EMBL August 2004 &Cetera Newsletter of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory

22 EMBL August 2004 &cetera Newsletter of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Council meeting in Rome ...page 2 MitoCheck ...page 4 summer party 2004 ...page 8

Mattaj named next DG at Council meeting Where in the world is... Iain Mattaj will be the next Director-General of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory. The decision was reached at a meeting of EMBL's governing Council, EMBL alumnus held in Rome on June 29. Iain will take office starting in May 2005, when the term Davide Corona? of the current Director-General Fotis C. Kafatos ends. This was a highlight of the summer meeting of EMBL Council, which also announced an extension of the Four years after leaving EMBL, Lab’s Scientific Programme and Indicative Scheme for an extra year and several Davide Corona returns to his native other decisions that will have an important impact on EMBL. on page 2 Italy this summer to assume a junior investigator position at the San Raffaele Institute (Milan). EC grants major award to PhD Programme In this issue’s alumni profile, Davide talks about the effects that moving EMBL’s International PhD Programme has just been awarded one of the first between continents has on the life of a Marie Curie Early Stage Training (EST) institutional grants from the European young researcher and his family. Commission for its proposal “Early-Stage Training in Advanced Life Science While at EMBL, Davide worked as a Research Across Europe (E-STAR).” The grant totals nearly 2.5 million Euros and PhD student in Peter Becker’s group will fund up to 18 graduate student fellowships over 2.5 years. EST grants are a on proteins that remodel chromatin; key mechanism by which the EC is helping to provide young researchers with he continued this work at the structured scientific or technological training opportunities under Framework University of Santa Cruz in California Programme 6. on page 6 and will take it further in Milan, using Drosophila as a model system. A wealth of information from a little fish on page 10

Members of Jochen Wittbrodt’s group appear prominently in the latest edition of the journal Mechanisms of Development, a special issue devoted to the results of a major medaka mutagenesis screen. Following on the heels of the completion of a high-quality version of the medaka genome, the studies are producing a treas- ure trove of information about vertebrate development and the evolution of fish. on page 5 in this issue... MitoCheck: on the trail of the cell cycle summer council meeting 2 EMBL centres 4 EMBL groups will play a key role in MitoCheck, an EC-funded, high-throughput analysis of genes that contribute to the cell cycle. Eleven different institutes will science for teachers 5 participate in the 8.5-million-Euro project, which utilizes made-at-EMBL technol- the EMBO corner 7 ogy to investigate fundamental questions in a new way. on page 4 music@embl 8 Chickens run rampant at the EBI alumni profile 10 news & events 11 Yes, the EBI is working on the chicken genome, but fowl play a wider role in the daily life of the EBI. If anyone should know, it’s Mark Green, Head of EBI people@EMBL 12 Administration, and he does his best to keep us abreast of the situation. on page 9 EMBL&cetera Issue 22 - August 2004

Key steps for EMBL taken at summer Council meeting in Rome: next DG named;

Decisions made at EMBL's semi-annual budget, a big task for which support will of protein expression and crystallization council meetings usually have a direct and have to be garnered from the Member States. services at EMBL-Grenoble. He also report- long-term impact on the life of the A central point of the meeting is always the ed recent developments in the area of part- Laboratory, but the effects are often subtle. Director-General's report on the status of the nerships and collaborations, highlighting Not so at this summer's meeting, held dur- Laboratory, including scientific progress that the Chemical Genomics facility (in collabo- ing the last week of June, generously hosted has been made. Rather than reporting in ration with the DKFZ), the renewed cooper- in Rome at CNR headquarters by Italian del- detail himself, Fotis said, he would rather ation between DESY and EMBL-Hamburg egate Glauco Tocchini-Valentini. The the Council get a direct impression from for structural biology initiatives, the Council made a number of extremely impor- some of EMBL's scientists. In addition to Partnership for Structural Biology in tant decisions that will be felt in the near presentations made by all of Monterotondo's Grenoble, and the Molecular Medicine future by everyone at EMBL. group leaders, given during a half-day out- Partnship Unit (with the University of Heidelberg). These demonstrate EMBL’s One major piece of news from the meeting ing to the unit, Council heard presentations success at reinforcing ties with research ini- was the announcement that Iain Mattaj, cur- from Lars Steinmetz and Ernst Stelzer about tiatives in the Member States. rent Scientific Director and head of the Gene ongoing projects in their labs. Expression Programme, will become the Council members also heard a report from Another important development was the next Director-General in May 2005, when the the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), acceptance of a proposal to establish an term of Fotis C. Kafatos ends (see story which had recently reviewed the Gene “EMBL International Training Centre” (EITC). The project will bring together under below). The decision was unanimous and Expression Programme in Heidelberg. The one umbrella various training activities at the announcement was accompanied by a Programme was given “the most positive EMBL (including the International PhD standing ovation. review” in EMBL history, with a special com- Programme, courses and workshops, post- Another key decision was to extend the cur- mendation to Programme Coordinator Iain doctoral training, sabbatical and other pro- rent scientific and financial plans of the Mattaj for having succeeded in bringing grammes for visitors, such as the European Laboratory (the Scientific Programme and together a group of excellent scientists that Learning Laboratory for Life Sciences). are at the forefront of research on chromatin, Indicative Scheme) an extra year. These Establishing the EITC will help to improve nuclear assembly and transport. The plans are crucial because they ensure five- the organization and promotion of all the Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, run year stability for EMBL, a framework in aspects of EMBL's training mission. which the management knows what by Matthias Hentze and Andreas Kulozik Finally, two pieces of news from the Finance resources will be available in making strate- (University of Heidleberg), also received a Committee that you've all been waiting for: gic decisions about overall funding and the highly positive review. development of specific projects. Adding a Other themes that Fotis underscored includ- First, the following salary adjustments for year to the current plan gives the new DG ed the establishment of an electron tomogra- 2004 were approved: the time to settle in before submitting a phy group and a new electron microscopy France 3.2%, Germany 2.0%, Italy 4.1% and detailed five-year scientific programme and facility in Heidelberg, and the development UK 3.9%.

