity to gain hands-on experience by measuring their own samples, and by exploring different aspects of SAXS…

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

5 November 2021 A headshot photo of Ken Holmes from July 2021

Ken Holmes

People & Perspectives Ken Holmes, outstanding pioneer of structural biology and founder of EMBL´s Hamburg site, died on 2 November 2021 at the age of 87.

2021

alumnipeople-perspectives

5 November 2021 Three-dimensional rendering of sponge neuroid cells (coloured orange) and sponge digestive cells (coloured green).

More than a gut reaction

Science & Technology What can sponges tell us about the evolution of the brain? Sponges have the genes involved in neuronal function in higher animals. But if sponges don’t have brains, what is the role of these? EMBL scientists imaged the sponge digestive chamber to find out.

2021

sciencescience-technology

28 October 2021 female scientist sits in front of building

Welcome: Svetlana Dodonova

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Svetlana Dodonova is one of EMBL's newest group leaders, leading a team of researchers who will study how genetic material is organised inside cells using structural biology approaches.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

26 October 2021

Science for sustainability

ConnectionsLab Matters The engagement of US and European Big Science facilities

2021

connectionslab-matters

26 October 2021 Photo of researcher using MGnify database

Novel enzymes for a Green Economy

Science & Technology Using metagenomic data to find novel enzymes for plastic degradation and beyond

2021

sciencescience-technology

25 October 2021 A collage of the visuals representing each of the three modules of the eSPC platform.

Biophysics analysis made easy with an online tool

Science & Technology EMBL Hamburg’s Sample Preparation and Characterisation (SPC) Facility has released eSPC, an online platform for analysing data from biophysical experiments. The platform enables the scientific community to analyse data from different experiments without the need to travel.

2021

sciencescience-technology

22 October 2021 Oblong shape with two holes and coloured dots inside, representing phytoplankton cells and nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Analysis and sorting with flow cytometry

Lab MattersScience & Technology A technology around since the ‘60s, flow cytometry has increasing applications. New leadership at EMBL’s flow cytometry facilities is looking to ease use, expand training, and encourage more collaboration.

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

15 October 2021 In the middle, there are two molecules of pUL21. One is blurred, to represent the molecule’s flexibility. In the background are two neuronal scenes. The one on the left is healthy and has a smooth surface. The one on the right is infected, which is represented by several green viral particles.

How herpes seizes proteins’ means of production

Science & Technology The Graham and Crump groups at the University of Cambridge and the Svergun Group at EMBL Hamburg have discovered a mechanism by which the herpes simplex virus takes control of the molecular machinery of human cells. Their work reveals how a dedicated viral protein hijacks key host proteins, forcing…

2021

sciencescience-technology

13 October 2021 Illustration of a community of bacteria. Pills represent an antibiotic that can be used to treat an infection, and a second drug that could protect many gut bacteria from antibiotics.

Tackling the collateral damage from antibiotics

Science & Technology Researchers from EMBL’s Typas group and collaborators have analysed the effects of 144 antibiotics on the wellbeing of gut microbes. The study improves our understanding of antibiotics’ side effects and suggests a new approach to mitigating the adverse effects of antibiotics therapy on gut…

2021

sciencescience-technology

12 October 2021 Man in white and blue t-shirt in outdoor setting

When ‘good’ cells go ‘bad’

Science & Technology If researchers can identify specifically when good cells go bad, they can potentially understand disease better.

2021

sciencescience-technology

8 October 2021 Logos of Ifremer and EMBL with text: “memorandum of understanding”. Illustrations of marine animals and numbers in the background.

EMBL and Ifremer cooperate to advance ocean sciences

ConnectionsLab Matters The two organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding to support scientific cooperation in the exploration of coastal and oceanic ecosystems.

2021

connectionslab-matters

7 October 2021 students looking a computer monitor and microscope

EMBL welcomes young scientists

Lab Matters This autumn, students begin their PhD in research groups across EMBL’s six sites.

2021

lab-matters

7 October 2021 SARS-CoV-2 and planet Earth are merged together in this illustration

Six Ways to Protect the Planet Against Pandemics*

Science & Technology EMBL will host a conference to look at the state of the pandemic, lessons learned, and ways to improve pandemic preparedness. Here’s a sneak peek into what promises to be another interesting and informative EMBL conference.

