ISSUE 3 (NOVEMBER) 2014
40th FEBS Congress FEBS programmes: FEBS–EMBO 2014 FEBS publications FEBS community updates conference round-up news
Page 4 Page 8 Page 12 Page 26 Page 35
CONTENTS
Contents: Key upcoming dates for Preface 3 FEBS activities
FEBS Programmes: updates 40th FEBS Congress 40th FEBS Congress, Berlin, 2015 4 4–9 July 2015 FEBS Advanced Courses 8 Abstract submission deadline: 2 March 2015 FEBS Education Activities 11 Bursary application deadline: 2 March 2015 Early-bird registration deadline: 12 March 2015 FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference Round-up www.febs2015.org
The FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference 12 FEBS Awards 14 FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum FEBS Workshops and Events 17 2–4 July 2014 FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum 2014 22 Application deadline: 31 January 2015 bit.ly/YSF2015 FEBS Fellows Meeting 2014 24
FEBS 50th Anniversary Dinner 25 FEBS Advanced Courses
Applications for 2016 course funding: 1 March 2015 FEBS Publications Applications to participate in 2015 courses: see FEBS Publications at FEBS–EMBO 2014 26 individual course deadlines Digital Developments 28 www.febs.org/our-activities/advanced- Journal Highlights and Special Issues 33 courses/2015-advanced-courses
FEBS Community News FEBS – Biochemical Society FEBS-sponsored Lectures 35 Education Workshop Obituary 38 FEBS Education Workshop bursaries deadline: FEBS Council: Elections 39 1 December 2014 Abstract submission deadline: 26 January 2015 Scientific Events Calendar 40 www.febs.org/our-activities/education
Cover: Berlin, at the heart of the FEBS area, is the location for the 2015 FEBS Congress, hosted this time by the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Registration and abstract submission for the Congress have opened, and the event is introduced on pages 4–7 of this issue of FEBS News.
About FEBS News: FEBS News is published three times a year. An e-newsletter containing a link to FEBS News is sent to subscribers and to FEBS Constituent Societies whenever a new issue is out. This issue as well as all former issues of FEBS News are available online at www.febs.org. To subscribe, simply sign up to the e-newsletter in the News section of the FEBS website. Questions and suggestions about FEBS News should be sent to the FEBS News Editor, Carolyn Elliss ([email protected]).
FEBS website postings: FEBS offers free advertising of academic positions (PhD students, postdocs, etc.) in the Career Opportunities section of the website, and scientific events can be listed in our Conference Calendar. Selected postings may also be included in FEBS News, according to space available. In addition, Constituent Societies of FEBS are able to post news on the FEBS website; see the Our Members section.
Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS): www.febs.org. A charitable organization advancing research in the molecular life sciences across Europe and beyond A Company Limited by Guarantee (Number 08239097); A Registered Charity (Number 1149638); Registered in England and Wales; Registered office: 98 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DP, UK.
2 FEBS News November 2014
PREFACE
The year 2014 is close to its end, and having been the 50th year of FEBS’ presence on the global and European molecular life science scene, it called for celebrations. Prominent was the joint Anniversary Conference with EMBO, hosted by the French Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This has indeed been a uniquely successful meeting, bringing together around 2500 participants for an exceptionally stimulating scientific programme, all in the attractive and beautiful environment of Paris. The event was enhanced by several activities organized by FEBS Committees and Working Groups, ranging from special interest sessions to journal poster prizes to the satellite Young Scientists’ Forum and FEBS Fellows Meeting. In addition, a FEBS Anniversary Dinner brought together past and present FEBS Officers. We hope you enjoy the various reports on the event in this issue of FEBS News (pages 12–27). Other anniversary projects this year have included the FEBS Education Training Awards (see page 11), FEBS 50th Anniversary Virtual Issues, and two FEBS anniversary books looking at the development and activities of FEBS, as introduced in the previous issue of FEBS News. Do take a look at these if you have a few spare minutes – the figure caption below has more details and links. And now to the next 50 years... For 2015, we are looking forward to our 40th FEBS Congress, which takes place in Berlin in July. For an organization that has been particularly successful in bridging divides across West and East Europe in previous decades, the location seems very apt for the start of FEBS’ next era. Read about the Congress program on pages 4–7 of this issue. In addition, FEBS Advanced Courses on an exciting range of bioscience topics are planned for 2015 (pages 8–10), as well as inspiring education workshops (page 11). The development of our publications is illustrated in this issue too, with contributions from our publishing partners highlighting recent digital enhancements for articles published in our journals (pages 28–32).
Israel Pecht, FEBS Secretary General Images: 50th anniversary celebrations– FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference, FEBS Anniversary Dinner, FEBS 50th Anniversary Virtual Issues (FEBS Journal and FEBS Letters papers from the past five decades selected by FEBS Constituent Societies), and FEBS anniversary books. FEBS at 50 is an illustrated book edited by R.N. Perham and M. Purton that celebrates FEBS’ work over the past five decades, and will be published this month. Fifty Years of FEBS – A Memoir is a comprehensive e-book prepared by G. Dirheimer and H. Feldmann that documents FEBS’ structure, development and activities 1964–2013, and is already proving to be a very useful reference; it is available in pdf form from the FEBS website. 3 FEBS News November 2014
FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
The 40th FEBS Congress, Berlin, 2015
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
It is our great pleasure to invite you on behalf of the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) to the 40th Congress of The Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) to be held in Berlin in 2015. The FEBS Congress will take place from Saturday July 4th to Thursday July 9th, 2015, at the Estrel Convention Center in Berlin, Germany. With this joint congress, GBM and FEBS expect to bring together a wide range of researchers from all across Europe and further afield to explore ‘The Biochemical Basis of Life’. The congress takes place under the framework of the biennial GBM conference ‘GBM - Molecular Life Sciences’, and the joint event will cover the entire spectrum of molecular biosciences with symposia on ‘Mechanisms of Gene Expression’, ‘Membranes, Receptors & Bioenergetics’, ‘Structural Biology & Biophysics’, ‘Systems Biology, Bioinformatics & Theoretical Biology’, ‘Molecular Neuroscience’ and ‘From Chemical Biology to Molecular Medicine’. Plenary speakers include Nobel laureate Randy Schekman (Berkeley), Xiaowei Zhuang (Harvard), Jürgen Knoblich (IMBA, Vienna), Susan Lindquist (Whitehead Institute), Barbara Meyer (Berkeley), Sarah Teichmann (Cambridge), Alberto Kornblihtt (Buenos Aires), Nikolaus Pfanner (Freiburg) and Matthias Mann (MPI Martinsried). In addition, there will be sessions and plenary discussions, for example on the future of scientific publishing, women in science, science & society, careers and education – as well as the Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) immediately preceding the Congress to promote interactions between pre- and post-doctoral scientists. The preliminary program is available at www.febs2015.org, and registration and abstract submission are now possible via the Congress website. To support participation of young scientists, bursaries will be available (full details will soon be on the Congress website). We trust that the Congress will offer ample opportunities for fruitful discussions, as well as the possibility to initiate new friendships, collaborations and joint projects.
We are all looking forward to welcoming you in the vibrant city of Berlin in 2015! Volker Haucke, Scientific Organizer ● Roger S. Goody, President, GBM ● Israel Pecht, Secretary General, FEBS
Key Congress Dates
FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum application deadline: 31 January 2015 Abstract Submission deadline: 2 March 2015 FEBS Bursary Application deadline: 2 March 2015 Early Bird Registration deadline: 12 March 2015 Regular Registration deadline: 3 June 2015 FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum: 2–4 July 2015 40th FEBS Congress: 4–9 July 2015
4 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
The 40th FEBS Congress: scientific Confirmed Plenary Lecturers program (principal subject areas are given in parentheses)
An outstanding scientific program is being Jürgen Knoblich, Vienna, Austria (stem cells and developed by Volker Haucke (FMP, Berlin) and asymmetric cell division) colleagues of the scientific organizing committee for Alberto R. Kornblihtt, Buenos Aires, Argentina (regulation the 40th FEBS Congress. The opening lecture will of alternative pre-mRNA splicing ) be delivered by 2013 Nobel laureate Randy Susan Lindquist, Cambridge, USA (protein folding and Schekman (Berkeley), and further inspiration and misfolding) perhaps glimpses into fields beyond your own Matthias Mann, Munich, Germany (mass spectrometry- immediate research interests will be provided by based proteomics ) Barbara Meyer, Berkeley, USA (gene regulation in cell fate distinguished plenary speakers from a range of determination and dosage compensation) specialisms (see first box), some of whom will be Nikolaus Pfanner, Freiburg, Germany (mitochondria recipients of 2015 FEBS awards for excellence in biogenesis) research. In-depth discussion and the latest updates Randy Schekman, Berkeley, USA (intracellular transport of across the molecular life sciences will be provided proteins) by themed symposia sessions each day (see second Sarah Teichmann, Cambridge, UK (systems biology) box). The symposia speakers are currently being Xiaowei Zhuang, Cambridge, USA (single-molecule biology finalized, so do sign up on the Congress website for and bioimaging) e-alerts to keep up to date with news. A preliminary overview of the schedule can also be downloaded Symposia and Topics from the website. Mechanisms of Gene Expression With the goal of facilitating the highest quality of Chromatin structure and epigenetic modifications and academic interactions, the program will provide maintenance of the genome ● Turning signals into messages ample opportunity for participants to discuss – the complexity of gene regulation ● Translational control specific issues with experts as well as others with and protein turnover ● RNA processing and modifications ● Non-coding RNAs in gene regulation common research interests, and will also enable interdisciplinary networking. All participants are Membranes, Receptors & Bioenergetics encouraged to submit an abstract of their current Organelle dynamics and communication ● Autophagy and original work, from which some will be selected for degradation ● Redox-regulation of biological activities ● Cellular growth control – from the membrane to the oral presentation in the parallel symposia or in nucleus ● Lipid signaling and dynamics ‘speed talks’, and others will be displayed in the poster sessions that span the lunch period and Structural Biology & Biophysics afternoons. Speed talks are a new feature for this Mechanisms of membrane transport ● Channels and transporters ● Protein-mediated membrane deformation and Congress, to enhance engagement with poster penetration ● Monitoring protein conformational dynamics presentations. Modelled on ‘PechaKucha’ sessions and movement ● From subcellular to molecular resolution at GBM conferences, they will enable a large number of scientists to present their work in a series Systems Biology, Bioinformatics & Theoretical Biology Interspecies communication ● Molecular clocks ● of 4-minute talks, with time afterwards for Comprehensive models of metabolism and signalling ● participants to visit posters for further discussion. Functional networks regulating cellular stress responses Refreshments will be available near the poster areas and ageing ● Systems biology in stem cells to facilitate interactions, and exhibitor stands will Molecular Neuroscience also be showcasing products and services for Neuronal ion channels and their role in disease ● Mechanisms scientific research. of nervous system development and regeneration ● Beyond the core scientific program, over recent Degeneration and ageing of the nervous system ● years FEBS Congresses have developed valuable Molecular architecture and assembly of the synapse ● Control additional forums for discussion of topical issues of neuronal function by regulating protein homeostasis of wide interest within the molecular life sciences. From Chemical Biology to Molecular Medicine The 2015 Congress will be no exception, with Probing cellular function with small molecules ● Targeted several special sessions being planned – for cancer therapy ● Functional glycobiology – from example on education, science and society, the mechanism to disease ● RNA-based disease mechanism and future of scientific publishing, and women in therapy ● Signal transduction in tumor development, science. differentiation and immune escape 5 FEBS News November 2014
FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
Financial support schemes registration for the Congress also funded by FEBS. FEBS will be supporting participation of young Second, FEBS will be providing bursaries to cover scientists in the Congress in two ways. First, all the registration fee for a large number of additional scientists selected to participate in the pre-Congress PhD students and postdocs (who are under 35 years FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum (see page 7 for of age, have submitted an abstract to the conference more details) will have accommodation and as a first author, and are a member of a FEBS Constituent Society). In addition, GBM will be providing travel allowances to young GBM members to assist participation in the event. Full details of eligibility for these schemes for young scientists and how to apply will soon be on the Congress website; sign up for e-alerts in the meantime. FEBS will also be aiding participation of researchers who are members of FEBS Constituent Societies in Hinari B countries in the FEBS area (Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine) by funding a 50% reduction in early-bird registration fees; full details will soon be on the Congress Registration page.
The venue The Estrel Berlin is Europe’s largest convention, entertainment and hotel complex, and a top location for conferences, trade fairs and media events in the capital of Germany. The venue is well located in Berlin, and ideal for hosting the large lecture theatre audiences, parallel sessions and posters of a typical FEBS Congress. In addition to the convenient accommodation available at the Estrel itself, you can find a list of hotels for the Congress on the website that suit different budgets, and these can be reserved through the online registration process.