Iain Mattaj named next EMBL Director-General

Iain was born in Scotland in 1952 and was division. He is a member of the European trained in the UK and Switzerland. He Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) came to EMBL in 1985, where he has led a and has helped make the EMBO Journal a very successful Unit since 1990, becoming highly successful international scientific Scientific Director for the whole of EMBL journal, most recently as Executive Editor. in 1999. He is a distinguished scientist Iain says, “Having had a supporting role in whose contributions have been recognized the leadership of EMBL since 1999, I by his election as a Fellow of the Royal believe that much of the Laboratory's cur- Society (London), Fellow of the Royal rent strategic planning is on the right track. Society of Edinburgh, Member of I hope to harness the creativity of the Academia Europea and Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts Laboratory and to build on the successful and Science, as well as by the award of the efforts of my predecessors by helping Photo by Maj Britt Hansen prestigious Louis-Jeantet Prize for make EMBL a flagship for 21st century Medicine in 2001. His early work focused Biology, just as it has been a leader over Iain Mattaj will be the next Director- on assemblies of RNA and protein (RNPs) much of the past three decades. But if there General of the European Molecular in the cell, including those involved in is one lesson I have learned here it is that Biology Laboratory. The decision was messenger RNA production. Subsequently, the pace of progress in the Life Sciences is reached and announced at a meeting of Iain characterized mechanisms of macro- remarkable. The rate of change and the EMBL's governing Council, held in Rome molecular transport between the two major evolution of ideas within the Laboratory on June 29. Iain will take office starting in cellular compartments, the nucleus and the need to match this pace, and I will have to May 2005, when the term of the current cytoplasm, and of the spatial regulation of ensure that they do. I look forward to this Director-General Fotis C. Kafatos ends. structures and processes underlying cell challenge.” 3 scientific programme extended; and a good time was had by all

The pension adjustments for 2004 will be: host country of the Lab, will make a major Pommidoro (although all of those present France 2.2%, Germany 1.0% and UK 2.9% financial contribution towards the construc- have been sworn to silence). Finally, on the (no pensioners in Italy). tion. last evening, CNR hosted a gala dinner at And secondly, the committee approved the In spite of all the work that got done at the the Ambassador’s Club on the banks of the construction of a new car park at the Council meeting, the schedule included a lit- Tiber river. A good time was had by all, espe- Heidelberg laboratory (!) to help ease the tle time for R&R under the hot Roman sun: cially the Portuguese and Dutch delegates current crowded parking situation. few of those present will forget the vocal who managed to duck out into the TV room Construction to provide 150 new spaces will duet (and dancing) of Glauco Tocchini- to cheer on their countries in the semifinal begin at the end of 2004. Germany, as the Valentini and Fotis at the restaurant match of the EuroCup 2004. Photos by Marietta Schupp

Clockwise from left: Walter Witke explains his research as Council visits the Monterotondo campus; Council members tour the mouse facilities, Keith Williamson and Bernd- Uwe Jahn at work in the Monterotondo courtyard; dinner illuminated by the Roman sunset; Bernard Ehresmann (France), Marja Makarow (Finland) and Myriam Néchad (France) compare notes during a break between Council sessions.

Electron Microscopy Core Facility officially opens at EMBL-Heidelberg Jürgen Roemer-Mähler from the Bundesmin- isterium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) and Anna Della Croce from the Italian Embassy in Berlin joined staff at EMBL- Heidelberg on June 18 to celebrate the opening of a new Electron Microscopy (EM) Core Facility. After a brief introduction by Director-General Fotis Kafatos, EMBL scientists Andy Hoenger, Claude Antony and Achilleas Frangakis outlined current and future high-tech applications of advanced EM technologies. The BMBF has funded a large portion of a new electron microscope Photo by Maj Britt Hansen Opening day for the EM facility: guests examine state-of-the-art equipment for the facility – which has the most advanced features available today. This ranging from yeast cells to much larger Claude and his team will also carry out their instrument will be predominantly used for specimens. The facility can accommodate own cutting-edge research on yeast cells. high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy. simple experiments as well as long-term They use EM methods to study mitosis in collaborations. budding yeast and to look at microtubule The EM Core Facility, led by Claude Antony, organization in wild-type and mutant fis- will provide up-to-date know-how on EM It will also serve as a training centre for vis- sion yeast cells. methods for cell biology and immuno- itors from the member states. If demand cytochemistry and will assist EMBL exceeds capacity, researchers will be asked For more information on the facility or to scientists in using EM in their research. The to submit project proposals that will be eval- arrange a visit, contact Stephanie Weil at the new Leica High Pressure Freezing (HPF) uated by a committee. Successful applicants EMBL-Heidelberg Visitors Programme machine will be a prominent feature of the will come for one to two weeks to use the ([email protected]). facility, allowing users to cryofix samples equipment, taking home new expertise. – Trista Dawson EMBL&cetera Issue 22 - August 2004