2021

eventsscience-technology

5 October 2021 Illustration of a globe with colourful shapes and symbols superimposed.

A cellular atlas of an entire worm

Science & Technology EMBL scientists and colleagues have developed an interactive atlas of the entire marine worm Platynereis dumerilii in its larval stage. The PlatyBrowser resource combines high-resolution gene expression data with volume electron microscopy images.

2021

sciencescience-technology

4 October 2021 Logos of University of Tartu and EMBL with text: “memorandum of understanding”. Illustrations of microorganisms in the background.

EMBL strengthens links with Estonia

ConnectionsLab Matters A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between EMBL and the University of Tartu, a leading centre of research and training. The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation between EMBL and the life science research community in Estonia.

2021

connectionslab-matters

30 September 2021

New microscopy technique makes deep in vivo brain imaging possible

Science & Technology Scientists in EMBL’s Prevedel Group have developed a pioneering microscopy technique that allows researchers to observe cells hidden within opaque tissues, such as live neurons embedded deep in the brain.

2021

sciencescience-technology

29 September 2021 Female scientist working at a biosafety cabinet, wearing a yellow protective gown and black gloves.

Transferable skills

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives In the lab, Diënty Hazenbrink works with microbes that live in our guts. In her free time, she enjoys wildlife photography. A shared set of skills facilitates both activities.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

23 September 2021 Pink and blue dominate a blurry image against a black background that is actually a global image of a 30-day-old Octopus vulgaris

The secret life of baby octopuses

Science & Technology Some of the most amazing creatures live in the deep blue sea. The Mesoscopic Imaging Facility (MIF) at EMBL Barcelona was recently involved in studying one unique feature of the octopus: the ephemeral structures on the surface of their skin called Kölliker’s organs.

2021

sciencescience-technology

22 September 2021 Logos of EMBL and Helmholtz Association on white background, over a green-and-blue pattern in the background.

EMBL and Helmholtz Health join forces

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL and Helmholtz Association have signed a memorandum of understanding. The expanded collaboration of both institutions will focus on research related to health.

2021

connectionslab-matters

17 September 2021 Artistic representation of the complex cell circuit forming the retina

Vision unveiled: new roles for the retina in visual processing

Science & Technology EMBL scientists have found evidence of an unexpected role for retinal cells in pre-processing visual information; their results provide potential opportunity for future prosthetic visual aids.

2021

research-highlightssciencescience-technology

15 September 2021 A dark blue classic star map view is overlaid upon scientific data

Charting a multi-omic universe

Science & Technology A research collaboration used machine learning to map tumour molecular make-up, potentially paving way to more customised cancer treatment.

2021

sciencescience-technology

9 September 2021 Portrait of former EMBL Director General Iain Mattaj

German Cross of Merit for former EMBL Director General

EMBL Announcements Former EMBL Director General Professor Iain Mattaj was awarded the German Cross of Merit (‘Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland’) at a ceremony held at EMBL Heidelberg on 9 September 2021.

2021

alumniembl-announcements

9 September 2021 A student in front of a computer watches a scientist working in a laboratory

New horizons for virtual learning

Lab Matters EMBL's science education department makes the latest scientific research more accessible for teachers and students.

2021

eventslab-matters

8 September 2021 Illustration of two halves of a pill, which releases chemical molecules that are taken up by gut bacteria in the vicinity.

Common medications accumulate in gut bacteria

Science & Technology A new collaborative study led by EMBL group leaders Kiran Patil, Nassos Typas, and Peer Bork has found that common medications accumulate in human gut bacteria. This process reduces drug effectiveness and affects the metabolism of common gut microbes, thereby altering the gut microbiome.

2021

sciencescience-technology

7 September 2021 Close up of the interior of a light-sheet microscope, featuring optical equipment and a transparent cube.

A flip book for biological systems

Science & Technology In the Mesoscopic Imaging Facility (MIF) at EMBL Barcelona, researchers study the details of biological systems in the context of organs, body parts, or entire organisms. This image shows OPTiSPIM1, one of the custom light-sheet microscope setups available at the facility.