The city: welcome to Berlin! Germany’s capital provides an interesting and exciting backdrop for the Congress for the evenings and those wishing to extend their stay. Located at the heart of Europe, it represents a connection between East and West and offers a distinctive blend of history and culture. You can visit famous sights such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and Schloss Charlottenburg, walk (from top) The Brandenburg Gate, an 18th century neoclassical triumphal arch and one of the most well-known landmarks of Germany (© Berlin Partner / and shop along the famous Kurfürstendamm Scholvien); The Gendarmenmarkt, a beautiful architectural ensemble that and Unter den Linden, enjoy the colourful includes the French and the German cathedral as well as the Concert House multicultural scene in Kreuzberg or (© Berlin Partner / FTB-Werbefotografie); the dome of the Reichstag Building Prenzlauer Berg, or check out the city’s (featured on the Congress website), which offers spectacular views over Berlin (© Berlin Partner / FTB-Werbefotografie). vibrant nightlife by heading out to the 6 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
Hackescher Markt. Berlin is also a city of museums: in the About Berlin section of the Congress website, Germany’s largest cultural investment project, the and start to plan your visit! Berlin Museum Island, was completed in 2010, and the five museums there were added to the World Congress website: www.febs2015.org Cultural Heritage List. Read more on Berlin sights GBM: www.gbm-online.de
The FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) 2015 The 15th FEBS Young career development and FEBS activities (Profs Scientists’ Forum (YSF) Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada, László Fésüs and Jeff will take place in Berlin, Schatz) and tips on how to apply for postdoctoral Germany, from 2nd to 4th grants successfully (Dr Andrea Hutterer, EMBO of July 2015. Programs; Dr Alan Craig, EU Mobility Programs). The YSF 2015 is a ● A get-together party at the Mauersegler, an satellite meeting of the 40th exciting venue at the heart of Berlin close to the
FEBS Congress organized Mauerpark (Wall Park) by young scientists for The preliminary program is available at the YSF young scientists. During YSF 2015, participants will page of the FEBS Congress website. have the chance to meet and discuss their work with The YSF 2015 will be held at the Max Delbrück peers in a smaller group before moving on to the Communications Center (MDC.C), one of the most larger FEBS Congress. More than 100 outstanding modern Conference Centres in Berlin. The MDC.C young scientists are normally selected to take part in is located at the Research-Campus Berlin-Buch, a the YSF. FEBS provides financial support to the large science, health and biotechnology park in selected participants via YSF grants that cover North-East Berlin. YSF fellows will stay at the registration, accommodation and some travel Holiday Inn Hotel located in Berlin-Mitte, with expenses for both the YSF and FEBS Congress. To convenient public transport connections to both the learn more about YSF eligibility criteria, please visit YSF and FEBS Congress venues. From the Holiday the YSF section of the FEBS Congress website. To Inn Hotel, the YSF participants also have easy be considered, applicants must submit an abstract access to Berlin’s most famous sights such as the to the YSF 2015 as first author. The successful Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag and the Museum applicants will have their abstracts automatically Island, as well as to vibrant nightlife such as in the submitted to the 40th FEBS Congress. districts of Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg. The YSF 2015 Organizing Committee headed by The YSF 2015 organization committee is fully Dr Karine Santos (Freie Universität, Berlin) has dedicated to transforming the three intense days at assembled an exciting program including: the YSF into a great opportunity for friendship, co- ● Six symposia in which young scientists have the operation and interchange between PhD students opportunity to present their work and young postdocs. ● Three keynote lectures given by outstanding YSF 2015 Organizing Committee: scientists: Prof. Dr Hermona Soreq, Prof. Dr Ana Jan Wollenhaupt, David Yadin, Fabian Gerth, Claudia Pombo and an EMBO young investigator Gras, Olga Herdt, Karine Santos (Chair), Janine ● An interactive Round-table Session, which will Lützkendorf (order as in photo below, from left) include training in vital skills such as scientific Do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail: [email protected] manuscript writing (Dr Daniela Ruffell, FEBS Letters) and CV preparation (Dr Keith Elliott, FEBS Chair, FEBS Working Group on the Careers Education Committee), as well as information on of Young Scientists: Prof. Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada Key YSF dates
The online application process is now open!
Abstract submission deadline: 31 January 2015 Announcement of YSF Award winners: 2 March 2015
YSF: 2–4 July 2015
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FEBS Advanced Courses FEBS Advanced Courses provide focused meetings on established and emerging topics in the molecular life sciences, with an emphasis on training and education that is particularly valuable for early- career scientists or researchers moving into new areas. There are a variety of formats – including practical courses, workshops and lectures courses – but all encourage interaction between the experts and participants through structured activities as well as opportunities for informal exchanges. The settings for the courses are attractive locations across the FEBS area and they draw speakers and participants from many countries for truly international gatherings that can foster new contacts and collaborations. The following couple of pages provide summaries of the courses offered in 2015; also keep an eye on the Advanced Courses section of the FEBS website, where links to the website for each course will be added as these open. To help participation of postdoctoral scientists and PhD students in these events, FEBS Youth Travel Fund (YTF) grants are available for most 2015 courses. The sums set aside for such support by FEBS has increased from last year, and in 2015 IUBMB will also be providing some funds for young scientists travelling from outside the FEBS area. Further details will be available from the individual course websites or course organizers, and please also refer to the YTF page of the FEBS website. Working together with other organizations with similar goals to FEBS can enhance the quality of scientific programmes offered and maximize the use of resources. We are therefore pleased to have recently extended our agreement with EMBO for co-financing of the popular joint FEBS–EMBO Lecture Courses for the next five years, and to have also signed a new agreement with IUBMB that covers support for the transcontinental YTF awards as well as funding of IUBMB Lecturers at FEBS Advanced Courses. FEBS practical courses from summer 2014, at Nove Hrady, For senior scientists interested in organizing Czech Republic. (top two photos) ‘Advanced Methods in future FEBS Advanced Courses, detailed guidelines Macromolecular Crystallization VI’ (co-funded by INSTRUCT), about submitting an application can be found in organized by I. Smatanova and colleagues – second photo shows session on crystallization of membrane protein using the Advanced Courses section of the FEBS website. lipidic cubic phase under guidance of M. Caffrey; (bottom two Note that the application deadline for funding of photos) ‘Ligand-binding Theory and Practice’, organized by courses that will take place in 2016 is 1 March 2015. R. Ettrich and colleagues – participants are shown learning surface plasmon resonance measurements under guidance of
W.-F.Xue, and being awarded certificates by J. Carey and Beáta G. Vértessy R. Ettrich at the end of the course. Chair, FEBS Advanced Courses Committee 8 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
2015 FEBS Advanced Courses
FEBS Practical Courses FEBS Workshops
7th International Practical Course in Systems Plant Organellar Signalling Biology Primošten, Croatia Göteborg, Sweden September 16–20, 2015 June 1–12, 2015 www.plant-organellar-signaling.eu
Course summary: The '7th International Practical Course in Course summary: This workshop will address plant Systems Biology' fills a need for integrated hands-on organellar signalling at all levels of organismic training in experimental and theoretical systems biology. organization, ranging from single molecules to systemic The course will focus on dynamic systems such as signal responses to environmental factors such as light, abiotic transduction. It will undertake a complete round of data- stress or pathogens. It will bring together young supported modelling, simulation/prediction and researchers with experts from various fields who work at experimental verification using yeast as the experimental the forefront of organellar signalling. Intensive contact of system. The course will also contain a component on data young researchers with senior scientists will be enhanced by management and network approaches in systems biology. round-table discussions and accommodation at the same
Organizer: Stefan Hohmann; [email protected] hotel.
Application deadline: March 1, 2015 Organizer: Ute C. Vothknecht Application deadline: July 1, 2015 Advanced Imaging of Molecular Complexes Inside Living Cells Inflammation, The Bonfire From Within Amsterdam, Netherlands Rehovot, Israel June 8–12, 2015 November 22–24, 2015
Course summary: Molecular complexes play an important Course summary: Inflammation is the healthy response of role in cellular processes like transcription, receptor the organism to injury, but when unchecked causes signaling and cytoskeletal structure formation. Malfunction collateral damage and immunopathology. Understanding of the individual protein components and their interplay may the mechanisms that drive and curb inflammation is result in disease. Microscopic techniques can be used to mandatory for the design of therapies to acute chronic elucidate complex composition, organization and dynamics inflammatory disorders. Here we gather specialists on within the living cell. This practical advanced course aims to various myeloid and lymphoid immune cells, specific animal provide young scientists in this field with theoretical disease models, as well as cytokine networks to discuss their background and to give hands-on experience of state-of-the- recent findings and brainstorm about potential novel art microscopy techniques. therapies.
Organizer: T.W.J. Gadella, Jr; [email protected] Organizers: Idit Shachar, Steffen Jung; Application deadline: April 15, 2015 [email protected] Application deadline: July 30, 2015
FEBS Advanced Lecture Courses
Molecular Mechanisms of Host–Pathogen Interactions Advanced Summer School in Systems Medicine: and Virulence in Human Fungal Pathogens Implementation of Systems Medicine across Europe La Colle sur Loup, France Djurhamn, Sweden May 16–22, 2015 June 22–26, 2015 www.pasteur.fr/hfp2015 (opens November 2014) Course summary: This Summer School will offer training and
Course summary: The course has been designed to provide educational activities to the next generation of postdocs, students with both an overview of current knowledge and an clinicians and graduate students poised to become future update on the most recent advances in molecular research on leaders in Systems Medicine. Our primary objective is to fungal pathogens. Symposia topics include: genomics, identify and provide best in class inspirational scientific and evolution and epidemiology; molecular and cell biology of clinical demonstrations of research, tools and fungal pathogens; novel antifungal strategies; microbial implementations of Systems Medicine. To achieve this goal interactions; and host–pathogen interactions. Workshops all the lectures, tutorials and hands-on exercises will be held and poster sessions will provide participants with the by a distinguished faculty. opportunity to present their results. Organizers: Jesper Tegnér, Raffaella Giugliano, Pernilla Appelquist, David Gomez-Cabrero; E-mail: [email protected] Organizer: Christophe d’Enfert Application deadlines: YTFs, 1 March 2015; general Application deadline: February 1, 2015 registration and abstract submission, 15 March 2015
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FEBS Advanced Lecture Courses FEBS–EMBO Lecture Courses (continued) Mitochondria in Life, Death and Disease Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction and Crete, Greece Cancer (co-funded by EACR) October 12–16, 2015 (NB. New dates)
Spetses, Greece Course summary: This course provides a forum for graduate August 16–24, 2015 students and postdocs to discuss and hear from leaders in the mcr.umcutrecht.nl/upcoming-events/spetses-2015 field about recent advances and breakthroughs on different Course summary: This lecture course will be full of aspects of mitochondrial biology in a unified context. Themes discussions on the importance of targeting signaling include mitochondrial assembly, degradation, trafficking, pathways in cancer. Leaders in the fields will go back to dynamics, metabolism, signalling and dysfunction. The course basics but also bring you into the future of this timely topic. presents excellent opportunities for young scientists to Social interactions are an important aspect of the meeting. appreciate the exciting developments at the forefront of
Organizer: Johannes L. Bos mitochondrial research in a relaxed and stimulating Application deadline: April 1, 2015 environment.
Organizer: Kostas Tokatlidis; [email protected] Nuclear Receptor Signaling in Physiology and Disease Application deadline: July 1, 2015 Spetses, Greece August 23–28, 2015 Biomembranes: Molecular Architecture, Dynamics
Course summary: Nuclear receptors are crucial signal- and Function dependent transcription factors that control development, Cargèse, France physiology and disease by acting as sensors for small- June 15–25, 2015 molecule hormones, metabolites, nutrients, environmental Course summary: This course is an excellent platform and compounds and synthetic drugs. The field offers many opportunity for graduate students and young postdoctoral attractive examples of how basic research findings lead to scientists from academia and industry to acquire an successful pharmacological development and clinical integrated overview of the structure, function and biogenesis applications. Our course aims to provide young scientists of biological membranes and their components, to gain more with an integrated view on recent advances, through insight in the possibilities offered by different disciplines, and lectures from experts and an emphasis on student-based to discuss and learn about the multiple approaches, activities to stimulate scientific dialogue and create a techniques and specialties in membrane research. friendly and inspiring atmosphere. Organizer: Gerrit van Meer; [email protected] Organizer: Eckardt Treuter; [email protected] Application deadline: April 1, 2015 Application deadline: May 18, 2015 FEBS–BS Focused Meeting Immune System: Genes, Receptors and Regulation
Rabac, Croatia Signalling 2015: Cellular Functions of September 12–19, 2015 Phosphoinositides and Inositol Phosphates Course summary: The course covers the latest insights into Cambridge, UK; September 1–4, 2015 basic immunology as well as newly developing areas, www.biochemistry.org/Conferences/AllConferences/ including immune-metabolism, the roles of microbiota in tabid/379/ItemID/2519/view/Conference/Default.aspx immunity, and mouse genetic-based models of malignant transformation. Lectures and discussions will also offer insights Course summary: This meeting will bring together both into the cellular and molecular control of inflammation and world-leading and early-career scientists to discuss their HIV infection, the transcriptional control of lymphocyte latest research into the cellular functions of inositol development and effector functions, the origin and functions phospholipids and phosphates. Topics will include PI3K, PLC, of tissue-resident macrophages, single-cell immunology intracellular trafficking and inositol phosphates. This meeting using B cells as an example, epigenetic control of immunity, will commemorate the retirement of Professor Robin Irvine FRS. 2 and fate-mapping-based analysis of the immune system. Organizers: Phillip Hawkins, Len Stephens, Colin Taylor, Pete
Organizer: Hans-Reimer Rodewald; hr.rodewald@dkfz- Cullen; Abstract deadline: June 30, 2015 heidelberg.de Application deadline: July 1, 2015 into the structure–function relationship and therapeutic potential of ECM macromolecules, ECM-mediated tissue Matrix Pathobiology, Signaling and Molecular Targets organization in health and disease, ECM-mediated cell signaling Rhodes, Greece and behavior, methodological challenges in expression and September 24–29, 2015 determination of various macromolecules with biopharmaceutical www.febs-mpst2015.upatras.gr importance, and novel aspects of cell imaging.