MitoCheck: a high-throughput approach to understanding cell division

Among the thousands of new molecules largest Integrated Project on cell cycle con- incorporated into confocal microscopes with uncovered by the Human Genome Project, trol within FP6. the help of industrial partner Leica there are sure to be hundreds – maybe more The first step of the project, carried out by Microsystems (Mannheim). – that play a role in cell division, or mitosis. Ellenberg and Pepperkok aims to identify all The success of MitoCheck will undoubtedly Discovering these genes would be a great the genes required for division in human lie in the expertise that each participating boon to biological research; among other cells. Once the most important of these genes group will bring. The Max Planck Institute things, it would give scientists new tracks to have been identified, researchers from the of Cell Biology and Genetics in Dresden will follow in trying to understand the causes of other institutes across Europe will step in to provide a vast library of about 20,000 RNAis. cancer and other diseases that result from analyze their binding partners, phosphory- These will be used to suppress genes one by disruptions of the cell cycle. lation status and potential role in cancer one on the chips made by the EMBL scien- This is the goal of a project called MitoCheck diagnosis. tists. With the new screening microscopes, that has just been launched by Jan Ellenberg, To screen for mitotic genes, MitoCheck several hundred thousand movies will be Rainer Pepperkok and their groups at weaves together several strands of biotech- produced to capture the full impact of silenc- EMBL, and researchers from eight other nology in an innovative way. Specific genes ing specific genes. Analyzing the enormous institutes across Europe. are silenced using interfering RNAs (RNAi) amount of data will be carried out in a close and cells are then analyzed for defects in MitoCheck is the fruit of discussions, initiat- collaboration with Roland Eils’s group at the mitosis using live cell microscopy. To DKFZ in Heidelberg. ed two years ago, between a group of scien- achieve the level of throughput necessary to The Heidelberg team hopes to achieve a tists including Marcel Doree, Tim Hunt, Kim accomplish this enormous task for the whole nearly comprehensive list of genes required Nasmyth, Jan-Michael Peters, Eric Karsenti genome, EMBL scientists Beate Neumann, Iain Mattaj, Jan Ellenberg and Tony Hyman. Holger Erfle and Urban Liebel have devel- for mitosis in human cells, as well as a much They realized that although the major oped a microarray onto which hundreds of deeper understanding of what happens enzyme that causes the transition from mito- RNAis can be printed. The chip is simply when each of these genes is suppressed. All sis to interphase, a kinase called cdc2 and its covered with living cells that absorb the the data produced through MitoCheck will regulator cyclin, had been known for over 20 RNA from the printed spot they grow on. be made available to the scientific community and the public through databases at the years (their discovery was awarded the Once a gene is silenced, EMBL scientists will Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, another Nobel Prize in 2001), there was still no com- take a microscope movie of the cells on each partner. prehensive understanding about how all the spot of the array, a step that draws on tech- proteins affected by this kinase work togeth- nology that Rainer and Philippe Bastiaens “The project is an excellent example of a er to make a cell divide. MitoCheck, an have been busy developing. Their high-con- European research network," Jan says. "We Integrated Project for the European tent screening microscopes will allow have assembled a group of top scientists Commission’s 6th Framework Programme, researchers to rapidly take pictures of cells at across Europe, each of whom is contributing aims to close this gap. The project is funded different locations in the array. As part of the an essential piece towards the common goal at a level of 8.5 million Euros, making it the new project, the concept of screening will be of understanding mitosis.” Photo provided by Jan Ellenberg MitoCheck will use innovative “live cell arrays” combined with siRNA gene silencing in a high-throughput study of the effects of specific genes on the cell cycle.

Centre for Disease Mechanisms outlines plans for future activities

More than twenty scientists from EMBL research activities at Europe’s medical insti- EMBL for postdoctoral training, so that they came together for the first retreat of the tutions. can apply basic science to the investigation EMBL Centre for Disease Mechanisms CDM webpages will provide an up-to-date of disease pathogenesis. Positions will be (CDM) on June 17. The event provided a account of EMBL research relevant to dis- announced on the CDM webpages. Funds great opportunity to discuss the scientific ease mechanisms, post notices of meetings permitting, the CDM will also award fellow- and symposia and disseminate information interests of the participants and also to draw ships to talented MDs who join EMBL labs to an outline of the Centre’s activities. about relevant publications by CDM participants. It will include a “matchmaking” serv- work on relevant projects. The CDM aims to support medically rele- ice, facilitating contacts between external To facilitate access to available genetic vant research at EMBL by promoting the clinical researchers and EMBL groups. The mouse models relevant for disease mecha- increasingly important application of basic CDM will continue to host the popular nism- oriented research, the CDM will create research to the understanding and treatment EMBL-organised symposia and workshops and maintain an up-to-date database of con- of human disease. The activities of the on medically oriented topics including the Centre will be directed towards expanding “Minisymposia on Molecular Medicine.” ditional mouse mutants, including both “floxed” alleles and Cre transgenic mice. the interface and facilitating translational An MD-postdoc program will be hosted by research between EMBL groups and clinical the CDM; the aim is to attract young MDs to – Manolis Pasparakis 5 science for teachers

In June, EMBL Education Officers Alexandra November, which will focus on the relation- was also pleased to see how willing the sci- Manaia and Julia Willingale-Theune pushed ship between genes and developmental phe- entists at EMBL were to share their research their textbooks and notes aside to clear some notypes. She plans to have the teachers and time with teachers.” space on their desks. They needed to make detect mutant fish by When organizing the course in room for Silvia Boi, a postdoc-turned-sci- PCR using a pro- Milan, Silvia plans to follow the ence-teacher, arriving from Italy for a tocol previously example of ELLS LearningLABs. month-long visit. In addition to her research developed by She’ll use the tips and tricks she and teaching activities, Silvia is an avid sci- ELLS with the help learned from Alexandra and Julia ence communicator, and has even translated of PhD student about how to put together a selec- a part of Stephen Jay Gould’s last book into Martina Rembold tion of activities – from hands-on Italian for publication. from Jochen Witt- experiments to discussion ses- brodt’s lab. She has The opportunity for the visit arose when sions – which will allow both also translated and EMBL alumna Maria Luisa Tenchini began a teachers and their students to integrated texts into experience some of the excite- collaboration with the European Learning handbooks that teach- ment that goes inside a molec- Laboratory for the Life Sciences (ELLS) and

ers can take back into Schupp Marietta by Photo ular biology research institute. suggested that Silvia travel to Heidelberg to the classroom. A second ELLS welcomes visiting teach- learn the ropes of how to prepare for a teach- segment of the course ers’ course they will run in Milan in will focus on bioinfor- ELLS visitor Silvia Boi ers, scientists, and others. When November. Armed with hundreds of hours matics, so Silvia enlisted participants return to their home schools or of experience both at the bench and in the the help of postdoc Francesca Diella (Toby laboratories, they will take along plenty of classroom, financial support from EMBL Gibson’s team) to develop a new activity. ideas and practical materials, as well as a way of staying in contact with a network of and the Ufficio Scolastico Regionale della “Interacting with scientists like Martina and Lombardia and lots of ideas, Silvia set off on Francesca was a great experience,” says people actively working to improve science her journey to Germany. Silvia. “They were really enthusiastic about teaching. If you would like to arrange a visit, Silvia’s main task was to develop teaching the research they are doing, and managed to please contact the ELLS staff at materials to be used at the workshop in convey this excitement. It was contagious! I [email protected].