2021

sciencescience-technology

6 September 2021 Cells organised according to their transcript data changing to the seqFISH mouse embryo map.

The Spatial Mouse Atlas: new insights into cell fate

Science & Technology Researchers have combined spatial gene expression information with single-cell genomics data to create a high-resolution atlas of mouse organogenesis.

2021

sciencescience-technology

20 August 2021 Liz Duke in front of the PETRA III synchrotron.

Welcome: Liz Duke

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives The new team leader at EMBL Hamburg talks about her plans to establish biological X-ray imaging and high-throughput tomography.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

12 August 2021 Edith Heard's photo portrait in a circle in the middle of the image.

Edith Heard elected to the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters EMBL Director General Edith Heard has been elected a member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Her admission to the ‘Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine’ section recognises her outstanding professional contributions to science.

2021

embl-announcementslab-matters

10 August 2021 Scientist working on an instrument of the MASSIF-1 beamline

MASSIF-1 beamline in Grenoble supports COVID-19 drug discovery

Lab MattersScience & Technology MASSIF-1, run jointly by EMBL Grenoble and the ESRF, is a beamline for macromolecular crystallography. It is used by the research community to study the 3D structure of proteins, which is important for drug development.

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

4 August 2021 Head shot of male scientist

Supporting EMBL and fundamental research

People & Perspectives EMBL alumnus Angus Lamond reflects on the process of translating the importance of fundamental research – to EMBL and wider society.

2021

alumnipeople-perspectives

3 August 2021 illustration of health care providers around a big heart

All heart

Science & Technology A community of scientists is looking at the estimated three billion heart muscle cells in a human heart to better understand heart disease.

2021

alumniscience-technology

29 July 2021 Oblong shape with two holes and coloured dots inside, representing phytoplankton cells and nitrogen-fixing bacteria

What lies beneath: the building blocks of life

Science & Technology Analysis of more than 2 million images has boosted understanding of ocean microbes, shedding light on the distribution of nitrogen-fixers at a global level

2021

sciencescience-technology

20 July 2021 Dark grey bird sitting on a metal lamp post. Grass and rock in the background.

A black redstart visits

Lab Matters Mehdi Khadraoui, a former member of the EMBL Communications team, took this close-up of a black redstart.

2021

lab-matters

13 July 2021 From right to left, Ilaria Piazza and Ken Holmes’ portraits are side by side in circles on a greenish background

EMBL Alumni Awards 2021

People & Perspectives EMBL alumni Ilaria Piazza and Ken Holmes have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, and will receive their awards as part of the celebrations for EMBL World Alumni Day.

2021

alumnipeople-perspectives

12 July 2021 Close-up illustration of the Kinesin-1 protein, intertwined with the aTm1 protein in a helix, next to loopy mRNA molecules.

A model of cooperation for transporting mRNA

Science & Technology EMBL scientists generate a high-resolution crystal structure of the Kinesin-1/aTm1 transport complex in the fruit fly.

2021

sciencescience-technology

9 July 2021 Melissa Graewert stands in front of steely machine

From antibodies to nanoplastics

Science & Technology EMBL’s Melissa Graewert and colleagues are taking a structural biologist’s approach to better understanding nanoplastic particles.

2021

sciencescience-technology

8 July 2021 Two men stand outside in front of a building, holding a document and looking at it.

A hidden medal

People & Perspectives We all like a story about rediscovering treasures, right? Well, that’s just what happened recently at EMBL Grenoble!

2021

alumnipeople-perspectives

5 July 2021

Welcome: Sarah Dyer

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives EMBL welcomes Sarah Dyer, the new Non-Vertebrate Genomics Team Leader at EMBL-EBI.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

2 July 2021 Portrait photo of a man in front of trees on a balcony

New head for EMBL’s Developmental Biology Unit

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters Dr Alexander Aulehla has been appointed the new Head of EMBL’s Developmental Biology Unit, and will take up the role starting in July 2021.