Course summary: This Advanced Lecture Course is designed Organizer: Nikos K. Karamanos to provide PhD students, postdoctoral scientists, as well as Application deadlines: YTFs, 4 May 2015; academic and institute research fellows/seniors with insights general registration and abstract submission, 25 May 2015 10 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
FEBS Education Activities 2014 Events different FEBS country to study aspects of This year has seen the FEBS Education Committee bioscience education, with a view to promoting and arranging several events to share best practice and expanding education programmes in the home ideas with the overall aim of improving undergraduate country institution. We are pleased to announce and postgraduate molecular bioscience education. that the awardees are: Ines Heiland (Assoc. Prof. A Joint Symposium on ‘PhD Training in Clinical for Molecular Bioinformatics, Tromsø University, Chemistry, Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Norway), who will visit the University of Vienna, Medicine’, co-organized by the FEBS Education Faculty of Life Science, Department of Microbiological Committee, IFCC Education Committee and Ecology, to study integration of computational ORPHEUS in Istanbul, Turkey on 25th June during biology in biochemistry and molecular biology the WorldLab Congress (22–26 June, 2014), education; and Eva Margittai (Assoc. Prof., attracted more than 150 participants from all over Semmelweis University, Institute of Human the world. G. Güner Akdoğan (Chair, FEBS Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research, Education Committee) gave a global overview of Budapest, Hungary), who will visit the University of recent trends in PhD training; T. Zima (Rector of Siena, Department of Molecular and Developmental Charles University, Prague and a member of FEBS Medicine, Italy, to study the tuition of biotechnology. Education Committee) described PhD training in laboratory medicine as a connection to medical 2015 Education Workshops specialization; M. Ferrari (President-Elect of IFCC) For 2015, education workshops will take place in summarized postgraduate training in laboratory Cambridge, UK (30–31 March 2015), Sarajevo, Bosnia medicine in Europe, with a special emphasis on the and Herzegovina (3–4 September 2015) and Oslo, situation in Italy; and S. Wong (President Elect of Norway (18–19 September 2015), hosted by the AACC) talked about AACC’s ComACC Program of respective FEBS Constituent Societies. More details postgraduate education in laboratory medicine in are given on the FEBS Education webpage. the USA. The four talks were followed by a The upcoming Cambridge workshop ‘Enhancing stimulating discussion with the participants, focusing Molecular Bioscience Education’ is a joint activity on distinct differences between a PhD training and of FEBS and the Biochemical Society (UK). The a medical specialization, the former aiming at high- workshop, which will include lectures, quality research resulting in several papers in demonstrations, group discussion and poster esteemed journals. sessions, will focus on novel ideas and approaches A key activity of the FEBS Education Committee for bioscience educators, under the themes is the organization of workshops on molecular ‘Supervision, mentoring and personal development’, bioscience education upon request or in collaboration ‘Alternative methods of learning’, ‘Alternative with FEBS Constituent Societies. Such workshops modes of delivery’ and ‘Integrated bioscience were held this year in Debrecen (24–25 August 2014) teaching across backgrounds and abilities’. The with the Hungarian Biochemical Society and in abstract submission deadline is 26th January 2015. Belgrade (18–19 September 2014) with the Serbian Three ‘FEBS Education Workshop Young Biochemical Society. Reports will appear in the next Scientist / Young Lecturer Bursaries’ are available issue of FEBS News. The FEBS–EMBO 2014 to assist participation in this event from outside the conference also provided an excellent forum for UK. The application deadline for these is 1st lectures and discussion on educational issues (focusing December 2014. The bursaries cover the there on skills and knowledge requirements for registration fee, accommodation and meals, and degree programmes and on new technologies) as may contribute to travel costs. The candidates will well as a poster session – see pages 17–18 for details. be selected on merit, subject to the eligibility criteria set by FEBS. Full guidelines can be downloaded FEBS Education Training Award from the FEBS Education webpage. For its 50th anniversary year, FEBS invited I look forward to fruitful and enjoyable educational events, connecting us from all over Europe. applications for a FEBS Education Training Award (for the academic year 2014–2015) – to Gül Güner Akdoğan support a short-term visit to a host institute in a Chair, FEBS Education Committee 11 FEBS News November 2014
FEBS–EMBO 2014 CONFERENCE ROUND-UP
The FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference Paris, France
2014 will be marked by the stamp of innovation and appreciate this proximity. Mornings were devoted to celebrations among life science organizations. Concurrent Sessions while Plenary and Special Innovation because FEBS and EMBO united their Sessions were featured in the afternoons. Such efforts to organize for the first time a joint arrangements provided enough breaks – propitious Conference instead of the annual FEBS Congress to meeting and chatting with people, visiting and EMBO Meeting – which was an opportunity to exhibitor booths, checking emails or simply relaxing celebrate the 50th anniversary of both FEBS and in dedicated areas. EMBO. And for the host society for the event, The The Conference gathered 2459 participants French Society for Biochemistry and Molecular originating from 72 different countries. 2340 Biology (SFBBM), founded in 1914 by Maurice abstracts were submitted, 236 speakers were invited Nicloux, the Conference was a unique occasion to and 1985 posters were presented. The selected stay under the spotlight for six days and to receive themes and the outstanding speakers reflected the congratulations on its 100th anniversary. In the excellence of research in the life sciences. Only special SFBBM session ahead of the Conference’s some of the topics are highlighted here. official opening, Guy Dirheimer, a former president The opening lectures were given by Catherine of SFBBM, and also a former Chair and Secretary Dulac of Harvard University, and Svante Pääbo of General of FEBS, gave an interesting and amusing the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary historical perspective of the French Society. Anthropology in Leipzig. Catherine Dulac delivered The Conference was held at the Palais des a wonderful talk on the molecular architectures of Congrès in Paris, an easily reachable and convenient neural circuits controlling mouse behavior. We also venue with many facilities on the spot. Of note learnt a lot from the comprehensive lecture of were the perfect conditions for listening, visibility Svante Pääbo on human evolution and the genetic and comfort in the Lecture Halls or Rooms, all contributions of Neanderthal to present-day human located on the same floor. The poster area was genomes. The Plenary Sessions covered spacious enough to enable discussions without bioinformatics, genomics, epigenetics, immunology, being squeezed, and close to exhibitors who always cell biology and systems biology. Thirty-three
Grand Auditorium, Palais des Congrès: participants at opening lectures of FEBS–EMBO 2014. 12 FEBS News November 2014
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The opening of FEBS–EMBO 2014. (top, from left) Maria Leptin, EMBO Director (speaking), then William Whelan (FEBS Secretary General 1965– 1967), Frédéric Dardel (SFBBM President), Marie-Christine Lemardeley (Deputy-Mayor of Paris) and Israel Pecht (FEBS Secretary General); (far left) Opening lecture 1: Catherine Dulac (’Molecular and neural architecture of social behaviour circuits in the mouse’); (left) Opening lecture 2: Svante Pääbo (‘A Neandertal perspective on human origins’). concurrent sessions included almost all domains in At the banquet dinner, attendees could enjoy a molecular life sciences, including cutting-edge fields cruise on the River Seine, which provided a special such as synthetic biology, optogenetics and the link opportunity to take time to admire the magnificent between cilia and diseases. Interestingly, the and world-famous monuments of Paris, from a program also integrated talks on societal aspects – different perspective. for example by Thomas Stocker who described The actual Conference was preceded by the climate changes with convincing statistics, and Curt FEBS Young Scientist’s Forum, which hosted 115 Rice who discussed how implicit bias holds women young scientists, and a FEBS Fellows Meeting (see back in their careers. pages 22–25). As they later attended the The Science and Society ‘round-table’ on new Conference, it was for them a unique occasion to trends in science policy in Europe led to interesting listen to and meet world scientific leaders; as a exchanges of ideas between the audience and the matter of fact, one of the speakers, May-Britt organizers (see pages 18–19). As one of the goals Moser, has just been awarded the Nobel Prize of FEBS is to support education, there were two 2014 in Physiology or Medicine. During the FEBS Education sessions: one on skills and Conference, it was very encouraging to see the high knowledge required in molecular life science number of young scientists participating; this education, and the second one on new technologies observation deserves to be underlined because it is available to teach molecular life sciences (see page not often the case that the young generation attends 17). These are timely issues for life sciences conferences on general topics. It is a good sign that professors, taking into account the gradual they wished to widen their scientific knowledge in disinterest of students towards the classical ways of fields differing from their own interest. FEBS, teaching. Both sessions attracted a compact EMBO and the SFBBM supported part of the audience. During the second session, attendees were expenses of about 240 young scientists by providing able to try out the use of ‘clickers’ in lectures that bursaries. are now being routinely used in an increasing The 2014 FEBS–EMBO Conference was a number of universities. remarkable scientific success in terms of both the
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brilliant talks and the extent of the knowledge that was delivered, and also the networking possibilities that very likely arose. The success is due to the quality of the science and the number of attendees but also a result of the efforts of all those who worked hard for more than two years to develop the program and the logistics, whom we must thank. We really express the wish for the first joint FEBS– EMBO Conference to be followed by many others.
Volunteers at the closing session with Frédéric Dardel: these Master’s students from various universities in Paris gave their time to assist Alain Krol with several conference tasks – from filling delegate bags to holding Member of the local organizing committee microphones for audience questions in lecture halls. Secretary General of SFBBM
FEBS Anniversary Prizes (Paris, 2014) FEBS Anniversary Prize recipients are selected for their outstanding achievements in biochemistry, molecular biology or related areas from among researchers under the age of 40 who are invited to give a lecture at a FEBS Congress. The awardees from the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference were Dr Akhilesh B. Reddy (Dept of Clinical Neurosciences and Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, UK) and Prof. Rotem Sorek (Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel).
Akhilesh B. Reddy did his MD/PhD at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK. He started his own laboratory in 2008 with a Wellcome Trust Clinician Scientist Fellowship, and currently holds a Wellcome Senior Fellowship in Clinical Sciences at the University of Cambridge. His group recently discovered a new mechanism by which cells keep time: although previous models of clock function had assumed a genetic switching mechanism was involved, they showed that, remarkably, even when cells do not have DNA to ‘instruct’ them what to do, they can still maintain an autonomous ticking clock. This work has opened up many avenues of research into how these ‘non-transcriptional’ metabolic redox oscillations arise. In particular, the Reddy lab recently showed that oscillations of Peroxiredoxin proteins are an evolutionarily conserved ‘readout’ of clocks in all domains of life (Bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryotes), implying that redox oscillations are a fundamental unifying feature of cellular timekeeping. At FEBS–EMBO 2014, Dr Reddy presented recent data connecting the recently discovered non-transcriptional oscillations with transcriptional oscillations in mammalian systems and in the fruit fly. Rotem Sorek conducted his PhD studies at Tel Aviv University of Israel, and carried out post- doctoral work at The Lawrence Berkeley labs, Berkeley, USA. He is currently an Associate Professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science. His research focuses on microbial genomics, and specifically on phage–bacteria interactions and RNA-mediated regulation. His recent studies revealed that the CRISPR phage-defence system can make ‘mistakes’, leading to CRISPR- mediated ‘autoimmunity’ in bacteria, and also showed how CRISPRs can be used to identify new bacteriophages targeting the human gut microbiome. The Sorek team also developed approaches for computational discovery of genes that are toxic to bacteria, revealing thousands of such toxic genes in hundreds of bacterial genomes, some of which confer resistance against phages. At FEBS–EMBO 2014, Prof. Sorek presented a new experimental technique for discovery of regulated transcriptional termination events in bacteria in a genome-wide manner, using advanced RNA-seq methods. FEBS Anniversary Prizes of the Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM) were initiated for the 10th anniversary of FEBS by capital gifts from Boehringer Mannheim GmbH and Eppendorf AG, and are awarded for outstanding achievements in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology, or related sciences. The prizewinners are selected by FEBS and GBM from among researchers under the age of 40 who are invited to give a lecture at one of the symposia or workshops held during a FEBS Congress. The award is a sum of €2,000. 14 FEBS News November 2014
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FEBS Medal Winners (Paris, 2014) The Sir Hans Krebs Medal, the Datta Medal and the Theodor Bücher Medal are awarded annually by FEBS for outstanding achievements in biochemistry, molecular biology or related areas. The awardees were honoured at the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference in Paris, where they each delivered a plenary lecture. This year’s medals were awarded to: Michael N. Hall, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland (Sir Hans Krebs Medal); Nicole M. Le Douarin, France (Datta Medal); and Arthur Konnerth, Technical University Munich, Germany (Theodor Bücher Medal).
Michael N. Hall was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in South America (Venezuela and Peru). He received his PhD from Harvard University and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, France and the University of California, San Francisco. He joined the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland in 1987 where he is currently Professor and former Chair of Biochemistry. Dr Hall is a pioneer in the fields of TOR signaling and cell growth control. He discovered TOR (Target of Rapamycin) in the early 1990s and subsequently elucidated its role as a central controller of cell growth and metabolism. TOR is a conserved, nutrient- and insulin-activated protein kinase. The discovery of TOR led to a fundamental change in how one thinks of cell growth. It is not a spontaneous process that just happens when building blocks (nutrients) are available, but rather a highly regulated, plastic process controlled by TOR-dependent signaling pathways. As a central controller of cell growth and metabolism, TOR plays a key role in development and aging, and is implicated in disorders such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Dr Hall is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, has received numerous awards – including the Cloëtta Prize for Biomedical Research, the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine, the Marcel Benoist Prize for Sciences or Humanities, and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences – and has served on several editorial and scientific advisory boards. He and his wife Sabine (née Carrère) live in Basel with their daughters Zoé and Léa. Plenary lecture: mTOR signaling in growth and metabolism The Sir Hans Krebs Lecture and Medal was endowed by a generous gift from the Lord Rank Centre for Research and is awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related sciences.