Big secrets from a little fish: medaka mutants begin to talk

Normally Mechanisms of Development is a tidy also a great help to have other fish and their flash of its tail. Even early embryos are rip- publication of just over a hundred pages; in genomes – zebrafish and pufferfish – on pled by rapid contractions that make them July a whopping double issue thumped hand so that you can make comparisons and hard to observe. Martina Rembold and down on our desks, 400 pages of revelations take advantage of what has been learned in a Jochen report that an agent called n-heptanol about the tiny fish medaka. Among the curi- closely-related organism. Medaka's genome blocks the contractions without interfering ous things to be learned: the Japanese have is about half the size of that of the zebrafish, with development, permitting time-lapse about 5000 names for the creature because it which makes it handier in genetic studies; imaging. has no real economic value; it's too small to another factor is that a number of strains are A further problem is resolution. Even though eat, so it doesn't need a standard name for available for use in both mutagenesis screen- medaka is transparent, it’s hard to assemble the menu. People call it whatever they ing and genetic mapping.” a detailed three-dimensional image of inter- please. Children sing a song about schools of Mechanisms of Development has now printed nal structures. Here Jan Huisken and other the fish – on their way to their own schools. the first BAC map draft of the genome as members of Ernst Stelzer's group have made This belies the scientific value of the fish, well as many specific studies carried out by a breakthrough; in a paper published in which has long been studied by Japanese Jochen and others. Screens of mutations Science, they report their invention of a new researchers and has rapidly become an revealed developmental roles for genes that microscope called SPIM. This instrument important model organism for developmen- had never been observed in zebrafish. There passes slices of light through the fish, illumi- tal biology. At EMBL, Jochen Wittbrodt has are clear parallels between the two species – nating layers that are rapidly assembled into been the standard-bearer for medaka. The defective genes often produce the same phe- a three-dimensional image, then rotating the names of members of his group appear notypes – but a new finding is that these sample to capture different angles. The throughout the journal. Jochen has actively mutations have their effects through differ- method can be used on live samples up to 3- pushed for the completion of the medaka ent molecular pathways. 5 millimeters in size, capturing images up to mutagenesis screen and genome (of which 5-to-15 times sharper than conventional an extremely high-quality version was fin- The list of discoveries goes on and on: the images of an organism's internal structures ished two weeks ago). His own work has screens identified 60 mutants that affect reti- (See the article in EMBL&cetera 18). been devoted to processes such as the devel- nal development, 25 genes affecting the for- opment of the eye and brain. An important mation of the forebrain, nine that disturb the Finally, Jochen and group member Thorsten part of that work involves large-scale proj- segmentation of the body, five that disrupt Henrich have been behind the development ects to introduce mutations and study their axon pathfinding, etc. That's just a taste of of a new genetic screen database (GSD) to developmental effects through screens car- what you'll find in the journal. track their findings. The test version and ried out in Heidelberg and Kyoto with Jochen's group has also promoted the devel- software are available on the EMBL website Japanese collaborators. opment of microscope techniques needed to (www.embl.de/wittbrodt/gsd); scientists “Medaka is attractive when you're working obtain a sharp view of changes in the fish can use it to enter their own findings. So the on developmental themes because it's almost over time. The problem is obvious to anyone next time you notice something funny going transparent,” Jochen says. “That makes it who has watched a medaka hatch – even on in your aquarium, and you don't have possible to study processes within the body when the film is greatly slowed down, the anything better to do... in a living organism, in their real context. It's animal escapes from its egg in a flickering – Russ Hodge EMBL&cetera Issue 22 - August 2004

EMBL PhD Programme receives coveted Marie Curie EST grant

EMBL’s International PhD Programme has Genevieve Reinke, led the efforts to secure EMBL has long-standing and internationally just been awarded one of the first Marie the grant. “It opens up the door for EMBL to recognized experienced in training young Curie Early Stage Training (EST) institution- use its core funding to accept additional researchers. In 1997, the EMBL International al grants from the European Commission for excellent students whom we would other- PhD Programme was granted the right to its proposal “Early-Stage Training in wise have to turn down.” Other external award its own PhD degree. Based on this Advanced Life Science Research Across funding agencies that support the EMBL right, the EMBL has established partner- Europe (E-STAR).” EST grants form part of PhD Programme include the Louis Jeantet ships with universities across Europe, with the EC’s 6th Framework Programme arsenal Foundation based in Switzerland, which whom it awards a joint PhD degree. E-STAR to provide young researchers with struc- funds fellowships for students from East fellows will be particularly suited to con- tured scientific or technological training European countries. tribute to a mission that the EU and EMBL opportunities. The grant totals nearly 2.5 “There were many factors that contributed share: fostering connections between PhD million Euros and will fund up to 18 gradu- to EMBL’s success in obtaining this impor- students and educational institutions across ate student fellowships over 2.5 years. tant grant,” says Genevieve. “In addition to Europe. Eligible to become E-STAR fellows are inter- solid scientific excellence, the Laboratory nally-funded EMBL students who have been offers many of the infrastructures necessary in the programme for less than a year and to support young scientists from across The EMBL International PhD who have successfully passed their Europe and the world (accommodation, spe- Programme brochure for 2005 Qualifying Assessment. The appointments cial visas, childcare facilities, and 24-hour is now available.To get a copy, send will be made later this year. on-site food services). EMBL also provides an email to [email protected]. “This is a significant development for train- the perfect setting for students to learn skills As of this year, applications will be ing activities at the Laboratory and a wel- to complement their research, such as com- online. come recognition of the outstanding quality munications, lab management and confer- A test phase will run until the end ence organization. In many ways EMBL is and rigour of EMBL’s graduate training pro- of August. Input and suggestions gramme,” says Associate Dean of Graduate seen by the EU as a prototype for the way are warmly invited. Studies Anne Ephrussi, who together with that training should be done in a European Matthias Hentze and Grants Officer research institute.”