2021

embl-announcementslab-matters

29 June 2021

Planetary egg cells

As evocative as a constellation of planets, these egg cells within a mouse ovary are at different stages of maturity.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience

23 June 2021 Bright blue oblong shape with white hairs on surface on black background.

Starlet sea anemone

Science & Technology EMBL PhD student Anniek Stokkermans captured this side view of a Nematostella vectensis larva during this transition, using instrumentation in the Advanced Light Microscopy Facility at EMBL Heidelberg.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

22 June 2021 Woman stands at brown railing in front of trees

Welcome: Anna Erzberger

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Anna Erzberger, one of EMBL’s newest group leaders, will provide unique perspective as a theoretical biological physicist.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

17 June 2021 Three researchers surround microscopy equipment in a dark room with red lighting.

Illuminating protein complexes in cells

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives EMBL group leaders Julia Mahamid, Anna Kreshuk & Jonas Ries awarded Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grant to advance what we see inside cells.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

16 June 2021 Microscopy images of bacteria against a backdrop of a crowd of humans.

How our gut microbiome changes over time

Science & Technology Researchers investigate how external factors can influence the persistence of microbe species in the human gut

2021

sciencescience-technology

15 June 2021 Small star-like objects are scattered throughout a black background

Twinkle, twinkle, little nuclear pore complex

Science & Technology As perfect as a summer night sky, these nuclear pores help calibrate a customised super-resolution microscope in EMBL’s Ries group.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

9 June 2021 R2DT software for RNA structures

Visualising RNA structures using R2DT

Science & Technology New software enables scientists to visualise RNA secondary structures using the world’s largest RNA structure dataset.

2021

sciencescience-technology

8 June 2021 Two scientists in lab coats working on an instrument in the lab.

EMBL external research community survey

Lab Matters EMBL is conducting an Impact Assessment of our experimental services to understand the value these services have for our external user community. If you have accessed EMBL experimental services at one or more of our facilities to support the conduct of your research, we would like to hear from you.

2021

lab-matters

8 June 2021 Purple, blue and yellow dots on a black background.

Dream team

Science & Technology At EMBL, we have many dream teams – groups of individuals who support each other, innovate, and work together. One of those dream teams bridges two core facilities at EMBL Rome.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

4 June 2021 Man in white shirt and blue jeans standing on a terrace in front of trees, facing the camera.

The power of community

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives EMBL Director Matthias Hentze describes the Environmental Research Initiative: a community effort to solve global environmental challenges.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

3 June 2021 Illustration of a rocky coastline with sailing boat, mountains, underwater organisms, bridge and factory in the background.

Living laboratories

Science & Technology Under the innovative Planetary Biology research theme, EMBL scientists aim to understand life in the context of its environment.

2021

sciencescience-technology

1 June 2021 Two purple and white spheres against dark background.

Nuclear twins

Science & Technology Captured by EMBL postdoc Arina Rybina, these ‘nuclear twins’ are two daughter nuclei straight after division of a HeLa cell.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

31 May 2021 Collage showing injection needle, coronavirus and vaccine vials

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in England

Science & Technology The largest in-depth analysis of genomic surveillance data mapping out the dynamics of 62 lineages of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

2021

sciencescience-technology

25 May 2021 Microscope image of an engineered human blood vessel, featuring individual cells outlined in pink with blue nuclei.

Barriers against malaria

Science & Technology The Bernabeu Group aims to increase our knowledge of cerebral malaria, using in vitro engineered networks of human blood vessels and brain cells.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

21 May 2021 Image of a mosquito on a clear surface

EMBL scientists support malaria research

Science & Technology EMBL scientists support research on malaria by providing freely available data resources and using innovative experimental approaches. Our Course and Conference Office facilitates the exchange of knowledge in the field by hosting the annual BioMalPar conference.

2021

sciencescience-technology

20 May 2021 Male scientist in white coat is laboratory setting

Michael Zimmermann receives FEBS Anniversary Prize

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters The Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie has awarded a FEBS Anniversary Prize to Michael Zimmermann for his gut microbiome research.

2021

embl-announcementslab-matters

18 May 2021 Three bright red orange objects in shapes approximating circles with some protrusions are set against a black background.

Cellular fireball or immune cells?

Science & Technology The EMBL Picture of the Week features a series of Jurkat T cells during different stages of the activation process.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

17 May 2021 A selection of screenshots featuring participants at the Emerging Infectious Disease conference.

How can we prepare for future pandemics?

Connections Leading international experts gathered to showcase progress in the fight against COVID-19 and share lessons for the future.