Nicole M. Le Douarin started her career as a high-school teacher before securing a position at CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Nogent-sur-Marne, France in 1960 to work towards her PhD under the sponsorship of Prof. Etienne Wolff. She became Professor at the Faculté des Sciences of Nantes in 1971, and then Director of the Institut d'Embryologie du Collège de France et du CNRS at Nogent-sur-Marne in 1975. From 1988 to her retirement in 2000, she was Professor at the Collège de France in the Chair of ‘Embryologie cellulaire et moléculaire’. She continues to do research at the Institut de la Vision in Paris. Prof. Le Douarin devised a cell-marking technique applicable to the avian embryo by constructing chimeric embryos in ovo between two avian species whose cells could be distinguished by the structure of their interphase nucleus. Several years of work using this technique revealed the neural crest to be a discrete group of embryonic cells endowed with remarkable migratory and invasive properties, and to play a major and unsuspected role in the development and evolution of vertebrates. The neural crest is at the origin of the construction of most of the vertebrate head, and was recently revealed by her lab to exert a strong influence on the development of the brain. In vitro studies have shown that, when they start migrating, most neural crest cells are multipotent with self-renewal capacities and can therefore be considered stem cells. Plenary lecture: The Neural Crest, a source of stem cells; its role in the development and evolution of vertebrates The Datta Lectureship Award is provided by generous capital gifts from Elsevier Science Publishers and is awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology or a related area. S. Prakash Datta was the first Managing Editor of FEBS Letters (1968–1985) and Treasurer of FEBS (1964–1990). The Datta Medal is awarded in recognition of his many contributions. 15 FEBS News November 2014
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Arthur Konnerth obtained an MD at the Ludwig-Maximilians University (LMU) Munich, and after postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania and the Marine Biological Laboratory Woods Hole in the USA, he returned to Germany to join the lab of Bert Sakmann at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen. Together with his colleagues he developed in this period the method of patch-clamp recordings from neurons in brain slices, and he later focused on synaptic function and plasticity in central neurons. Positions as Chair of Physiology followed, first at Saarland University, and then at both the Technical University (TU) and LMU Munich. He has been at the Institute of Neuroscience at the TU Munich since 2005, where he is currently the Friedrich Schiedel Chair and Director. Prof. Konnerth’s current research is concentrated on a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain function in health and disease. His lab studies different types of neurons and circuits in the cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus, and uses a variety of techniques, including electrophysiology, molecular biology, optogenetics, behavioral analyses and high-resolution optical imaging. A major focus of the work is directed towards an exploration of behavior-determined synaptic signaling and dendritic integration in neurons of defined circuits in vivo. Another focus is the exploration of the mechanisms underlying neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. He and his team pioneered in vivo two-photon imaging of cortical circuits with single-cell resolution. More recently, they developed the LOTOS method of high-resolution two-photon imaging and used it for the first functional mapping of dendritic spines in vivo. Prof. Konnerth is a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Academia Europaea and the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and has received several awards, including the Max Planck Research Award, the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Award, the Adolf Fick Award, the Feldberg Award and an ERC Advanced Grant. Congress plenary lecture: Neuronal circuit dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease The Theodor Bücher Lecture and Medal is endowed by a generous capital gift from Frau Ingrid Bücher to the Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM) and is awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related sciences.
FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award 2014 The FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award, a joint initiative of FEBS and EMBO, recognizes the exceptional achievements of a female researcher in the life sciences. The 2014 award was presented at the FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference in Paris to Pascale Cossart (Institut Pasteur, Paris, France).
Pascale Cossart studied chemistry at the Université Lille, France and completed a Master of Science degree in Chemistry at Georgetown University in the USA in 1971. She obtained her PhD in biochemistry from the University of Paris in 1977 and pursued a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institut Pasteur. She is currently Professor and Head of the Unité des Interactions Bactéries Cellules at the Institut Pasteur. After early molecular biology work on E. coli, Prof. Cossart focused from the mid1980s on Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium responsible for food-borne infections and chosen as a model to study intracellular parasitism. Using a range of innovative approaches, her work identified a series of virulence factors, including ActA, which, together with Arp2/3, mediates actin-based motility, and the two major invasion proteins internalin and InlB, which trigger actin rearrangements upon bacterial entry into cells. She also uncovered thermoregulation of expression of virulence genes via an RNA thermosensor, as well as unsuspected post-translational modifications, chromatin remodelling and a transient mitochondrial fission in the host. Together these findings have helped to generate new general concepts in infection biology. Pascale Cossart has received numerous prizes, including the Richard Lounsberry Prize, the L’Oréal/UNESCO Award for Women in Science, the Robert Koch Prize, the Louis Jeantet Prize for Medicine and the Balzan Prize for infectious diseases. She is a member of the French Academy of Sciences, the German Leopoldina, the American National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society (UK). She is a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant awardee. Congress plenary lecture: A trip into the "New Microbiology" with the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes The FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award rewards the exceptional achievements of a female researcher in the life sciences over the previous five years. Winners of the award are role models who inspire future generations of women in science. The award is a statuette and a sum of €10,000. 16 FEBS News November 2014
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FEBS Workshops and Events at FEBS–EMBO 2014
Education Workshop I: What skills and The second talk, by Jean-Luc Souciet (Université knowledge are required to improve molecular de Strasbourg, France) presented the results from a life science education? (2 September) recent survey undertaken across several French universities to look at what is taught in biochemistry This session was chaired by Gül Güner Akdoğan degrees. The survey identified many of the skills and and Frank Michelangeli of the FEBS Education subject-specific knowledge mentioned earlier, but Committee. The first talk, by Frank (Birmingham also highlighted that ethical issues relating to University, UK), highlighted the findings from bioscience such as food safety and animal welfare several recent reports on education and graduate- should also be embedded within biochemistry level employability skills by major multinational degree programmes. employers and pharmaceutical industries. These The talks were followed by a ‘small’ group findings appear to highlight that these employers discussion session where more than 100 participants are concerned by lack of a number of skills that they contributed to discussions regarding what constituted would require of their graduate employees. The competent practical skills, transferable skills and areas of concern included lack of practical abilities essential molecular bioscience knowledge. In addition, as well as detailed subject-specific knowledge, and some participants contributed ideas regarding how more importantly transferable skills, such as careers, employability skills and bioethics could be numeracy, communication skills, team working and incorporated into molecular bioscience undergraduate problem-solving skills. To address this lack of skills degree programmes. The main points raised from and knowledge, Frank described how in the UK a these discussions will be published on the FEBS number of learned societies with input from these Education Platform, http://edu.febs.unibe.ch. employers were involved in defining key criteria that should be incorporated within degree programmes Frank Michelangeli through accreditation processes. FEBS Education Committee
Education Workshop II. New technologies available to teach molecular life sciences (3 September)
The FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference was a perfect opportunity to promote and to compare innovative ideas and teaching experiences for the best training of our undergraduate students. This workshop was organized to present in real time an interactive teaching strategy: ‘peer instructions using clickers’ (as defined by Eric Mazur and Turning Technologies). Each workshop participant received a clicker (from left) The speakers: Neil Morris, Michael Caspersen (courtesy of Turning Technologies) – a small and Quentin Vicens. handheld voting device – to simulate the experience of a student attending a lecture using this teaching The second speaker, Michael Caspersen strategy. The first speaker, Quentin Vicens (University of Aarhus, Denmark), reported (Université de Strasbourg, France), presented the quantitatively how efficient this method is to general strategy: (1) a biological problem is set; (2) improve student results and the main gains: the the right answer, with four possible choices, is concepts developed during the lecture are requested using clickers; (3) the results of the understood; the curiosity of students is stimulated; survey (but not the right answer) is shown, initiating and with this feedback the teacher is immediately discussions between opposite proposals; and (4) informed about what is understood or not. step 2 is now repeated, with the correct answer. The third speaker, Neil Morris (Leeds University, This elegant demonstration was very well received. UK), presented the projects and results related to
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Blended and Digital Learning conducted at Leeds comments and advice from the participants, University, encompassing the use of tablet including many young graduates. computers and e-Books, and the integration of video lectures, podcasts and mobile technology. It Jean-Luc Souciet was a fruitful workshop that raised numerous Université de Strasbourg and SFBBM Education Committee
Education Poster Session A. Sepici Dincel, Y. Ozkan, M. Selvi and F. Erkoc, from Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. Sixteen posters were displayed at FEBS–EMBO The winners received a plaquette, certificates and 2014 in the category of Education, Training, and one free registration for the 40th FEBS Congress in Career Planning in Molecular Life Sciences. The Berlin. The education poster prize received a lot of best poster, as selected by a jury formed of the interest from participants and we hope to continue members of FEBS Education Committee, was it next year. ‘Multidisciplinary biochemistry laboratory Gül Güner Akdoğan education; student centered real learning process’ by Chair, FEBS Education Committee
Science and Society Round-table: 50 institutions, whereas the remaining 50% went to ‘New trends in science policy in Europe’ 550 institutions. Also, of relevance to the gender (3 September) imbalance issues in the previous paragraph, among the scientists reaching the second stage of ERC Panel: Gottfried (Jeff) Schatz, Basel (Moderator; evaluation, female researchers statistically have better former Secretary General of EMBO), Helga Nowotny, chances of obtaining a grant in physics/engineering, Vienna (former ERC President) and Daniel Louvard, equal chances in social sciences, but worst chances Paris (Director of Research, Institut Curie, Paris) in life sciences. However, the ERC is only
encouraging excellence and is strictly against quotas. Jeff Schatz opened the discussion by asking the In many universities, a number of new good question: ‘What has been slowing down scientific researchers were identified thanks to an ERC grant, research in Europe?’ Helga Nowotny and Daniel but often, when only one scientist receives a grant, Louvard brought their experiences into the he/she leaves the university to seek a better discussion. Several factors were mentioned by the environment, as the international competition panel and audience, such as cuts in research between institutions to attract good researchers is budgets, lack of continuity in the training of young very strong. scientists in the life sciences, decrease in the job Universities should encourage their scientists to opportunities available to young scientists, pressure look for excellence, but having a heavy teaching on young scientists, and criteria used for research load often limits the possibility of doing good evaluation (too much emphasis on publications in science. A solution to this problem might be to journals that have a high impact factor). employ staff who have a background in research but Another issue was discussed in this context – now specialise in teaching. namely, the gender imbalance: a smaller proportion The question of performance indicators was raised of women is found among university professors and and the validity of some of the indicators frequently among research grants awardees (from the ERC, for used when scientists are being considered for hiring instance). To improve the situation, several measures or promotion (for instance the journal impact could be considered, such as raising awareness in factors) was questioned, as discussed in the San universities and granting agencies, taking into Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment account responsibilities outside of work and creating (DORA). Other criteria should be used to evaluate daycare centres for children (as it is difficult to do the qualities and achievements of scientists. Concerns research part-time). about the journal peer review process and the That all universities have an equal value is fiction, quality of peer reviewers were also raised. The as shown for instance by the fact that a large evaluation of the quality of research and education proportion of ERC grants go to a relatively small through university rankings should only be considered number of universities: 50% of the grants went to as providing some information, but not as a way to
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The panel: (from left) Daniel Louvard, Jeff Schatz and Helga Nowotny. quantify research activity. The existence of A survey of young scientists has shown that they misconduct and fraud, leading to an increasing might consider returning to their home country if number of article retractions, is considered worrying. they can get good working conditions. But in some The age of ‘Big Science’, which appeared after European countries outside the EU, there is a World War II with the development of large shortage of young scientists, so that the universities institutes in physics, is now also being discussed in will face an inverse pyramid with many full the life sciences. ‘Big Data’ is becoming a problem professors and too few young scientists. and raises a number of issues, including ethical ones A large number of people attended this round- – for instance the re-use of data (property rights), table event, many participated in the discussions, and particularly with the flood of data provided by the there was a consensus, as judged by the comments biomedical field. Whereas most research projects received, that it was a very interesting and were hypothesis-driven, they are now often more stimulating session. It was proposed that the applied and directed towards the benefit of patients. remarks and suggestions made during the session be The surplus of PhD degrees awarded was also brought by the participants to the attention of the discussed. Only a very small percentage (0.45%) in relevant bodies (committees, universities, agencies, STEM fields (academic disciplines of science, etc.) so that they can be further discussed and that, technology, engineering and mathematics) will some of them at least, can be taken into become full professors, while the majority consideration and implemented. immediately leaves research. Brain drain is a Jacques-Henry Weil problem, especially for some European countries. Chair, FEBS Science and Society Committee
Science and Society Session: Safety and agents and to threats to agriculture and food supply. security in the biological sciences (31 August) While nobody questions the need to prevent harm to human health, other protection goals might be less obvious and require explicit definition in order This session of four lectures addressed topical to be operational. Stating that no harm to biosafety and related issues in the biological sciences biodiversity should occur might be a valid policy, relevant both inside and outside the laboratory, but the translation in operational terms may pose from the perspective of diverse fields of research. scientific challenges. The debate on the introduction Patrick Rüdelsheim (PERSEUS, Zwijnaarde, of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) Belgium) set the scene by considering some general illustrates that without fixed protection goals, it is biosafety concepts. He defined biosafety as the impossible to identify the hazards of the material condition of being protected against harm potentially and analyse the risks of an activity. caused by biological entities (or parts thereof). The Concerning risk assessment, the latest developments scope of Biosafety can be extended to Biosecurity, aim to integrate biosafety in management systems, which refers to the improper use of biological together with quality management, security and 19 FEBS News November 2014
FEBS–EMBO 2014 CONFERENCE ROUND-UP health, safety and environmental aspects. Despite Safety and security in the biological sciences: these efforts, the main challenge remains dealing institutional and individual responsibility with perceived safety, which has a major impact on Biosafety: all for one; one for all acceptance by society. Patrick Rüdelsheim, BE
