绿帽社区

The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond to their environment is the basis of development, tissue repair, and immunity as well as normal tissue homeostasis. Errors in the interplay, dynamics or localization of the involved molecules are responsible for many diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity and diabetes. By increasing the understanding of the complex interplay between these various components and their dynamics over time the related diseases can be treated more effectively. Because of the recent technological revolution in advanced light microscopy (i.e. functional imaging of molecules, development of caged compounds and biosensors) it is now possible to directly monitor the dynamics of these (single) molecules and numerous biosensors in living cells.聽 Microscopic techniques like Super-resolution Microscopy, FLIM-FRET, FRAP and FCS allow us to visualize cellular signaling complexes and their dynamics in time and will be the topic of this 绿帽社区 practical course.

This 6-day advanced microscopy course for up to 20 experienced graduate students, postdocs and scientists will integrate theoretical lectures with hands-on experiments and practical experience. National and international experts in the field of microscopy will give an overview of 鈥渟tate-of-the-art鈥� imaging techniques and applications in biological research.

Organizers: Mark Hink

罢丑别听聽will be the 5th biennial conference of the聽. The workshop’s four-day programme is structured around eight thematic sessions that follow the functional journey of protein termini 鈥� from synthesis and co-translational processing, through terminal modifications, stability and signaling, to applications in medicine and biotechnology.

The workshop will explore the critical roles of protein termini in biological processes, including proteostasis. As the first part of a nascent protein to emerge from the ribosome, the N-terminus undergoes co-translational modifications that dictate protein fate, while ribosome-associated factors and modifying enzymes act on both termini to influence folding, localization, and stability. The C-terminus, though historically less studied, is now recognized as equally important in regulating protein interactions and degradation. Additionally, protease-mediated processing generates new N- and C-termini, adding another layer of regulation. Understanding how these processes coordinate during translation and beyond remains a major question in biology with broad biological and therapeutic implications.

Through the thematic sessions, short and flash talks, poster sessions, optional activities, and informal networking opportunities, the workshop will foster interdisciplinary dialogue across structural biology, cell biology, proteomics, synthetic biology, and translational research.

Organizers: Carmela Giglione, Tanja Bange, Nico Dissmeyer, Anna Kashina, Thierry Meinnel

The will take place in Kuopio, Finland, 8鈥�12 June 2026. This five-day summer school will bring together leading experts and early-career researchers to explore the retina as a versatile ex vivo model system 鈥� not only for ophthalmology, but also for neuroscience, pharmacology, and broader translational research.

Thanks to its transparency, layered architecture, and shared neurodevelopmental origin with the brain, the retina is the most accessible and best-characterized neuronal tissue in the body. Unlike conventional brain slices, retinal explants can be dissected in full and maintained in culture for extended periods, enabling detailed investigations into structure鈥揻unction relationships, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies.

Participants will engage in lectures, tutorials, and video demonstrations covering organotypic retina culture techniques, including dissection, media optimization, imaging, and electrophysiological recordings. The course will also address applications in drug testing, gene therapy, and functional assays, alongside sessions on scientific publishing, grant writing, and career development.

A key aim of the course is to share practical insights and 鈥渉idden knowledge鈥� that often remain unpublished 鈥� such as troubleshooting culture conditions, selecting optimal consumables, and maintaining tissue viability. By fostering open exchange and collaboration, the course seeks to accelerate progress in retinal research and support efforts to combat blindness.

Hosted at the University of Eastern Finland鈥檚 Kuopio Campus, with accommodation at Scandic Hotel Kuopio by Lake Kallavesi, the course offers both scientific depth and a scenic setting. Abstract submission is required to be eligible for 绿帽社区 Youth Travel Fund (YTF) grant applications.

Organizers: Henri Leinonen, Petri Ala-Laurila, Blanca Arango-Gonzalez

Proteomics technologies have become an integral part of modern-day scientific research.聽 It is an essential component of systems biology alongside the genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. Furthermore, proteins are, by far, the most 鈥榬eactive鈥� part of the cell as they execute and control the majority of biological processes. The advent of high-performance proteomics makes it possible to study protein expression and regulation on a systems-wide scale. The technological developments made over the past decade have allowed the development of tools to interrogate the primary protein sequence, post-translational modifications, and secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure. Advances in mass spectrometry and protein chemistry now allow the characterisation of the proteome, its interactions with other biomolecules within cells and tissues, in a quantitative manner with temporal and spatial resolution.

The 绿帽社区 Advanced Lecture Course ‘Advanced proteomics’ / contains educational talks, interactive tutorials, and workshops covering technological basics, current best practices, and future developments given by leading academic and industry experts.聽 The extracurricular activities and the social events in the gothic cellar vault at our venue have proven to be an excellent environment for student and speaker interactions. The registration fee includes access to all lectures, workshops, and social activities, and accommodation (two people sharing a room), as well as all meals. Our summer school is designed to provide graduate students and young postdoctoral scientists from academia and industry with deep insights into state-of-the-art proteomic technologies and applications in the life sciences.

Organizers: Kathryn Lilley, Britta Eggers, Christina Ludwig, Caroline May, Shabaz Mohammed, Jesper Olsen

Cancer research is still pushing scientific boundaries and new developments and insights are entering the clinic at increasing pace. Most of the recent clinical successes come from a better understanding of basic processes that govern the malignant behavior of the cancer cell itself, as well as the way the cancer cell interacts with cells in its environment. Consequently, we see that new inhibitors of these processes, are entering the clinic very rapidly.