2021

connectionsevents

10 May 2021 The image shows Inserm and EMBL logos and illustrates the memorandum of understanding signed between both institutions.

EMBL and Inserm to join forces

ConnectionsLab Matters A memorandum of understanding has been signed between EMBL and Inserm to strengthen their scientific cooperation.

2021

connectionslab-matters

5 May 2021 Woman sits at desk in office setting

After the lecture: Zehra Sayers

People & Perspectives Zehra Sayers explains what makes the SESAME synchrotron special, why we should not fear failure, and why curiosity is her biggest driver.

2021

alumnipeople-perspectives

28 April 2021 Artistic representation of brain and DNA

Uniting strengths to expand research

ConnectionsLab Matters The European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the Italian Institute of Technology have signed an agreement to expand the scope of their collaboration to include areas of mutual interest and in the context of EMBL’s 2022-2026 Programme “Molecules to Ecosystems”.

2021

connectionslab-matters

27 April 2021 Three irregular shapes, made up of green, blue, red and pink speckles, are set against a black background.

SARS-CoV-2 curtails immune response in the gut

Science & Technology EMBL scientists, together with collaborators from Heidelberg University, have provided further evidence of the gut’s role in COVID-19.

2021

sciencescience-technology

27 April 2021 Microscope image of liver cells, highlighted in various colours.

Painting liver cells

Science & Technology A page from a biologist’s colouring book? EMBL’s new interior wall design? Not quite – a bunch of liver cells, grown in the lab so that scientists can learn about fatty liver disease, or steatosis.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

26 April 2021 Portrait photo of Edith Heard, EMBL Director General

EMBL DG joins WHO Science Council

ConnectionsLab Matters Edith Heard has been appointed to a new World Health Organization advisory council.

2021

connectionslab-matters

20 April 2021 Black-and-white sphere with coronavirus spike protein structures and a two-layered ring of virus membrane superimposed.

Variations on a spike

Science & Technology What does coronavirus’s spike protein look like in 3D? EMBL scientists and colleagues used cryo-electron tomography and molecular dynamics simulations to find out.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

13 April 2021 Picture showing MD3, the micro-diffractometer developed by the Instrumentation team, installed at one of the EMBL Hamburg's beamline. Credits: Kinga Lubowiecka/EMBL

Structural biology at EMBL: driving technology development

Lab MattersScience & Technology Florent Cipriani, who recently retired as Head of the Instrumentation Team after a long career at EMBL Grenoble, is one of the pioneers of instrumentation development in this field.

2021

lab-mattersscience-technology

13 April 2021 EMBL Heidelberg's main building, the top of the façade lit up by sunlight.

Morning sun

Lab Matters Throwback to June 2014: While EMBL Heidelberg’s main entrance is still in the dark, the well-known EMBL logo is already lit by the morning sun.

2021

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

8 April 2021 Genetics of ageing

Linking genetics and age-related diseases

Science & Technology Researchers have used human medical and genetic data from UK Biobank to investigate the genetics of age-related diseases

2021

sciencescience-technology

7 April 2021 Man standing next to painting

Welcome: Matthew Hartley

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives The challenges and opportunities when setting up a global archive for bioimages

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

6 April 2021 A model of Glycine Transporter 1, which is located in the cell membrane. In its lower-middle part, it is bound by its inhibitor, which is a much smaller molecule. At its top, Glycine Transporter 1 is bound by a synthetic mini-antibody, called a sybody.

New perspectives for treating psychiatric disorders

Science & Technology Scientists have determined the structure of Glycine Transporter 1. The finding could open new avenues for developing therapeutics for psychiatric disorders

2021

sciencescience-technology

6 April 2021 Sea anemone polyp seen through a microscope, cell nuclei and muscles highlighted.

A multifunctional mouth

Science & Technology This image of a young Nematostella vectensis polyp shows two of the characteristic tentacles as well as the gaping mouth of the animal.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

30 March 2021 Ana Boskovic sitting in her office

Welcome: Ana Boskovic

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives The new group leader at EMBL Rome will study how embryos can inherit non-genetic information from their parents that causes stable and heritable effects

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

30 March 2021 A close-up photo of a shiny droplet of liquid that has been placed into one of the wells of a crystallisation plate.