In the second talk, Elisabeth Waigmann, from the The role of the European Food Safety Authority in the risk European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), described assessment of GMOs the role of the EFSA in risk assessment of GMOs. Elizabeth Waigmann, EFSA, EU
GMOs and derived food/feed products are subject to Food and biofuels from large-scale algae mass cultures: risk assessment and regulatory approval before they opportunities and challenges can enter the market of the EU. EFSA independently Mario Tredici, IT assesses any possible risks that GMOs might pose to Responsible design in synthetic biology human and animal health and to the environment, Jane Calvert, UK and provides scientific advice to risk managers. EFSA scientific advice is elaborated by its GMO Co-organized by the FEBS Science and Society Committee and EMBO Science Policy Programme Panel with the support of working groups and EFSA’s GMO Unit staff scientists, and in collaboration with EU member states. It focuses on However, it is difficult to compensate for the higher the risk assessment of applications for market costs of the photobioreactors, although new low- authorization of GM plants, the elaboration of cost designs are emerging. guidance documents and support to risk managers To obtain a positive energy return, the inputs for in post-market environmental monitoring. Other algae cultivation must be drastically reduced, but areas of activity include new plant breeding without negatively impacting the performance of the techniques and guidance on risk assessment of GM culture. So far no company seems to possess a animals. Dr Waigmann also presented an overview mature technology able to compete with fossil fuels, of the regulatory framework, the scientific principles but algae production also generates by-products underlying the risk assessment and the recent work (such as proteins), and this needs to be considered. of the GMO Panel and the GMO Unit. The industry is growing and it seems today that full Next, Mario Tredici, (University of Florence, Italy) commercialization will soon be possible. talked about the use of large-scale algae mass culture Finally, Jane Calvert (University of Edinburgh, for food and biofuels. Microalgae present several UK) discussed responsible design in synthetic advantages over plants as sources of food and biology. The goal of synthetic biology is to rationally biofuels: they can be grown on arid land unsuitable design biological systems, and this opens up many for agriculture, do not require pesticides, depend questions, such as the purpose of the design, less on seasonal variations, can accumulate large whether it is well designed or not, and who is it amounts of proteins, oils and sugars, and also designed for. Clearly design technology and society synthesize valuable molecules such as vitamins, are closely interconnected. pigments and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In Europe we are witnessing the rise of the notion However, although it was initially assumed that of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and algae could provide 100 times as much biomass per Dr Calvert asked how ideas from RRI can help hectare than traditional crops, in fact productivity of societal considerations become integrated into algal cultures is not much higher than that of C4 synthetic biology design practices, and what plants, so that industrial exploitation is limited. responsible design might look like. Her presentation Sustainable cultivation of selected strains at also considered the relations of RRI to ‘speculative hundreds of hectares scale, and the negative energy design’, which involves the production of design balance of the process are major barriers, so that fictions – material objects designed to provoke microalgae biomass is presently too expensive to discussions about technological developments. The compete with food crop sources and fossil fuels. combination of RRI and speculative design in the Large-scale commercial production of microalgae field of synthetic biology could help articulate a is mostly carried out in open ponds, whereas most wider range of objectives, pathways and outcomes start-ups in the algal biofuel sector focus on than would be envisaged otherwise. photobioreactors, which provide a more controlled Jacques-Henry Weil environment and limit the risk of contamination. Chair, FEBS Science and Society Committee
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Women in Science activities (2 September) Later that day, a women’s career lunch was held at Despite strong representation at PhD and postdoc the conference venue, with sign up on a first come levels, the percentage of women in senior academic first served basis via the FEBS booth. The lunch, co- posts in the molecular life sciences remains low. sponsored by L’Oréal, provided a relaxed setting Women in Science events at FEBS–EMBO 2014 for junior and senior female scientists to get aimed to raise awareness of gender issues in science together and discuss career-related issues. and provide career support and motivation to Finally, some of the reasons contributing to young scientists. stalled research careers were discussed during a The centrepiece of activities was the presentation seminar delivered by Dr Curt Rice (Tromsø, of the FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award Norway), entitled ‘Confessions of a male sexist: 2014 and Plenary Lecture. The Award rewards the what you and I are doing to hold women back and exceptional achievements of a female researcher in how to stop’. In his talk, Dr Rice gave specific the life sciences, and winners of the award are role examples related to the topic, and this was followed models who inspire women in science. Prof. Cecília by a session panel to promote and lead discussion. M. Arraiano (FEBS – Chair, Women in Science) and The seminar was very well attended, and the Dr Gerlind Wallon (Deputy Director of EMBO) audience – of both women and men – was keen to gave their welcome and introduced the award. Prof. ask many questions and raise issues. Carmen Buchrieser (Institut Pasteur, Paris), who nominated this year’s awardee – Prof. Pascale Cecília M. Arraiano Cossart (also Institut Pasteur) – then described Chair, FEBS Working Group on Women in Science some of Prof. Cossart’s past and recent scientific achievements, not only as a researcher but also as a mentor to young scientists. Prof. Cossart’s plenary lecture – ‘A trip into the “New Microbiology” with the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes’ – provided an excellent example of how multidisciplinary (left) C. Arraiano, P. Cossart approaches can be applied to tackle a (holding the FEBS–EMBO key biological question, and was very Women in Science Award well received by the broad audience. statuette) and G. Wallon; (above) Curt Rice, during More about the Award and the his talk; (below) Women in winner’s research career can be found Science lunch participants on page 16. (photo from L’Oréal).
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The FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum 2014 (14th YSF) The 14th FEBS Young Scientist Forum (YSF) took to see the participants exchanging ideas and asking place in Paris (Centre International de Séjour questions. Maurice Ravel) as a satellite meeting of FEBS– Ebook reader prizes were presented for the best EMBO 2014. There were 115 young participants at oral presentation and best poster; these went to the event, of whom 110 were selected by the YSF Mayank Chaturvedi (Nencki Institute, Warsaw, committee (corresponding to 30% of the total Poland), who gave a talk on ‘TIMP-1 loaded applicants) and were funded by FEBS to attend nanoparticles: a therapeutic strategy for both the YSF and FEBS–EMBO 2014, and five neuroprotection’, and Michela Candotti (Institute were sponsored by the Biochemical Society (UK). for Research in Biomedicine and Barcelona This year’s event was coordinated by a helpful Supercomputing Center, Barcelona, Spain), whose local organizing committee, chaired by Alice poster was entitled ‘Urea-Unfolded Ubiquitin: From Verchère and with assistance from her colleagues NMR to MD Simulation’. Andrea Cavagnino, Martin Baraiba and Myriam The YSF ended with a panel-directed discussion Moussaoui. on career-related issues, with Dr Alan Craig (EU There were three plenary lectures at the YSF: the mobility programs), Dr Keith Elliott (CVs), Prof. EMBO Young Investigator Award lecture was from Andreas Hartig (FEBS Fellowships), Prof. László Petra Hajkova (MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Fésüs (FEBS Publications), Dr Mary Purton (FEBS London), who spoke on ‘Molecular mechanisms of Open Bio) and myself. epigenetic reprogramming in vivo’; Philipp Holliger (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK) talked on ‘Synthetic Genetics?’; and Chris Bowler (École Normale Supérieure, Paris) spoke on ‘Molecular insights into the secrets of marine diatoms in the world’s oceans’. A feature of the YSF is the presentation by the young participants of their own research work. Oral presentations, selected from the submitted abstracts, were delivered in 12-minute talks in six symposia, and other participants faced the challenge of 1- minute talks to attract people to their poster for further discussion! Throughout the YSF it was good
(top, from left) Presentation prizewinners Mayank Chaturvedi and Michela Candotti, with Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada and Alice Verchère; (bottom) YSF poster session. 22 FEBS News November 2014
FEBS–EMBO 2014 CONFERENCE ROUND-UP
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of FEBS, this of the participants’ science. Next year the YSF will year we invited the YSF and FEBS Fellows Meeting be in Berlin – read all about it on page 7. participants to enter a contest called ‘FEBS FAST Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada FORWARD’, by contributing short texts of about Chair, FEBS Working Group on the 200 words or a drawing in which they could use Careers of Young Scientists their imagination to let us know their opinion about FEBS activities and what they think FEBS could do to move forward as an organization for European life scientists. We received 13 entries, from which Andreas Hartig and I selected the picture below from Rossitsa Hristova from Bulgaria, who received a prize of €200 and a certificate. Prizewinner Also on the occasion of FEBS’ anniversary, I Rossitsa would like to thank all the YSF organizing Hristova committees since the event began in 2001, whose (right) with efforts have turned the YSFs into very successful Claudina at events. It is always a pleasure to see the dedication FEBS–EMBO of the young organizers and also the increasing level 2014.
FEBS FAST FORWARD winning picture.
Rossitsa Hristova explains: ‘A long long time ago, back in the year 1964, at the heart of Europe, FEBS was still a vulnerable little tree gently unfolding its first leaves to reach for sunlight. Over the years, the FEBS tree grew, its trunk became stronger and its roots spread wider as many new countries joined the organization. The FEBS tree developed new branches covered with lush green leaves as congresses, symposia and courses were organized to stimulate scientific interaction. New collaborations formed like buds on its twigs, which later gave rise to beautiful flowers. Despite the storms and droughts, the tree survived and bore fruit in the form of new knowledge. This is represented as a man on a bike determined to reach the top of the tree despite all odds. His attempts finally bore fruit. The FEBS tree is now mature and supports a diverse and vibrant scientific community with its massive branches. Lifted so high above the ground, in the crown of the tree, scientists gaze at the shining stars of Innovation and Progress and are ready to face all the challenges ahead of them. They believe that through hard work they will eventually reach the stars in the quest for knowledge: Per Aspera ad Astra’.
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FEBS–EMBO 2014 CONFERENCE ROUND-UP
FEBS Fellows Meeting 2014 For the second FEBS Fellows Meeting we invited informal but intense and exciting atmosphere of our senior Long-Term and Return-to-Europe Fellows to gathering. During the breaks, career stages, gather in Paris at the Centre International de Séjour obstacles and serendipities were discussed, and Maurice Ravel. Twenty-one Fellows took up our evenings were used to explore Parisian life at late invitation and together with three members of the hours and generate personal contacts. Thirteen of Fellowships Committee constituted a group of our fellows stayed on for FEBS–EMBO 2014, scientists representing a wide range of expertise. where we reconvened at the FEBS booth for a short The meeting took place just before FEBS–EMBO drink and update. 2014 in close association with the Young Scientists’ Numerous ideas were put forward in a leisurely Forum (pages 22–23). Participants of both meetings setting discussing the topic ‘what do you expect shared the opening and closing events, guest lectures, from FEBS?’ The Fellows would be delighted to a scientific career session, meals and coffee breaks. participate in the publication process on FEBS- The guest lecturers updated us on epigenetic owned journals, for example by acting as reviewers, reprogramming mechanisms (Petra Hajkova, and would be interested in opportunities to London), provided insights into modern synthetic contribute reviews or other items related to their genetics (Philipp Holliger, Cambridge, UK), and research papers if published elsewhere. Unanimously, took us on a journey for a glimpse into microbial the Fellows supported the continuation of the life in the depths of the oceans (Chris Bowler, FEBS Long-Term Fellowships programme at a Paris). The meeting also provided a forum for visible extent, expressing their gratitude for the Fellows and Committee members to present their chance given through this type of fellowship and work in 20-minute talks to an audience of highly especially for the possibility to apply for a third year diverse interests. Not a single speaker could escape of fellowship. They would of course be happy to be from being scrutinized by probing questions. The financially supported when attending a conference topics covered the broad scope of FEBS research or future FEBS Congresses, and would highly support in sessions on host–pathogen interaction, appreciate being considered as speakers at future structural biology, regulatory processes, RNA, cell FEBS Congresses. The most pressing issue turned biology, organelles and neurobiology. out to be the desire for establishing a Fellows’ Having described the event in rather prosaic terms database to facilitate communication and networking I should not forget to mention the enthusiasm and among the FEBS Fellows alumni community to interest for science felt throughout the meeting. Not support and help each other. Some of these even an unforeseen fire-alarm test could disturb the suggestions are already on the way to realization.
FEBS Fellows Meeting, Paris 2014; most of the FEBS Fellows at the meeting are gathered here, with FEBS Fellowships Committee members George Mosialos (left, yellow T-shirt), Andreas Hartig (middle, name tag not visible) and Vicente Rubio (far right). 24 FEBS News November 2014
FEBS–EMBO 2014 CONFERENCE ROUND-UP
Summarizing, I dare to say that the 2nd FEBS passion for science convinced me that they will be Fellows Meeting confirmed that the FEBS great mediators of the overall aim of FEBS of Fellowships programme is worth all our efforts and advancing the molecular life sciences. money. Following the development of these well- Andreas Hartig chosen young scientists and encountering their Chair, FEBS Fellowships Committee
FEBS 50th Anniversary Dinner and FEBS Diplôme d’Honneur The FEBS–EMBO 2014 Conference also provided contributor to the FEBS Education Committee, the opportunity to hold a FEBS Anniversary Keith Elliott’s friendly approach has been Dinner on Tuesday 2nd September. This event appreciated by many young scientists receiving CV- served both to celebrate the 50 years of FEBS writing advice at Congresses, YSFs and other activities and, no less important, to express gratitude events, and his presence at the FEBS booth has to the many FEBS Officers who have voluntarily became sort of a trade mark. Vicente Rubio has just devoted lots of their time over these five decades completed a stint as Chair of the Fellowships working for FEBS and developing it into the unique Committee, and the award recognized his organization that it is today. The dinner brought commitment to advance this Committee’s function. together more than 120 colleagues spanning Last but not least, a special mention goes to different generations of scientists who have become Carlos Gancedo from Madrid, who revealed at the acquainted and in many cases close friends during dinner that he still uses the bag from the 1969 the years of joint productive action to advance FEBS Congress in Madrid. molecular life sciences in Europe. The exceptional Israel Pecht, FEBS Secretary General atmosphere was enhanced by the delicious meal. A guest of honour at the dinner was Bill Whelan, who will celebrate his 90th birthday this year and who travelled to Paris from the USA. Bill was the first FEBS Secretary General and played a key role in the early years of FEBS. He entertained the participants with interesting recollections and humorous anecdotes from the early formative years of our Federation. This festive event was also used for awarding the FEBS Diplôme d’Honneur to Dr Keith Elliott and to Prof. Vicente Rubio for their outstanding services to FEBS. In particular, as a long-standing
(top) Israel Pecht introducing the Diplôme d’Honneur recipients; (bottom, from left) Vicente Rubio and Keith Elliott, Bill Whelan speaking at the dinner, and Carlos Gancedo with his 1969 bag. 25 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
FEBS Publications at FEBS–EMBO 2014 The journals of FEBS contributed to several the previous calendar year who was aged 40 years or activities aimed particularly at younger researchers younger at the time of manuscript submission. The at FEBS–EMBO 2014 – awards for excellence in FEBS Journal Prize for Young Scientists is awarded journal papers and conference posters, and sessions annually for the best paper in the previous calendar offering insight into the publication process. In year with a first author who is a post-graduate addition, a FEBS Journal supplement published the student or post-doctoral scientist of no more than abstracts for the event, and FEBS Letters produced a three years standing since the award of the PhD. Paris Special Issue comprising reviews from For details of the journals awards from next year, conference speakers. see page 32.