Navigate your way through the research funding maze with the EMBL grants office

There’s a lot of grant money for research out The EU is the largest source of external fund- posal meet those of the funding agency, or there, and every EMBL group depends on ing for EMBL, accounting for 25-50% of all whether EMBL is even eligbile for funding external money alongside the core funding it external contributions. The first call of the from a given organization – potentially sav- gets from the Laboratory. But money is not 6th Framework Programme, in 2003, saw a ing wasted time and effort. She also coaches always easy to find. It’s hard to wade total of 35 projects with EMBL scientists (as scientists to help them develop grant writing through the text of calls to find the right partners or coordinators) receive funding. skills, giving them tips and tricks on how to match between a project and funding; you Yet there are other sources as well: increas- formulate applications and passing on expe- need a good feeling for the current scientific ingly, scientists at EMBL are able to apply for rience that is likely to convince funding and political climate, and making an appli- national funding from individual European organizations. “Being able to put together cation can be horrifyingly complex. An countries (for example from the DFG and good grant proposals is a key skill for any insider’s knowledge of how the process BMBF in Germany, the MRC in the UK, as researcher,” says Genevieve, “and success at works can go a long way towards achieving well as from other national funding agen- raising research funds is regarded as an success, and EMBL’s grant office is there to cies) or even the US. Significant funds are increasingly important part of a scientist’s provide it. Genevieve Reinke is on hand to also available from private sector agencies, CV. We’re here to help EMBL researchers help researchers out with everything from such as the Wellcome Trust and the gain these skills.” Future plans for the keeping an eye on relevant calls, to filling in Volkswagen Foundation, and many others. forms, and even helping them through con- Grants Office include organizing regular So how does the Grants Office help EMBL tract negotiations and getting projects workshops and courses on research grant- researchers tap into these important rolling. related themes. resources? “Over the past five years, the Lab has more Once a proposal has been accepted for fund- “The first step is to identify potential fund- than doubled the amount of external funding by an agency, there may be champagne ing sources,” says Genevieve. “You need to ing for projects, from about 10 million Euros and celebration, but there is still some work know what is out there in order to be able to in 1998 to more than 22 million in 2003,” to do. Genevieve steps in to prepare and go get it.” Genevieve collects information says Genevieve. “EMBL scientists have been from funding agencies and makes it avail- arrange negotiations, get the required signa- very successful at putting together major able to the EMBL community via the grants tures and ensure that the contract goes grant applications, allowing them to partici- through as quickly as possible. She’ll also pate in important, large-scale projects.” office webpage (www.embl.org/staffonly/ financematters). She also keeps an eye out make sure that legal and intellectual proper- Externally-funded activities include EMBL- ty issues have been explored by EMBL’s Hamburg’s BIOXHIT, the BioSapiens project for calls she knows may be of interest to legal advisor and EMBLEM. at the EBI, COMBIO (led by Luis Serrano in research groups, and will give them the EMBL-Heidelberg), MitoCheck (see story on heads up. “Once the contract is signed, there’s nothing page 4), and even training projects such as E- The second step is to put together a solid more satisfying than calling up my col- STAR (see story this page), and the application that stands the best chance of leagues in the Budget Office and letting European Learning Laboratory for the Life success. For starters, Genevieve can help them know that we’ve got another grant in,” Sciences (ELLS) just to name a few. determine whether the objectives of a pro- smiles Genevieve. 7

body, EMBC, in 1970 and the establishment tures, sectoral meetings and the Science and of EMBL in 1974 – the primary objective of Society Programme in the ’90s; and since the the EMBO founders. The shared history of 2000, the launch of EMBO reports, the Young these three partner organisations is grounds Investigator Programme, the Electronic for further celebration in November this Information Programme, the World year, when EMBO, EMBC and EMBL jointly Programme and activities supporting celebrate their 40th, 35th and 30th anniver- women in science. Open discussion on the saries. final day of the meeting looked to the future corner Reports from EMBO members on their of EMBO. A lively exchange on EMBO’s role research and discoveries past and present in European research ensued, with particu- lar emphasis on the prospect of a European EMBO celebrates the big “4-0” highlighted the advancement of European molecular biology over the years and the Research Council. Rumour has it the big ‘4-0’ is not so big as it role of EMBO in its development. Cell biolo- They say life begins at 40 – a fitting motto for used to be. It seems 40 is young by today’s gy, microbiology, structural biology, plant EMBO as it moves forward. So much has standards – and even more so in the life of a biology, neurobiology, immunology, devel- been achieved over the past four decades, scientific organisation. Nonetheless, at 40 opmental biology and most recently systems yet there is still so much to strive for. As the years ‘young’, EMBO could not let this mile- biology are all now established disciplines of 40th anniversary festivities reached their cli- stone pass by without proper celebration. molecular biology, all of them represented max in a spectacular firework display at And celebrate they did at the EMBO 40th by EMBO members. Schloss Auerbach near Heidelberg, the Anniversary Meeting on June 18-20 at The 40th anniversary event also showcased mood in the air was very much that the best EMBO in Heidelberg. EMBO members flew EMBO’s more recent activities – the launch is yet to come. in from all over Europe to participate. of the EMBO Journal in the ’80s; EMBO lec- – Frank Gannon Amongst them were many familiar faces – the first two Executive Directors of EMBO, Raymond Appleyard and John Tooze; many of EMBO’s founding members; 5 of EMBO’s 36 Nobel Prize winners; Wilhelm Krull, Secretary General of the Volkswagen Foundation; Peter Goodfellow, Senior Vice President of Discovery Research at Glaxo- SmithKline; and of course, EMBC President, Marja Makarow and EMBL Director- General, Fotis Kafatos. Fond tributes were paid to EMBO’s first chairman, Max Perutz, and first Secretary General, John Kendrew, who sadly are no longer with us. During 3 days of presentations, discussions and festivities, EMBO took a look back at its origins and milestones in its history – the Photos by Maj Britt Hansen and Marietta Schupp early days of the EMBO fellowships funded Clockwise from left: Peter Goodfellow listens in; EMBO Executive Directors past and present (Raymond initially by the Volkswagen Foundation, the Appleyard, John Tooze, Frank Gannon); Grand finale at Schloss Auerbach; Lively discussion (Ronald Plasterk, formation of the intergovernmental funding Chris Leaver, Gottfried Schatz)