Droplet beauty

Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL Hamburg use droplets of protein solution to grow protein crystals. By exposing the crystals to X-rays, they are able to determine the protein’s molecular structure.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

23 March 2021 Man pouring water in a glass bottle to make coffee.

Green coffee at EMBL

Lab Matters The cafeteria at EMBL Heidelberg now offers espresso and cappuccino with a more intense flavour and which are produced in a ‘green’ way.

2021

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

16 March 2021 Pink blooming tree in front of functional building.

Italian Spring

Lab Matters EMBL’s site in Monterotondo has recently been blessed with blue skies and sunshine, leading to trees blooming early on campus.

2021

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

11 March 2021 Man in black t-shirt and jeans wearing glasses sits in front of two computer screens.

From mRNA researcher to BioNTech manager

People & Perspectives EMBL alumnus Pawel Masiewicz has transferred skills and experience gained at EMBL to oversee starting materials for mRNA vaccine development.

2021

alumnipeople-perspectives

9 March 2021 Wolfgang Huber faces the camera smiling

Wolfgang Huber becomes ISCB Fellow

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters The contribution of EMBL Group Leader and Senior Scientist Wolfgang Huber has been recognised by the International Society for Computational Biology

2021

embl-announcementslab-matters

9 March 2021 This photo shows the European Photon and Neutron (EPN) science campus on the peninsula at the confluence of the Isère and Drac rivers, where EMBL Grenoble is located.

Touch of springtime in Grenoble

Lab Matters This photo shows the European Photon and Neutron (EPN) science campus where EMBL Grenoble is located. A delightful spring breeze in the air melts the last remaining patches of snow in the mountains.

2021

lab-matterspicture-of-the-week

8 March 2021 Head shot of female social scientist with blond curly hair and blue/grey eyes.

After the lecture: Tracey Brown

Lab Matters Tracey Brown from Sense about Science shares her thoughts on the need to empower women to share and access scientific information.

2021

lab-matters

8 March 2021 Two femail scientists facing each other in discussion.

EMBL prepares women postdocs for leadership

Lab Matters Members of EMBL’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee explain how EMBL is choosing to challenge through its LEAP mentoring programme.

2021

lab-matters

4 March 2021

Induced pluripotent stem cells reveal causes of disease

Science & Technology Scientists in the Stegle group and colleagues have studied induced pluripotent stem cells from around 1,000 donors to identify correlations between individual genetic variants and altered gene expression. They linked more than 4,000 of the genetic variants responsible for altered expression…

2021

sciencescience-technology

2 March 2021 Microscopy image of stem cells in bone marrow

New avenues for eradicating cancer

Science & Technology A new method has the potential to boost international research efforts to find drugs that eradicate cancer at its source.

2021

sciencescience-technology

2 March 2021

Sleeping beauty

Science & Technology Like caterpillars turning into beautiful butterflies, fruit fly larvae have to go through metamorphosis to finish their development. However, despite the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster being one of the best studied model organisms in biology, comparatively little attention has been given to this…

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

26 February 2021 Woman with long brown hair stands in front of snow scene with arms crossed in front of her.

Welcome: Sinem Saka

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives As one of EMBL’s newest group leaders, Sinem Saka will combine multiple technologies, such as microscopy and single-cell omics, to solve biological puzzles.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

23 February 2021 Two women's portraits are in circles on a greenish background

Reflecting on allyship as women in science

Lab Matters Being a woman in science takes allies, not just great science. Here, EMBL’s L’Oréal–UNESCO Fellows talk about support networks.

2021

lab-matters

23 February 2021 Greyscale image of a cell with its internal components visible

Seeing through a cell

Science & Technology Liang Xue used cryo-electron tomography to capture this detailed image of a Mycoplasma pneumoniae cell.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

22 February 2021

Feldberg Prize for Anne Ephrussi

EMBL AnnouncementsLab Matters Anne Ephrussi has been awarded the German Feldberg Prize 2022 in recognition of her outstanding research.

2021

embl-announcementslab-matters

22 February 2021 A scientist (only their hand is visible) inserting a 96-well plate into a sample dispensing device in the Sample Preparation and Characterisation Facility in Hamburg.