FEBS Publications Award Lectures FEBS Publications Poster Prizes On Sunday 30th August, in the vast main FEBS journals enjoyed awarding prizes for the best auditorium, two young scientists had the chance to posters displayed on Monday 1st September (see give plenary-style lectures. Susanna Törnroth- photos). These FEBS ‘Posters of the Day’ remained Horsefield (Lund University, Sweden) and Hee- on show throughout the conference and went on to Yeon Jeon (Seoul National University Korea) were join a shortlist of others selected by EMBO Press this year’s winners of the FEBS Letters Young on other days for consideration for the overall Group Leader Award and The FEBS Journal Prize FEBS Journal, FEBS Letters, Molecular Oncology and for Young Scientists, respectively. Susanna spoke FEBS Open Bio poster prizes of €200 each, which about her group’s work on the Structural basis for pH were announced and presented at the Closing gating of plant aquaporins. Hee-Yeon Jeon, a PhD Session. For these awards, a jury of journal editors, student, presented the work from her paper in The EMBO Young Investigators and SFBMM-selected FEBS Journal, Depletion of Aurora-A in zebrafish causes scientists looked for high-quality and exciting growth retardation due to mitotic delay and p53-dependent unpublished research presented in a clear and cell death. appealing manner. Congratulations to the final The FEBS Letters Young Group Leader Award winners: Dirk Siepe, San Francisco, USA for ‘The has been given annually since 2003 to the author of HERCulean E3 ligase HERC2 safeguards cellular the most outstanding research letter published in quiescence by regulating the RB/E2F signalling network’ (The FEBS Journal poster prize); Darius Köster, Bangalore, India for ‘Actomyosin drives membrane dynamics in an in vitro active composite layer’ (FEBS Letters poster prize); Joao Miguel Freire, Lisboa, Portugal for ‘siRNA- Bioportide conjugates as a chronic myeloid leukemia gene therapy targeting the BCR/ABL fusion gene’ (Molecular Oncology poster prize); and Shin-Young Park, Seoul, Korea for ‘Hippocalcin promotes neuronal differentiation and inhibits gliogenesis through activation of PLD1 in rat (left) Felix Wieland, Editor-in-Chief of FEBS Letters, with Susanna Törnroth-Horsefield neural stem cells’ (FEBS (photo courtesy of R. Horsefield); (right) Hee-Yeon Jeon with Seamus Martin, Editor-in-Chief of The FEBS Journal. Open Bio poster prize).
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FEBS journals ‘Poster of the Day’ winners, September 1: (top, from left) Gilles Truan, Toulouse, France with ‘Protein Engineering via assembly of catalytic domains: lessons from a natural bidomain electron transfer protein’ (FEBS J.), Darius Köster (see main text) (FEBS Lett.), Joao Miguel Freire (see main text) (Mol. Oncol.); (bottom left) Nicholas Lim, Melbourne, Australia with ‘Regulation of WD40 Repeat Protein 62 by Aurora A - Insights into the maintenance of the mitotic spindle’ (FEBS Open Bio); (bottom right) László Fésüs (FEBS Publications Committee Chair) presenting Poster of the Day chocolate Eiffel Tower poster prizes near the FEBS booth.
Opportunities to meet journal staff Conference participants were invited to meet informally with The FEBS Journal and Molecular Oncology Editors-in-Chief to find out more about the publication process, while FEBS Letters and FEBS Open Bio editorial staff offered ‘Speed Review’ sessions. For these, delegates could book appointments for a 15-minute one-to-one session with an Editor to discuss an abstract of their work and its suitability for publication in the journal. The speed review sessions proved popular, particularly with participants from the FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum.
The FEBS Journal symposium A FEBS Journal symposium to honour Richard Perham, outgoing Editor-in-Chief, was held on Tuesday 2nd September. The theme was Biomolecular Complexes and Assemblies, and speakers included some of Richard’s past students and postdocs (Sheena Radford, Frédéric Dardel), and collaborators (Angela Gronenborn, Wolfgang Baumeister). The FEBS Journal authors were represented by Vladimir Uversky, author of the most cited paper published in the journal during the (top) Mary Purton (left), FEBS Open Bio Executive Editor, in a 15 years of Richard Perham’s editorship and whose Speed Review session; (bottom, from left) some speakers and scientific work, by happy coincidence, overlaps with others at the FEBS J. symposium: David Nicholson (Wiley), Vanessa Wilkinson (FEBS J. Editorial Manager), László Fésüs that of Richard. The symposium topic proved very (FEBS Publications Committee Chair), Sheena Radford, Richard popular, resulting in standing room only in the Perham, Angela Gronenborn, Wolfgang Baumeister and lecture hall. Frédéric Dardel. 27 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS PUBLICATIONS Digital Developments for Articles in FEBS Publications
While FEBS owns and has editorial responsibility their work as well as readers examining the latest for its four journals, it is through its partnerships results. Here, Vicky Johnson from Wiley (which with scientific publishing companies that the articles publishes The FEBS Journal) and Lucia Muñoz selected for publication can benefit from the latest Franco from Elsevier (which publishes FEBS technical advances in online display and Letters, Molecular Oncology and FEBS Open Bio) functionality – all aimed at continually enhancing highlight some of the recent developments and the scientific article for authors communicating benefits.
Standing out from the crowd: digital developments to improve the experience for authors and readers Vicky Johnson Editorial Director, Wiley It is estimated that over one million increasing and measuring article our usage reports: given the choice, new articles are published each year. engagement. almost three out of four accesses to More and more new journals are the article were to the pdf. That calling for readers’ attention, yet evidence forced us to scratch our researchers have no more (or heads harder. possibly even less) time to read. Anywhere Article You might very well ask why we A major challenge for the When Wiley launched Anywhere didn’t just give up and accept the researcher as reader is to stay Article earlier this year, the obvious reader preference for pdf abreast of developments in your responsive HTML format came as over HTML? The answer is that field and to spend what precious the culmination of a great deal of although pdf has long been a reading time you have ‘strategically’, user insight, technical and design standard format for reading, saving investing that time in engaging fully expertise and, frankly, good old- and sorting articles, it’s not a format with papers that have significant fashioned head scratching. Wiley that works especially well when implications for your own work. has a ‘User Experience’ team tasked delivered to the growing number of And in reverse, a major challenge with understanding our customers’ devices, platforms and contexts in for the researcher as author is to needs and ensuring that the digital which research is consumed. stand out from the crowd and products we design meet those HTML allows for much greater ensure your work is easily needs. That team experienced enrichment of article content with discoverable and accessible to the something of a light-bulb moment videos, data and interactive people you want to find and read it. some years earlier when watching a graphics; it also enables better ‘Online journals’ have come a researcher navigate our then new discoverability from search engines very long way since publishers first online publishing platform, Wiley and indexing services, improved started making pdfs of articles Online Library. interlinking between articles, and of available and, the internet being The plan was that the researcher course it can be optimized for what it is, there is always a ‘next big would find his way to an article in display on different screen sizes. So thing’ just around the corner. A his field and all was going well until it was back to the drawing board major challenge for publishers is to he clicked straight to the pdf, then until, some while later, the assess the trends that matter, to completely bypassing the HTML User Experience team were able to determine the innovations that version of the article and so missing report that our developers had built justify introduction, and then to all the new features the a more usable, readable, enjoyable support journals, readers and development team had built and experience to rival, and maybe even authors in engaging with them. were excited about. Unfortunately replace, the pdf. Here, I explain Wiley’s recent for the development team, almost The result of all this effort, the enhancement of the online article every researcher who took part in Anywhere Article, doesn’t through the ‘Anywhere Article’ that series of testing and interviews discriminate against device or service, mention developments to did the same thing: they chose the mobility, making it easier for make more of the pdf format, and pdf in place of the HTML. Their researchers to keep up to date with then highlight two new tools for feedback told us the same story as their reading lists whether grabbing
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(above) The FEBS Journal app on iTunes; (right) example of the Anywhere Article format on a tablet. a moment to browse a paper on a Labtiva to make article pdfs consider using their tools to enrich tablet or smartphone, or settling interactive. Labtiva’s ReadCube and share links to your own articles. down to concentrate on something enhanced pdfs and Web Reader in more depth with a laptop or enable functionality within the pdf desktop computer. Or at least that’s environment, retaining the familiar our view – do please leave your benefits of portability and print-like Alternative metrics to measure feedback and tell us what you think! layout while adding hyperlinks to impact If you haven’t downloaded it references and access to supporting Alternative metrics services, of already, don’t forget The FEBS information. Visit ReadCube to see which ‘Altmetrics’ is one, track Journal is available as an iOS app how their tools could fit with your online activity around individual that uses the Anywhere Article personal workflow. scholarly articles, monitoring presentation, enabling readers to mentions of an article within social navigate issues and articles quickly media (Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and easily – just search ‘FEBS etc), the mainstream media Journal’ in the iTunes App Store. (newspapers and magazines), online reference management tools (such Kudos to the authors as Mendeley and CiteULike) and As Kudos Co-Founder Charlie public policy documents (such as Rapple noted, ‘Our initial research those published on health and showed that 85% of academics climate change). The results are ReadCube think more can be done to increase displayed as a numeric score within Although our responsive HTML the visibility, usage, and impact of a striped donut indicating both the Anywhere Article has been very their work’. Wiley’s partnership quality and quantity of attention well received, we recognise that with Kudos is intended to enable that the article has received. there will always be some readers authors to measure, monitor and Clicking on the donuts displayed who still prefer the pdf. Our goal is maximise the usage and impact of alongside the HTML of any article always to deliver smarter, more their articles by providing tools to published in The FEBS Journal connected and more useful journal help them engage the digital allows authors and readers direct content to researchers so, rather community with their research and, access to the online conversations than leave the pdf as it is, plain, and so far at least, the evidence is surrounding an article, collated and very much like print, Wiley has encouraging. If you haven’t visited listed by medium, source and embarked on a partnership with Kudos already, do take a look and geographic region.
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Whilst it is probably unlikely that Altmetrics will replace the traditional metrics of downloads and citations anytime soon, Wiley’s aim is to provide our authors, readers and editors with a more complete picture of the impact of published research. Have a look at this recent blog post for five simple things that you, as authors, can do to help improve your article’s Altmetric score.
Bringing articles to life: embracing the online medium to optimize readability and enable data sharing Lucia Muñoz Franco Executive Publisher, Elsevier Three years ago, Elsevier set out to users to focus on the article and directly from the article or via the transform the traditional linear spend more time reading it on- dropdown menu. format of the academic paper to screen. Emphasis has been placed make it more interactive and user- on the interactive content elements The 3D Molecular Viewer friendly, to create the ‘Article of the within the article, which take With researchers increasingly Future’. Beginning in 2012, articles advantage of online capabilities. generating and referencing 3D data published in FEBS Letters, FEBS As illustrated on the next page for in their papers, the ability to Open Bio and Molecular Oncology have a FEBS Letters paper, the Article of accurately visualize that data in been displayed online in this more the Future has a three-pane online publications has become dynamic format. Since then, we presentation layout: navigation bar, extremely important. Instead of have continued to enhance the main content area and right sidebar. ‘flattening’ their 3D models into online article to enrich the reading Since each pane can be scrolled static 2D images, we wanted to experience, enabling researchers to independently, it is possible to have enable our authors to showcase communicate and explore research both the text and an image in view their 3D data. We also wanted to in all its dimensions. at once, for instance. The middle provide readers with a means to Here, I explain the Article of the pane displays the original article view and interact with these author- Future format, outline two with a ‘pdf’ look and feel as this is provided 3D datasets, whether they examples of interactive applications still a much loved format for are small or massive, with no that we have developed recently, sharing and printing, but the reader additional plug-in required. and end by highlighting article is also given the ability to interact The 3D molecular viewer presentation on mobile devices. with the underlying scientific data: visualizes proteins, ribosomes, for example, via interactive Google chemical compounds, Article of the Future Maps, graphs, tables and plates. The crystallographic data and related Our starting point in the Article of left navigation pane displays a table structures and supports PDB, the Future design was to make the of contents with clickable section PSE and MOL/MOL2 data article as easy to read as possible headers and thumbnails of images formats. It allows the 3D molecular through attention to typography and tables. The right pane provides models to be explored using the and layout. By providing a clean, access to supplemental information two most common visualization simplified and minimalistic look, and additional features, which are techniques: ‘ribbons’ and ‘balls-and- while adding hierarchy to article usually task or content specific. All sticks.’ Readers can select different elements, we made it easier for extra features can also be accessed models via the thumbnail menu at
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the top of the viewer, zoom in on, rotate and pan the model, change display settings, and download the original data files. It is also possible to view molecular models in the 3D stereo mode using anaglyph glasses.