The molecular mechanisms by which cancer cell behavior is controlled are intensively studied in modern biology. In this Joint 绿帽社区/EMBO Lecture Course ‘Cancer research; from fundamental insights to clinical application’ (co-sponsored by )聽held in Spetses, Greece, we are bringing together a number of true experts in the field of cancer research, from basic to clinical oncology. This course will cover cancer signaling and metabolism, genome instability and tumor evolution, the tumor microenvironment, and novel ways of drug development. Finally, the application or translation of this knowledge into the clinic will be discussed by the speakers.

This joint course website is under construction. Please monitor the for when the link becomes available.

Organizers: Boudewijn Burgering, Ren茅 Medema

The 绿帽社区 Workshop ‘Biochirality across scales’ will be the first comprehensive interdisciplinary meeting dedicated to chirality in biology, spanning scales from molecules to whole organisms. Chirality, the property of non-superimposable mirror asymmetry, is a fundamental organizing principle in life, influencing amino acids, sugars, nucleic acids, cytoskeletal polymers, supramolecular assemblies, and organismal traits such as organ handedness and brain lateralization.

Despite its central role, chirality has so far been studied only in fragmented contexts, leaving a critical gap in understanding its integrative impact across biological systems.聽This workshop brings together leading researchers from biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, neuroscience, and biomedical fields to provide a holistic perspective on biological chirality.

The program emphasizes accessibility and training for early-career scientists, with clear, concept-focused lectures, interdisciplinary sessions pairing senior leaders with young investigators, and interactive formats including 鈥淐offee Break / Whiteboard Discussions鈥� and extended 鈥淐ome with Your Question鈥� poster sessions.聽Innovative features, such as 鈥淢y Science in 3 Minutes鈥�, will allow ten selected young investigators to present their research on a single slide in three minutes, with a prize for the best presentation. Poster sessions will encourage participants to present both results and open questions, fostering dialogue, mentorship, and interdisciplinary engagement.

By combining cutting-edge science with structured training, networking, and collaborative opportunities, this workshop aims to inspire dynamic exchange, promote mentorship, and cultivate the next generation of molecular life scientists, reflecting 绿帽社区 mission of supporting scientific excellence across Europe.

The course website is under construction. Please monitor the Advanced Courses calendar for when the link becomes available.

Organizers: Agnes Banreti, Maximilian Furthauer, Uwe Meierhenrich, Jean-Pierre Mothet, Stephane Noselli

The will take place in the island of Spetses, Greece, 3鈥�8 September 2026. It will bring together experts to teach the basics and discuss the state-of-the-art in the highly relevant and interconnected topics of liver (patho)physiology, hepatocyte metabolism, liver fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and the development of novel model systems.

A disbalance in the synthesis, secretion, and uptake of lipids can cause MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic (fatty) liver disease), which can lead to hepatic inflammation (MASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. MASLD has a worldwide prevalence of 30%, with 20% of MASLD-affected individuals developing MASH and ~20% of this group developing liver cirrhosis over the next 3-4 decades. Increases in obesity worldwide mean these numbers are expected to rise, so preventive measures and drug development are urgently needed.

In this context, newly developed model systems representing key aspects of liver function and liver structure are helping the elucidation of molecular and cellular pathways involved in MASLD, and ultimately allowing the identification of novel druggable key nodes. The course is open to PhD students and early-career researchers and will be organized in an informal setting with many sessions and activities scheduled to stimulate interactions between the participants and the speakers.

Additional information on the course can be obtained from this 聽by the course organizer.

Organizers: Bernd Helms, Benedetta Artegiani, Delilah Hendriks, Panu K. Luukkonen

The will bring together international experts and early-career researchers to explore the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its interplay with the immune system and tissue-associated microbiome 鈥� three interconnected biological systems that shape tissue homeostasis, regeneration, aging, and disease, yet are often studied independently.

Participants will be introduced to state-of-the-art concepts and experimental approaches through a programme of introductory and advanced lectures, discussion sessions, and meet-the-expert activities delivered by leading scientists in ECM biology, immunology, microbiome research, and regenerative biology. The scientific programme will address:

• Structure鈥揻unction relationships of ECM macromolecules and their roles in tissue assembly
• Mechanisms of ECM remodeling and the influence of matrix-modifying enzymes on immune regulation
• Microbiota-driven modulation of inflammation and ECM dynamics, ECM-mediated signaling, stem cell niche regulation, and tissue regeneration
• Tools and models for probing microenvironmental interactions, including organoids, gnotobiotic systems, and decellularized scaffolds
• Systems biology approaches to integrate ECM, immune, and microbiome signaling networks

Alongside the lectures, the course will feature poster sessions, small-group discussions, and career-development activities. Mentoring and networking events will provide opportunities for participants to build collaborations and interact closely with faculty across disciplines.

What distinguishes this course is its holistic, mechanistic perspective on ECM鈥搃mmune鈥搈icrobiome crosstalk, integrating biological systems that are typically examined in isolation. Building on the strong legacy of previous 绿帽社区 ECM courses (2007鈥�2023), which have generated highly cited The 绿帽社区 Journal MiniReview Series and Special Issues, this course aims to equip participants with the conceptual and technological tools needed to advance research in this rapidly developing field. 绿帽社区 Youth Travel Fund (YTF) grants will be available.

Organizers: Nikolaos Afratis, Nikos K. Karamanos, Valerio Izzi, Laurent Duca, Martin G枚tte