SPC Facility in Hamburg supports a new pan-European consortium

ConnectionsLab Matters The Sample Preparation and Characterisation (SPC) Facility at EMBL Hamburg is one of the founding members of the Molecular-Scale Biophysics Research Infrastructure (MOSBRI). Within this new European initiative, the SPC Facility will offer services related to membrane proteins, protein complexes,…

2021

connectionslab-matters

19 February 2021 New group leader Gautam Dey looks smiling towards the camera,

Welcome to EMBL: Gautam Dey

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives Gautam Dey is fascinated by the evolutionary origins of the nucleus, and is looking forward to making the most of EMBL's infrastructure.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

18 February 2021 Phages invading gut bacteria.

The thousands of viruses living in your gut

Science & Technology Scientists identify more than 140 000 virus species in the human gut; more than half have never been seen before

2021

sciencescience-technology

17 February 2021 Illustration of a pink capsule passing through a grey pore in a yellow membrane.

A new piece of the HIV infection puzzle explored

Science & Technology Researchers from EMBL and Heidelberg University Hospital combine high-resolution imaging to observe the infection process in cell nuclei, opening the door for new therapeutics.

2021

sciencescience-technology

16 February 2021 Microscopy images of coronavirus-infected cells in blue and red, arranged on a clockface. Illustrations of virus particles.

Finding coronavirus’s helper proteins

Science & Technology A team of EMBL scientists and colleagues have analysed how the novel coronavirus affects proteins in human cells. They identified several human proteins as potential drug targets to prevent viral replication.

2021

sciencescience-technology

16 February 2021 An assembly of proteins in an enzyme, presented in a cartoon style.

Cellular modern art

Science & Technology This week's Picture of the Week, which could also be a masterpiece of modern art, shows the enzyme RNA polymerase III, an assembly of 17 individual proteins combined into this complex structure.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

11 February 2021 Logos of EMBL and the EMBRC.

Understanding Earth’s oceans together

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL and EMBRC have signed a memorandum of understanding for increased scientific collaboration.

2021

connectionslab-matters

11 February 2021 Maria-Theresa Licka holding a smartphone displaying an app she developed. Vineyards, houses and hills in the background.

Coding between the vines

Lab Matters EMBL Teen Maria-Theresa Licka shares how female scientists guided & inspired her to develop an app to ID vine disease.

2021

lab-matters

9 February 2021 An artistic representation of how bioinformatics allows study of the SARS-CoV-2 infection process. On the left, coronaviruses are approaching a human face contour. On the right, protein structures and a network of connections represent bioinformatic analysis.

Protein sequences provide clues to how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells

Science & Technology Researchers at EMBL Heidelberg have identified sequences in human proteins that might be used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells. They have discovered that the virus might hijack certain cellular processes, and they discuss potentially relevant drugs for treating COVID-19.

2021

sciencescience-technology

9 February 2021 Roshni Mooneeram, EMBL Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, strikes the #ChooseToChallenge pose with her hand high, pledging to call out bias and actively question stereotypes.

Opinion: Allyship and Women in Science

Lab Matters Roshni Mooneeram discusses what Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is to her, and what the meaning of allyship is.

2021

lab-matters

9 February 2021 Crystal cubes seen through a microscope

Purity, beauty, and perfection

Science & Technology The regular structures of crystals are a source of inspiration and fascination to us humans. While the crystals in this picture were not grown in nature, but instead by Petra Drncova from EMBL Grenoble, they share the same attributes as those found in nature.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

8 February 2021 Illustration of a laboratory flask to the left of a microscope against an orange/grey background with a zoomed-in cut-out of the microscope view, which is colourful molecules.

A better look at a human RNA polymerase

Science & Technology New EMBL research shows where & to what degree a component of cellular machinery known as RNA Pol III is mutated and becomes problematic.

2021

sciencescience-technology

5 February 2021 Artistic representation of the structure of the three proteins forming Integrator’s catalytic core.

At the core of the Integrator complex

Science & Technology A new paper from the Galej group at EMBL Grenoble describes the structure of key parts of the Integrator complex, involved in gene expression.

2021

sciencescience-technology

2 February 2021 A bacterial cell with the parts needed for information flow from DNA to messenger RNA to protein highlighted in different colours.