The Protein Viewer The Protein Viewer is a Jmol-based application displayed next to articles containing author-tagged protein identifiers. The tags will be recognized during the publication production process and show up as a hyperlink in the online article, pointing to the relevant data record. The Protein Viewer then enables Examples of the three-pane Article of the Future layout (top), 3D Molecular Viewer (lower left), and Protein Viewer (lower right). the user to browse through all protein models tagged in the article and interactively explore each of protein structures are obtained and from the data set back to the them, for example, by scaling from the RCSB Protein Data Bank journal article. This bi-directional (zooming in and out), changing (PDB). linking gives data sets essential viewpoint and background colour, The Protein Viewer is also an context and increases their and viewing protein structures in a example of reciprocal data linking: discoverability while supporting the 3D stereo mode. The 3D models from the journal article to the reproducibility of the results used for interactive visualization of relevant dataset in a data repository, presented in the journal article.
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Mobile design At the same time that we continue to enhance the online article taking full advantage of the electronic medium, we know that 30% of our researchers now use tablets and 26% use smartphones to access journal articles and we must cater to them as well. User expectations of mobile experiences are high, so from the outset, we engaged with our users to solicit their feedback. ‘Friendly, fast and focused’ were the key attributes that researchers mentioned most often, and that became our design mantra. Our mobile site is built with responsive design principles for fluid scaling of text, images and tables and to maximize readability on all screen sizes, keeping the need for resizing, panning and scrolling to a minimum. The article itself has top priority, presenting the text in a clean, comfortable interface that makes it easy for the user to read an article. ‘pinch to zoom’ to view tables, classroom, or on the move – we We dedicated 91% of the available diagrams and article references built in the ability to export articles screen space to the article; the clearly. Finally, the mobile site is in other formats, such as PDFs, and remaining space is used for essential also built with speedy performance also into external reference functions such as the search bar at to counter the high latency, low managers like Mendeley and the top of the screen. The article bandwidth and limited processing EndNote. In this way users can take view is tailored to how people work power of mobile devices. their articles offline to read when they use a mobile device, with To make it easy for researchers to wherever and whenever they simple browse, scan, read and save- access and read articles on any choose, helping them to be more for-later features; users can also device – whether in the lab, the productive and efficient.
FEBS Publication Awards from 2015 FEBS Open Bio:
The FEBS Journal Prize for Young Scientists: From now included in 2015, The FEBS Journal will continue to award a Web of Science prize every year to the paper (published in the
previous calendar year) judged by the Editors to FEBS Open Bio has been accepted by Thomson be the most meritorious with a first author who is a post- Reuters for indexing in the following products: graduate student or postdoctoral scientist of no more than three • Science Citation Index Expanded (accessed through years standing since the award of the PhD Degree. The prize will Web of Science) consist of a personal gift of €1000 plus an invitation to present • Journal Citation Reports/Science Edition the work in a plenary lecture at the FEBS Congress. • Biological Abstracts
• BIOSIS Previews The FEBS Letters Award: From 2016, FEBS Letterswill open its prize of €10,000 to the FEBS Open Bio is already indexed in Chemical senior authors, regardless of age, of all Abstracts, EMBASE, Europe PubMed Central, PubMed, papers published in FEBS Lettersin the previous two calendar PubMed Central, Excerpta Medica and Scopus, and so years. The FEBS Letters Award will be given every other year, its articles should now be even easier to discover. also with an invitation to present a plenary lecture at the FEBS Open Bio will receive its first Impact Factor (for corresponding FEBS Congress. 2014) in the summer of 2015. 32 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
FEBS Publications: Journal Highlights and Special Issues
Understanding autophagy in mammary gland involution
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase regulatory subunits p55α and p50α regulate autophagy in vivo. Pensa, S., Lloyd-Lewis, B., Sargeant, T.J., Resemann, H.K., Kahn, C.R. and Watson, C.J. (2014) FEBS Journal 281, 4557–4567
Autophagy is a cellular remodelling process that is typically seen in response to starvation or cell stress and permits the recycling of cellular constituents. Large-scale autophagy is also documented, with the mammary gland undergoing dramatic post-lactation remodelling, involving an atypical form of programmed cell death. Now, Watson and colleagues show that a wave of autophagy occurs during mouse mammary gland involution, driven by STAT3 and PI3K, and coordinates involution of this tissue in tandem with cell death.
Key regulators of mammalian embryogenesis and reproduction
NOD-like receptors interfacing the immune and reproductive systems. Van Gorp, H., Kuchmiy, A., Van Hauwermeiren, F. and Lamkanfi, M. (2014) FEBS Journal 281, 4568–4582
NOD-like receptors (NLRs) are intracellular proteins that are chiefly known for their critical functions in immunity. In recent years, NLRs have also emerged as key regulators of early mammalian embryogenesis and reproduction. The expression profiles, phylogenetic clustering, disease-causing mutations, emerging functions and molecular mechanisms of NLRs involved in reproduction are discussed in this State-of-the-Art Review by Lamkanfi and colleagues.
Deconstructing the oxytocinergic circuit
Oxytocinergic circuit from paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei to arcuate POMC neurons in hypothalamus. Maejima, Y. et al. FEBS Letters(18 Oct 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.10.010
The neuropeptide oxytocin is mainly produced in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the hypothalamus and reduces food intake. Moreover, the pro- opiomelanocortin (POMC)-expressing neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), which project to PVN neurons, control food intake through melanocortin receptor activation. Now, Maejima et al. show that a two-way inter-neuron interaction is involved in food intake control: oxytocin-producing PVN and SON neurons seem to reduce food intake by projecting to ARC POMC neurons, which express the oxytocin receptor.
FOCUS ON tRNAs
tRNA fragments in human health and disease. Anderson P. and Ivanov P. FEBS Letters (16 Sept 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.09.001
Since their discovery, tRNAs have been viewed as simple adaptors of the genetic code. However, recent research has revealed that tRNAs are involved in several previously unappreciated levels of translation regulation, most of which are discussed in five recent review articles in FEBS Letters. For example, Anderson and Ivanov discuss the heterogeneous biogenesis and functions of small non-coding RNAs derived from tRNAs. For this and other intriguing tRNA stories look out for the imminent open access ‘FOCUS ON tRNA’ feature in FEBS Letters.
More articles in this FOCUS ON Mistranslation of the genetic code. Moghal A. et al. FEBS Letters (16 Sept 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.08.035 | A-to-I editing on tRNAs: Biochemical, biological and evolutionary implications. Torres A.G. et al. FEBS Letters (27 Sept 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.09.025 | tRNA modifications regulate translation during cellular stress. Gu C. et al. FEBS Letters (7 Oct 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.09.038 | Exploring the evolutionary diversity and assembly modes of multi- aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complexes: Lessons from unicellular organisms. Laporte D. et al. FEBS Letters (12 Oct 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.10.007
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Promise and progress in melanoma management
No longer an untreatable disease: How targeted and immunotherapies have changed the management of melanoma patients. Girotti, M.R, Saturno, G., Lorigan, P. and Marais, R. (2014) Mol. Oncol. 8, 1140–1158
After decades of unsuccessful attempts, the field of cancer immunotherapy seems to be at the threshold of a new era. The review by Marais and colleagues takes recent insights into the immunology of melanoma and sets them in the context of ongoing clinical trials. Although the potential of immunotherapies is striking, a number of challenges remain and these are highlighted in this timely review. As the authors state in their article, ‘It is clear that new concepts will emerge from on-going basic, translational and clinical studies, but the belief that melanoma is an essentially untreatable disease has been dispelled and the promise of further improvements in patient outcomes will surely be realised.’
Leading European Cancer Centres join forces
Cancer Core Europe: A first step towards a virtual cancer institute in Europe? Celis, J.E. and Ringborg, U. (2014) Mol. Oncol. 8, 1161–1162 (Editorial)
In July this year, six comprehensive cancer centres, members of the EurocanPlatform consortium, joined in a strategic initiative to establish Cancer Core Europe. The establishment of the Cancer Core Europe represents an important event for cancer research in general, and for European cancer researchers in particular. Given the potential societal impact of such an initiative, editors of Molecular Oncology comment on this initiative.
Unlocking the cardioprotective potential of HSP20
Targeted disruption of the heat shock protein 20–phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) interaction protects against pathological cardiac remodelling in a mouse model of hypertrophy. Martin, T.P. et al. (2014) FEBS Open Bio DOI: 10.1016/j.fob.2014.10.011
Cardiac hypertrophy is associated with many forms of heart disease. Heat-shock protein 20 (HSP20) is cardioprotective and thus a potential therapeutic target. Here, Baillie and colleagues show that disruption of the HSP20–phosphodiesterase 4D complex, using a peptide selected by high-throughput screening, protected against cardiac remodelling.
Special Issues
Tumor Suppression Single Molecule Techniques The Gut Microbiome
Celebrating the International Year of Crystallography Cancer Drug Resistance
34 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
FEBS-sponsored Lectures Prof. Dr Michael Sattler (Institute of Structural Biology, Technische Universität München, Germany) received a FEBS National Lecture Award at the National Congress organized by the Spanish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM). Michael Sattler delivered an outstanding lecture on the molecular mechanisms that explain protein–RNA interactions essential in the post- transcriptional regulation of gene expression. The annual SEBBM Congress was held from 9th to 12th September 2014 in Granada, Spain and brought together 850 participants and 21 sponsors. A total of six plenary lectures – including the FEBS (from left) Federico Mayor Jr, Michael Slatter (showing FEBS National Lecture – and nine symposia sessions were National Lecturer certificate) and Irene Díaz-Moreno. delivered by internationally renowned experts in their field. More than 100 oral communications the topic of ‘Biochemistry in the City’, including were presented at the specific sessions organized by two Conferences at the Granada Science Museum, the 21 thematic SEBBM scientific groups in the an exposition of ‘Molecules of Life’ aimed at young afternoon. Additionally, the Congress incorporated students, a forum of ‘Entrepreneurs in Biotechnology’ workshops on Proteomics, Calorimetry and and a portrait gallery on ‘Women in Science’. Education in Biochemistry. The Congress was a great success, providing a densely packed program, Rafael Salto, Scientific Secretary of the Organizing Committee many poster sessions (with more than 600 posters Irene Díaz-Moreno, SEBBM Congress Counsellor presented) and fruitful discussions. Federico Mayor Jr, President of SEBBM With the goal of bringing science closer to a wider audience, a number of activities took place under For further details of the conference, see: http://www.sebbm.es
Prof. Hermona Soreq (The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel) received a FEBS National Lecture Award at the recent Congress of the Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HDBMB) – ‘HDBMB2014’. Hermona Soreq, a distinguished neurobiologist, gave an inspiring opening lecture entitled ‘From mice to men: fine tuning of cholinergic signalling by microRNAs’. She emphasized that continuous communication between the nervous and immune system is essential both for maintaining homeostasis Presentation of the FEBS National Lecturer certificate to and for ensuring a rapid and efficient response to Hermona Soreq (right), with Zrinka Kovarik. stressful and infection insults. The emerging level of the evolution and complexity of neuronal miRNAs microRNA (miRNA) regulation provides an may highlight their role in the emergence of human exciting and challenging model for studying this brain functions while enhancing the ability to communication in anxiety and inflammation. Prof. intervene in diseases involving cholinergic signalling Soreq concluded that a deepened understanding of impairments. 35 FEBS News November 2014
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HDBMB2014, entitled The Interplay of Biomolecules, HDBMB2014 was also reflected in the lively was held in Zadar, Croatia from 24th to 27th discussions during the lecture and poster sessions, September 2014. Over 150 participants attended to as well as during social events such as the guided present their own results and discuss current topics walking tour of Zadar. through sessions such as From DNA to Protein, In addition to the main scientific programme, we Structure and Function of Proteins, Systems organized a mini-symposium dedicated to the 50th Biology, Molecular Communication and anniversary of FEBS, where Israel Pecht, FEBS Trafficking, Molecular Basis of Diseases and Secretary General, reminisced on the beginnings of Therapy, Immunity and Inflammation, Membrane FEBS as well as on today’s activities and the Biology, Prokaryote World, and Plant Biochemistry. important role in promoting molecular life sciences The scientific programme comprised seven plenary in Europe. On behalf of HDBMB, Jerka Dumić and 16 invited lectures, and 11 short oral and 68 presented a vivid connection between FEBS and poster presentations. Apart from the opening Croatian biochemists that has lasted since 1975. We lecture given by the FEBS National Lecturer are confident that the future collaboration between Hermona Soreq, the plenary lectures from Israel FEBS and HDBMB will be even wider and Pecht (Rehovot), Ivan Mijaković (Gothenburg), stronger; therefore, we were proud to join the Mathias Sprinzl (Bayreuth), Sanja Sever (Boston), celebration of the first 50 successful years of FEBS. Enrico Schleiff (Frankfurt) and William Martin (Dusseldorf) contributed to the high quality of the Zrinka Kovarik scientific programme. The big success of President of HDBMB
As an outreach 50th anniversary event, FEBS co-financed with the Biochemical Society (UK) a presidential address (lecture and debate) on epigenetics at the British Science Festival on 8th September 2014.