European Course on Biotechnology Ethics gives EMBL PhD Student food for thought

Earlier this year, EMBL PhD student Fabian Fabian is no stranger to multidisciplinary rabbit oocytes, how would you classify the Filipp switched off his computer and headed discussions about science. As a student in cells that would develop? What is the judi- to Genoa, Italy. His plan was to meet up with EMBL’s International PhD programme he cial status of these embryos? “It was a chal- a group of philiosophy, social science and has participated in many of the Lab’s Science lenging assignment, especially since to make law students – something rather unusual for and Society activities, including a PhD any progress we first had to learn each biochemist. He was taking part in a week- course component which recognizes the other’s languages,” says Fabian. “One mes- long course on biotechnology ethics, organ- need to expose students to the ethical frame- ized by the "BioTEthics" group and funded work of their daily research. “Although the sage that developed during the course was by the EC under the Quality of Life PhD course’s one-day-introduction gives a that questions like these might not always Programme. good taste of the importance of ethical issues have clear cut answers; it’s up to people in our research,” says Fabian, “many stu- working in different parts of society (law, The conference drew together students and dents would benefit from gaining a deeper experts from a variety of disciplines to dis- science, health, etc.) to establish a dialogue knowledge of ethical theory and practice. cuss ethics in biotechnology. “As a student so they can begin to ask the right questions.” Courses like the one I attended provide a working in basic research in the life sciences, great opportunity for this.” The course is part of a three-year initiative I wanted to get an update about applied which aims to improve the education of ethics as well as juridical regulations in One particularly useful session, says Fabian, European doctoral students in the field of biotechnology.” Other participants included allowed students from the different disci- bioethics. The next one will take place in students from the humanities, who often plines to gather in small working groups. have a compulsory bioethics component of They used their different backgrounds to Oxford in the spring of 2005 and will focus their graduate studies. This opportunity develop ethical perspectives on real case on Bioethics and Public Perception of allowed them to interact one-on-one with studies, for example, nuclear transfer. If a Biotechnology. Find out more at scientists. human somatic nucleus is transferred into www.biotethics.org EMBL&cetera Issue 22 - August 2004

Chromatic chromatin, medaka obligato, and the ion channel blues

In a break in the rehearsal, the flute player What better way to raise money than with disassembled her instrument to run a clean- concerts? The first program (March 5) ing rod through it, and asked the violinist if offered music ranging from Mozart to he couldn't help her take some nice electron Kodaly to Michael Nyman, featuring 15 lab microscope pictures of microtubules. A members on the flute, violin, guitar, cello (very tall) bioinformaticist warmed up at the and piano. The second concert added a keyboards, as a (very tall) chemical biology vocal number, stretching the repertoire from group leader strapped on his bass guitar, modern jazz back to the medieval and Baroque periods. Nobody is likely to forget and the research technician slipped off to the tangled “Story of Tango,” from Maiwen put on a slinky red dress so that she could on the flute and Sebastian Ulbert on the gui- croon the night away. tar, or the infinitely-accelerating “Hungarian If any of this sounds incongruous, you're out Csárdás” whittled out by Sebastian and of the loop on the culture scene at Gaspar Jekely, or the dark chords of Maiwen Caudron and Sebastian Ulbert unplugged. Heidelberg, where music has been busting Prokofiev's fourth sonata struck by Sarah out all over. In February, members of the Lab Kafatou, or Simone Riedinger’s perform- launched a music club which now has 41 ance of arias by Puccini and Mozart, or members and is sure to grow. The group has Massimiliano Mazza's soulful rendition of la la-la-la-la, la la-la-la-la, put on two concerts, provided music for the “La valse d’Amelie.” Gloria in excelsis Deo... opening of the Electron Microscope Facility, Proceeds from the concerts, topped up by and will certainly make an appearance at generous donations from across EMBL, Joining most choirs doesn’t require EMBL's alumni events in the fall. amounted to more than enough to secure the getting your passport checked, but lease on a piano. It now sits in the Operon, A year ago, PhD students Caroline Lemerle that’s what happened as Alan Sawyer ready for use in the intermissions of semi- (piano, violin, etc.) and Maiwen Caudron tried to slip past the Swiss Guards into nars and conferences. Now the only prob- the Vatican. Alan, Head of the EMBL (flute) approached Director-General Fotis lem is finding time to practice, a daily strug- Kafatos (whose part in the orchestra hasn't Monoclonal Core Facility at the gle for students like Massimiliano who have Monterotondo Outstation, was report- yet been assigned, although there have been to balance their artistic instincts with the rig- some recent, legendary incidences of singing ing to sing his first Mass with the Coro ors of doing a PhD. “I'm working on a piece della Cappella Giulia (Choir of the Julia and dancing) about launching the club. by Chopin,” he says. “It's very hard. I can Chapel) on the Feast of Saint Peter, High on the wish list was obtaining a piano only learn a measure a day.” A sigh. “It's June 29. Immediately afterwards, he for the Lab – a lot of scientists play, but a nine pages long!” Another sigh. “But I've high-tailed it back to the Outstation in piano is hard to bring along on international always loved that piece.” time to give a tour of the facility to or intercontinental moves. “Fotis was very To find out about upcoming concerts and Council members attending the sum- supportive but made it clear that we would other music-related events, get your name mer meeting in Rome. have to come up with the money ourselves,” on the mailing list by contacting Caroline says. [email protected].