The central dogma of molecular biology

Science & Technology This colourful image shows biological information flow in action: It’s a supramolecular assembly of DNA, RNA and proteins, observed directly inside a bacterial cell while turning genetic information into protein.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

29 January 2021 Flags of EMBL, Italy and CNR

Strengthening collaborations in Italy

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL and CNR have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen scientific cooperation. The agreement will foster collaborative projects and integrate them within the European and global scientific landscape.

2021

connectionslab-matters

27 January 2021 Nicoletta Petridou looks towards the camera smiling, whilst standing in a science laboratory

Welcome: Nicoletta Petridou

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives New group leader Nicoletta Petridou explains her fascination with the complexity of early embryo development, and how the interdisciplinary nature of EMBL will aid her research.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

26 January 2021 Two X-ray mirrors installed in the macromolecular crystallography beamline P14 at EMBL Hamburg. The mirrors are visible in the photo as dark rectangular crystal blocks, with two metal holders supporting the crystals in a stress-free position. The mirrors are inserted into a vacuum-compatible stainless steel vessel.

Mirror, mirror

Science & Technology Scientists at EMBL Hamburg use specially designed mirrors to reflect and focus X-ray beams onto tiny crystals made of proteins or other biological molecules.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

20 January 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage

Science & Technology A note on the coronavirus variant B.1.1.7, which has first been described in the U.K. and has spread to 57 countries. The note summarises epidemiological information about the spread of B.1.1.7 in the U.K. collated and in part conducted by researchers from EMBL-EBI.

2021

sciencescience-technology

20 January 2021 Logos of EMBL and the DKFZ

DKFZ and EMBL intensify cooperation

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL and the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg are increasing their already existing collaborations with a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.

2021

connectionslab-matters

19 January 2021 3D rendering of a human cell, attacked by a virus.

Cell under attack

Science & Technology It’s almost a year since the coronavirus outbreak was declared a pandemic, affecting all our lives. While the virus continues its grip on the world, scientists are understanding it better and better, increasing our knowledge about it and opening up new ways to fight it.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

18 January 2021 man wearing sweater and glasses stands in front of snow and glassy building

Welcome: Timo Zimmermann

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives The EMBL Imaging Centre is scheduled to open in 2021 with Timo Zimmermann as Team Leader for advanced light microscopy technology development and service provision.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

15 January 2021 young man with beard and mustache stands in front of window with blurry background

Welcome: Olivier Duss

Lab MattersPeople & Perspectives One of EMBL’s newest group leaders, Olivier Duss, will explore how RNA folds into functional structures and how it works with proteins to control a diverse range of activities in the cell.

2021

lab-matterspeople-perspectives

14 January 2021 An electron microscopy photo shows two bacterial cells surrounded by several white fibrils of the amphibian peptide.

Toadlet peptide transforms into a deadly weapon against bacteria

Science & Technology Researchers at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and EMBL Hamburg, in collaboration with scientists in Israel and Spain, have discovered remarkable molecular properties of an antimicrobial peptide from the skin of the Australian toadlet. The discovery could inspire the development of…

2021

sciencescience-technology

12 January 2021 Three images showing close-ups of different EMBL facilitites.

EMBL becomes newest Instruct Centre

ConnectionsLab Matters EMBL’s sites in Grenoble, Hamburg, and Heidelberg form the newest Instruct Centre. The new centre offers users access to a broad range of state-of-the-art facilities.

2021

connectionslab-matters

12 January 2021 A metallic tool.

Homage to a vital tool

Science & Technology Structural biologists want to study proteins at the atomic level. The device shown in this Picture of the Week is essential for this.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

5 January 2021 colourful abstract photo with brilliant yellow-green streaks interspersed with shiny pink yellow and blue dots randomly displayed in photo

It’s like a party in your brain

Science & Technology Fluorescent dyes light up a cellular community of neurons and brain immune cells (microglia), which were derived from stem cells.

2021

picture-of-the-weekscience-technology

4 January 2021 photo of white nodule that is a kefir grain sitting in front of a milk bottle with two inset images -- one looks like yellow and tan circles, and the other is animated versions of the kefir grains

In kefir, microbial teamwork makes the dream work

Science & Technology Researchers discovered the dominant species of bacteria in kefir grains cannot endure without other species that help the 'team' survive.

2021

sciencescience-technology

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