The term epigenetics was coined in the 1940s by developmental biologist Conrad H. Waddington, but only recently has it started to be recognized as a branch of biology. To make this complex and at times controversial field of biology more accessible to the public, the Biochemical Society (UK) organized a public lecture and debate at the British Science Festival in Birmingham, UK entitled ‘Epigenetics – Why You for many diseases. After a short introduction to the Don’t Have Teeth in Your Eyeballs’. Chaired by interaction between genetics and epigenetics by Prof. Alice Roberts (University of Birmingham, UK; Prof. Turner, the debate then got under way. Exciting and a well-known science TV presenter in the UK), and at times controversial, the speakers were with speakers Dr Nessa Carey (PraxisUnico), Prof. questioned on topics ranging from the nature vs Bryan Turner (University of Birmingham, UK) and nurture debate to Lamarckism and whether or not Prof. Charles Craddock (University of Birmingham, epigenetics actually exists! On social media the UK), the event featured a brief introduction to interest continued, with audience and panel epigenetics by Dr Carey followed by an hour of members tweeting questions and quotes from the questions and debate with the audience. event. Speaking to a full house of nearly 300 people, Dr The event was made by possible by the Biochemical Carey (pictured in photo) briefly explained the Society, the University of Birmingham and the British molecular mechanisms behind epigenetics in an Science Association, with co-funding from FEBS. accessible way utilising sweets to represent DNA, histones and epigenetic modifications, and then Rachel Burnett highlighted current research and the potential Education and Public Engagement Officer impact it could have on future medical treatments The Biochemical Society 36 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
The Conference ‘IYCr-2014: important targets for the design of effective Challenges in Crystallography – antibiotics. She also presented crystallographic studies Celebrating the International Year focused on ribosome interaction with partner proteins of Crystallography’, organized by that help regulate the translational machinery’s the Accademia Nazionale dei crucial activity. In addition, Dr Selmer highlighted Lincei, took place in Rome, Italy some insightful considerations on the application of from 13th to 14th October 2014. The conference hybrid structural biology methods (i.e. merging X- aimed to look at the frontiers of crystallographic ray diffraction, EM and NMR approaches) to face research, with attention to new X-ray sources, new the challenges posed by large, often transient, methods for diffraction experiments, and the analysis macromolecular complexes. Her lecture brought the of nano-crystals in different branches of science, discussion fully into the domain of crystallography covering the perspectives of crystallography in applied to life sciences, a field that has provided key research fields such as life sciences, earth sciences, contributions over the years to the development of physics and materials science. modern biochemical and biomolecular sciences. Dr Maria Selmer (Uppsala University, Sweden) Other sessions at the conference focused on was a FEBS Lecturer in the first session of the ‘From crystallography to new physical approaches’, conference, on ‘Advanced X-ray sources and frontiers ‘The frontiers of Earth Sciences’ and ‘Frontiers of in structural biology’. The session discussed existing crystallography in materials science and cultural and forthcoming X-ray radiation sources, particularly heritage’. Altogether, the discussion, led by synchrotron and X-ray Free Electron Laser (X-FEL) specialists in each of the scientific fields covered by sources (Henry N. Chapman, CFEL and University the meeting, was alive and stressed the potential of a of Hamburg, Germany), their applications to research method (crystallography) that is 100 years structural biology based on the principle of old, but still growing and tackling research issues ‘diffraction before radiation damage’, also known as that are at the frontiers of many branches of science.
‘serial femtosecond crystallography’ (Ilme Martino Bolognesi, Department of BioSciences, Schlichting, Max Planck Institute, Heidelberg, University of Milano, Italy Germany), and the crystallographic challenges Stefano Merlino, Department of Earth Sciences, posed by large macromolecular assemblies (Maria University of Pisa, Italy Selmer). Dr Selmer provided a view into the For further details of the conference, see complexity of crystallographic studies on eukaryotic http://www.lincei.it/modules.php? ribosomes as molecular machines, but also as name=Convegni&file=lista&func=Convegni_edit&Id=1145
FEBS recently sponsored plenary lecture presented how the activity of the tumour lectures at two large molecular life suppressor in many oncogenic mutants is lost by science meetings in the Far East. aggregation, why it differs from other diseases of Such lectures by distinguished protein aggregation and how small molecules are speakers contribute to the being developed to inhibit the aggregation and scientific programmes of events organized by learned restore the activity of mutants. societies operating in these regions, and also allow FEBS to introduce its journals and international activities to a wider global audience. First, in collaboration with the Chinese Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Prof. Gerry Melino (Leicester, UK and Rome, Italy) delivered a FEBS-sponsored lecture at the National Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xiamen, China (21–23 August 2014) on apoptosis and cancer. Second, Sir Alan Fersht (Cambridge, UK) was a plenary FEBS Lecturer at the IUBMB–FAOBMB– TSBMB Conference, Taipei, Taiwan, 21–26 October 2014 (pictured right), where he spoke on ‘Aggregation of Tumour Suppressor p53’. The 37 FEBS News November 2014
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In Memoriam University of Aarhus in Denmark. In 1974, Brian F. C. Clark 1936–2014 Brian became Professor of Biostructural Brian F. C. Clark, former Chairman of FEBS (1998– Chemistry at the newly 1999), passed away on 6th October 2014 at the age created Division of of 78 after a long fight with cancer. In spite of the Structural Biochemistry burden caused by the disease, Brian remained active at the Department of until the last days, always telling colleagues about Chemistry. His main the numerous ongoing activities he was committed areas of research to. Besides having been a remarkable scientist who included macromolecular made seminal contributions to basic science, Brian mimicry and molecular dedicated a substantial amount of his time to mechanisms of protein promote the internationalization of science and synthesis as well as molecular and cellular networking of scientists beyond their countries. mechanisms of ageing. Highlights included the first Moreover, he spent much effort in the later stages determination of the structure of a GTP-binding of his career to increase collaboration between molecule, the crystal structure of the ternary academia and the biotechnology industry, with the complex of Phe-tRNAPhe, elongation factor Tu aim of promoting the translation of basic discoveries and GTP, as well as studies on the concept of into applications that impact society at large. structural macromolecular mimicry. Brian brought Brian received a PhD in Chemistry in 1961 from in foreign expertise to the Division in order to Cambridge University, UK under the guidance of cover other areas of protein synthesis; in particular, Dan Brown, and a ScD (Molecular Biology) in 1975 he strongly supported the initial steps of what we from the same University. After finishing his PhD, now know as proteomics. Over the years, the he did postdoctoral work both at the MIT’s Division grew considerably, and many young Division of Biochemistry (1961–1962) with Jack scientists were educated and encouraged to go Buchanan and at the NIH’s National Heart Institute abroad to pursue postdoctoral studies. (1962–1964) with Nobel laureate Marshall Brian provided long-term services to the Nirenberg. It was in these places that he was biochemical and molecular biology community introduced to biochemistry, in particular to cell-free worldwide. Besides being Chairman of FEBS, Brian protein synthesis and to the initial steps aimed at the was Vice Chairman of the EMBO Council in 2003, elucidation of the genetic code. President of the International Union of In 1964, Brian returned to Cambridge to become Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) from a member of the scientific staff of the Medical 2000 to 2003, and Chairman of the Task Group on Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular International Relations (TGIR) of the European Biology (LMB), a world-class institution where he Federation of Biotechnology in 2001. He was a had the opportunity to work with Nobel laureates member of EMBO and foreign member of the Aaron Klug, Francis Crick and Sidney Brenner. Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. Major contributions from this period included the Brian received several honours including the discovery of the protein initiation code in 1966 and Copernicus medal from the Polish Academy of the first crystallization of a tRNA molecule in 1968. Sciences, and the FEBS Diplôme d’Honneur. His stay at the LMB was crucial in shaping his Brian organized many meetings worldwide, future career as he was touched by the quality of including the 25th FEBS Congress in Copenhagen, science being carried out at the laboratory, the but without doubt his highest priority was the striking international scientific environment, and the organization of the Advanced Courses in Molecular remarkable networking with top laboratories across and Cell Biology on the Greek island of Spetses, the world. over 47 years. In 2012, a lecture hall at the Spetses Prof. Keld Marker – who had been in Fred hotel was named after him. Sanger’s division at the LMB and with whom Brian A few months before his death Brian celebrated had collaborated in the identification of the the 40th anniversary of the Division of Biostructural formylmethionine initiation of protein synthesis Chemistry, and co-organized a memorial while at the LMB – convinced him to move to the symposium at the New York Academy of Sciences
38 FEBS News November 2014 FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS to pay tribute to Marshall Nirenberg for the Brian is survived by his caring wife Margaret. He identification of the genetic code. will be missed dearly as he was a unique individual, Brian had a great impact on my life; he brought full of enthusiasm, never afraid of speaking his me to Denmark together with my family, gave me a mind, and with a broad vision of science that we permanent position and the freedom to work rarely see nowadays. independently, introduced me to his extensive Julio E. Celis network of contacts, and taught me how to navigate Former Secretary General of FEBS in the intricate world of international organizations. This obituary will also appear in Biozoom, He was a great friend and mentor. the journal of the Danish Biochemical Society.
New Members of the Advanced Courses Committee: Irene Díaz-Moreno (Spain) Zrinka Kovarik (Croatia) Cláudio Manuel Soares (Portugal)
New Members of the Fellowships Committee: Elections of FEBS Officers Laurence Drouard (France) Kristina Gruden (Slovenia) and Committee Members Margarida Oliveira (Portugal) George Panayotou (Greece) The results of elections at the FEBS Council Meeting 2014 in Paris for FEBS Officers and New Members of the Working Group on Committee Members (nominated by Constituent Integration: Societies) are listed below. The appointments begin Marija Jankulovic-Gavrovic (Serbia) on 1 January 2015. Vida Mildažiene (Lithuania)
FEBS Treasurer Sir Alan Fersht (UK); second term
FEBS Secretary General Pačes Václav (Czech Republic); ‘Elect’ in 2015–2016 – first term starts 2017
FEBS Congress Counsellor Miguel A. De la Rosa (Spain); first term
Chair, Publications Committee László Fésüs (Hungary); second term
Chair, Advanced Courses Committee FEBS Council meeting, Paris, –4 5 September 2014 (partial shot). FEBS is governed by a Council of senior Beáta Vértessy (Hungary); first term scientists, consisting of one delegate from each of its Member Societies and the members of the FEBS Executive Chair, Working Group on Integration Committee. The full list of FEBS Constituent Societies can be Mathias Sprinzl (Germany); third term seen in the ‘Our Members’ section of the FEBS website. FEBS Council meets once a year at the annual FEBS Congress. It elects the members of the FEBS Executive Committee, as New Members of the Publications Committee: well as other FEBS Committee and Working Group members, Seppo Meri (Finland) for fixed terms, as set out in the FEBS Memorandum and Aristidis Moustakas (Greece) Articles of Association.
39 FEBS News November 2014 SCIENTIFIC EVENTS CALENDAR
Scientific Events Calendar
EORTC-NCI-AACR 2014 25th Annual Meeting of the Society for FEBS Advanced Lecture Course Symposium: Molecular Targets and Virology (GfV 2015) Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Cancer Therapeutics 18–21 March Transduction and Cancer (co-funded by 18–21 November 2014 Bochum, Germany EACR) Barcelona, Spain www.virology-meeting.de 16–24 August 2015 www.ecco-org.eu/ENA2014 Spetses, Greece Proteomic Forum 2015 mcr.umcutrecht.nl/upcoming-events/ Danube Scientific Conference On 22–25 March 2015 spetses-2015 Epigenetics Berlin, Germany 19–21 November 2014 www.proteomic-forum.de 23rd IUBMB and 44th SBBq Congress Budapest, Hungary 24–28 August 2015 danube-epigenetics.weebly.com Repetitive, Non-Globular Proteins: Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil Nature to Nanotechnology www.sbbq.org.br/iubmb2015 PINK1-Parkin Signalling in Parkinson’s 30 March – 1 April 2015 Disease and Beyond York, UK FEBS–BS Focused Meeting 2 December 2014 http://tinyurl.com/n4jah89 Signalling 2015: Cellular Functions of London, UK Phosphoinositides and Inositol bit.ly/1n5uYA FEBS-BS Education Workshop Phosphates Enhancing Molecular Bioscience Cambridge, UK The Keap1/Nrf2 Pathway in Health and Education 1–4 September 2015 Disease 30–31 March 2015 www.biochemistry.org/Conferences/ 6–8 January 2015 Cambridge, UK AllConferences/tabid/379/ItemID/2519/ Cambridge, UK bit.ly/BSeducn view/Conference/Default.aspx http://tinyurl.com/ntr963p ICBMB 2015: International Conference FEBS Workshop Symposium on Chemical Complexity & on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Plant Organellar Signalling Biology 22–23 April 2015 16–20 September 2015 19–20 January 2015 Paris, France Primošten, Croatia Strasbourg, France biochem.conference-site.com www.plant-organellar-signaling.eu chemcomplex2015.sciencesconf.org/ 6th Congress of European FEBS Advanced Lecture Course Essential Molecular Biology - Hands-On Microbiologists (FEMS 2015) Matrix Pathobiology, Signaling and Laboratory Course - 6th edition 7–11 June 2015 Molecular Targets 26 January – 13 February 2015 Maastricht, The Netherlands 24–29 September 2015 Porto, Portugal fems-microbiology.kenes.com Rhodes, Greece https://laimm.med.up.pt/index.php/en/ www.febs-mpst2015.upatras.gr events1/scientific-training/practical- 13th Symposium on Bacterial Genetics courses-2015 and Ecology (BAGECO13) 14–18 June 2015 Annual Conference 2015 of the Milan, Italy For the full list of FEBS Advanced Association for General and Applied www.bageco2015.org Courses in 2015, see the Advanced Microbiology (VAAM 2015) Courses section of the FEBS website; 1–4 March 201 World Congress and Expo on Applied only courses with websites already open are listed here. Marburg, Germany Microbiology www.vaam-kongress2015.de/ 22–24 June 2015 Frankfurt, Germany 9th German BioSensor Symposium (DBS) microbiology.omicsgroup.com/index.php To announce a scientific event in FEBS 2015 News and on the FEBS website, please 11–13 March 2015 The 40th FEBS Congress email brief details to the webmaster. Munich, Germany 4–9 July 2015 Priority will be given to events on topics www.dbs2015.de Berlin, Germany within the molecular life sciences, and www.febs2015.org taking place in the FEBS area.
Career Opportunities FEBS offers free advertisement of academic positions on the FEBS website, and selected entries may also be included in FEBS News. For details on how to post a vacancy, see the Career Opportunities page.
40 FEBS News November 2014