What you missed (or maybe you didn’t!) at the annual EMBL-Staff Association summer party Photos by Maj Britt Hansen. and Reinhold Kaluza 9

The dream of chickens – a modern fairy tale

Once upon a time, in the EBI courtyard, a even reached the ears of the Director- 4) It would be funded by Ewan Birney’s new member of staff, not knowing any General, arriving for a Senior Scientists Chicken Genome research grants better, thought it would be a good idea to meeting. And it was decided to hold a grand 5)The chickens, once raised, would be set-up a bird table to feed our feathered convocation of all the EMBL senior scientists passed to the kitchens of the staff canteen friends. to agree what should be done with the bird- 6) Responsibility for clearing guano would The site authorities saw the bird-table and table in the centre of the courtyard. remain with the administrator. complained that it contravened livestock at And all through this the member of staff This pleased the site authorities who were work regulations. who had put up the bird-table continued to asked to advise on livestock regulations and Some staff complained that the table was feed our feathered friends and to enjoy the benefited from the supply of cheap chickens encouraging the wrong sort of bird, such as bird-song. The Administrator watched as a for the staff canteens. No-one complained magpies, to visit the courtyard. swallow dived to the bird-table and thought about the noise of the chickens any more as Some staff queried why the bird-table “now there’s a conundrum. Where would a even the cock crowing at its loudest was a wasn’t subsidised like the one in swallow’s home base be? In the UK where damn sight quieter than the fire alarms. The Heidelberg? they spend six months of the year, or in cost of construction and bird-food were met Some staff complained about the noise of the North Africa where they spend the other six by research funds, so free to staff. The bird bird-song and how they could no longer months? Tricky.” table and hen-house was formally work with their windows open. And the Senior Scientists talked and designated an avian research facility, thereby making it a legitimate source of thought, and thought and talked until the Some staff complained that the bird-table interest and distraction. And everyone was cows, that had quietly been chewing cud in was a distraction from the research and invited to the Grand Opening Ceremony the field, had walked all the way home. And service provision of the Institute and created and had a good time. a bad impression to visitors. the only thing that interrupted their And the Administrator, who often had to And some staff complained about all of the discussions was the loud and incessant din of the fire alarms as they were tested over take work home with him, found a use for above. the guano in his back garden. His roses are and over again. And then the Senior Some staff said how wonderful it was to coming on a treat. Scientists repaired to the bar where they hear bird-song. How joyous to help our talked and thought, and thought and talked So, gentle reader, as with all good fairy tales, feathered friends increase their numbers. some more. everyone lived happily ever afterwards. Some staff said what a positive image it And this is what they decided: – Mark Green created for the EBI, and how it helped make the place feel warm and caring. 1) The bird table would be extended to The Administrator sighed. It was just so include a hen-house much more guano. 2) The new arrangement would be used for Discussion and debate ensued in corridors, Chickens only over coffee, via e-mail. Argument and 3) The fire alarms would be replaced by the counter-argument raged back and forth. It Chickens. Graphic by Petra Riedinger

EMBLEM goes to BIO 2004

In the beginning of June, EMBLEM, the leaders, including journalists, politicians commercial subsidiary of EMBL, exhibited and investors. Among the visitors to the at “Bio 2004,” the annual international con- EMBLEM booth was German Vice-Consul vention of the Biotechnology Industry Hansjörg Deng. Organization. The largest annual biotech- “Interest in EMBL technologies abounds nology event in the world, this year’s Bio and the event helped EMBLEM build new event in San Francisco attracted over 16,000 business relations, foster key accounts and participants and 1,375 exhibitors from more than 30 countries. touch base with our strategic partners from science and business,” says Deputy Attendees included nearly all large phar- Managing Director Martin Raditsch. “Bio maceutical companies as well as a virtual 2004 impressively demonstrated that the “who’s who” of the biotech industry. Many difficult conditions of recent years may be came by to visit the EMBLEM booth and coming to an end and that at least in the find out about the latest from the Lab, giv- EMBLEM’s Martin Raditsch (left) and new busi- ing EMBLEM an important opportunity to US, the biotech industry has matured into a booming part of the health-care industry.” ness development manager Holger Schwarz promote EMBL’s research to a broad vari- (right) take a photobreak between business meet- ety of potential customers and opinion – Gabor Lamm ings at the EMBLEM booth at Bio 2004. EMBL&cetera Issue 22 - August 2004

Full circle: after eight years abroad, EMBL alumnus Davide Corona returns to Italy

Four years ago, Davide Corona, freshly “The most enriching aspect of my research you received your undergraduate training. hatched from the EMBL International PhD experience abroad was to be exposed to dif- When I left Italy I thought that returning to Programme, packed up his belongings and ferent cultures, experiences and life styles,” do research in a qualified position would be with his wife Maria Crisci (quite pregnant at says Davide. “Young researchers far from virtually impossible.” Fortunately, Davide the time) left Heidelberg for the sunny home might find it difficult was wrong. Thanks to the programmes of shores of California and a postdoctoral to integrate into a new funding agencies such as the Giovanni position at the University country and a new sys- Armenise-Harvard Foundation, Telethon of Santa Cruz. tem – but it’s definitely and HFSP, which aim to support young Davide, like his EMBL worthwhile. A few investigators at the beginning of their scien- classmates, is no stranger to years of training tific careers in their home country, Davide moving about. When it abroad teaches you a has secured a position as a junior investiga- comes to being a scientist, lot, both scientifically tor at the San Raffaele Institute in Milan. In mobility is a way of life. and culturally. I September he and Maria will once again Students often find them- found it extremely pack up their belongings, and with Matteo

selves moving halfway across exciting and very and Marco in tow, they’ll head back to Italy. Photo by Doug Young Doug by Photo the continent – or even the constructive.” “I really hope that the joint effort between world – in search of the perfect In addition to getting my host institute and my funding agencies postdoc position that will help used to super-sized EMBL alumnus Davide Corona will result in a scientifically productive peri- them gain experience and estab- jugs of milk in the supermarkets od where I can finally give back the know- lish reputations as great scien- and giant buckets of popcorn at the cinema how I gained over this eight years of tists. (not to mention those pesky pre-recorded research abroad,” says Davide. When Davide started studying science as a messages that bandy you about from opera- In his new position he will focus his research tor to operator when you dial 1-800 num- teenager in his hometown of Palermo, Italy, on the role of chromatin modifications in bers), Davide and Maria had to adapt to a he had little idea his passion would take him human diseases. DNA, in higher organisms whole new way of doing things. One early on an eight-year journey which would like humans, is associated with regulatory challenge for them was to obtain health include a stop on the other side of the proteins in a dynamic structure called chro- insurance. “Maria was pregnant when we Atlantic. After receiving undergraduate matin. Certain modifications of chromatin arrived,” says Davide. “Insurance compa- training at the University of Palermo in 1995, allow the DNA to be accessible to factors nies considered her to have a ‘pre-existing Davide and Maria arrived at EMBL that “read” its information. It is now clear condition’ and refused to cover her. This was Heidelberg so that Davide could begin his that alteration of “patterns” of chromatin something completely new for us – we were PhD degree. He spent four years working modifications underlie many human dis- used to the open model of health coverage in with group leader Peter Becker on chromatin eases. He’ll use the fruit fly Drosophila Europe. It caused a lot of stress, but eventu- remodeling. After EMBL it was on to Santa melanogaster as a model system to molecular- ally my boss helped to solve the problem Cruz, where Davide took up a postdoc posi- ly dissect some of the most interesting chro- through the University’s benefits office.” tion in John Tamkun’s lab. Soon after their matin modifications that may be at the ori- arrival in California little Matteo was soon Scientifically, moving around presents its gin of human diseases. born – followed by Marco two years later. own challenges, Davide acknowledges. Curious to know what your former colleagues Now the Corona family are coming full cir- “Very often the lack of research positions in are up to? Find out at the EMBL Alumni cle, and will move back to Italy where your home country make the decision to get Association Reunion, November 26-28, 2004, Davide will soon take up an assistant profes- training abroad a ‘one-way ticket,’ especially at EMBL-Heidelberg. Register now at sorship at the San Raffaele Institute in Milan. if you have cut ties with the institute where www.embl.org/aboutus/alumni/reunion04

A day in the life of the Staff Association Although you may not be aware of this, 9:30-9:45 Give up on coffee and go back “quick question about termina- keeping an eye on the interests of EMBL staff to desk; too late to begin work- tion of his contract” keeps your representatives to the Staff ing now 15:15-15:30 Help staff member look up Association hopping. Here what a day in 10:00 –12:00 Attend weekly Staff regulations and give advice on how to proceed one of our lives sometimes looks like: Association committee meeting (ah, coffee!). Fifteen points on 16:00-17:00 Attend subcommittee meeting 7:00 Arrive at Lab early to get some the agenda again, meeting to prepare presentation to lab work done goes overtime as usual Council (or to one of the three 7:15 Answer first e-mails concern- 12:30-13:00 Grab a quick lunch. Joined by working groups: HIS, Revisions to the Rules and ing Staff Association business member of Administration Regulations and Terms and wanting to discuss long-term 8:30-9:00 Attend subcommittee meeting Conditions of Employment) to discuss pensioners’ HIS con- care insurance 17:00-22:00 Finally sit down to work on 13:00-14:00 Answer more e-mails and mul- tributions own projects, colleagues have titask while working on docu- 9:00-9:15 Attempt to go for coffee, way- all gone home ments related to Staff laid by Staff Association col- OK, we’ve exaggerated things, but we do Association league to discuss cost-cutting occasionally have days like this. Staff 14:00-15:00 Attend subcommittee meeting situation at Kinderhaus Association representatives are constantly on revising the Staff working behind the scenes, even when it 9:15-9:30 Second attempt at coffee, Association statutes appears that nothing is happening. And seri- stopped in foyer by staff mem- 15:00-15:15 Actually make it to cafeteria ously, folks, we’re always glad to help our ber needing advice on leaving for afternoon coffee break! colleagues with their problems! indemnities Someone stops at table with a – Ann Thüringer 11

An update on www.embl.org news Here’s what you need to know... “log in via email”. The system will send you &events Information on personal pages: Staff can an email with a link to authenticate you – now decide which information appears on click on this link. Belarussian journalist Uladzimir their individual pages. For example, you can Once you’ve logged in, click on “edit some Baranich spent the week of June 20-25 at decide whether your full email address is info on your official person page,” change shown to external users or whether there is EMBL-Heidelberg as part of the “Euro- the settings as you wish, and update. It’s as pean Initiative for Communicators of just a link to a tool which does not reveal simple as that. Oh, and don’t forget to log Science” (EICOS) programme. This initia- your email address; whether your phone out by following the “menu” link in the top tive is designed to improve communica- number is shown to external users; or right corner. tion between researchers and journalists, whether your photograph is shown to and to promote feedback from the general New Heidelberg Visitors Programme internal and external users, only to internal public to the scientific community. service: Applications from visitors users or not at all. Uladzimir first spent a week in the interested in coming to EMBL are now put To change the settings, go to your personal “Hands-on Laboratory,” run by the Max page (you can get there by entering your on the intranet for group leaders to check on Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry name into the search field at the top right of a regular basis. Take a look at in Göttingen, before coming to EMBL. any page and following the link to your www.embl.org/staffonly/services/visitors name), and click on the “Edit page” link at programme/recent_applications.html. If In July, as in years past, EMBL wel- the bottom. If you are at EMBL-Heidelberg, you are interested in hosting a visitor, please comed students from Heidelberg’s log on with your user name and password. If contact the Office of the Visitors Programme International Summer School, a science you are at one of the external Units, click on (Stephanie Weil, ext. 8276, room 408). programme that brings in freshly graduat- ed high school students from the EBI to host symposium on alternate transcript diversity Heidelberg partner cities across the world. This year’s group of 14 young people got an insider’s look at science and molecular A symposium at the EBI (November 22-23, transcripts and protein isoforms; and biology including a day-long stay with 2004) will focus on alternative splicing, a annotations that describe the physiology, Gareth Griffiths group, followed by cake pathology and evolution of alternate major mechanism generating diversity in the and questions. human transcriptome. Its regulation is transcript generation. complex and is an important means of These efforts require community-based EMBL Alumna Zsusza Bôsze has been physiological control. Its disruption is collaborations involving bioinformaticians, busy recently helping to organize the 30th associated with many diseases, including computational and experimental biologists, FEBS Congress and 9th IUBMB cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart failure and and pharmaceutical researchers. “Alternate Conference, to be held in Budapest, neurodegenerative disorders. Transcript Diversity: Data, Biology and Hungary on July 2-7 2005. “The meeting promises to be a hotspot for the latest in The increasing recognition that alternative Therapeutics,” in November, will bring together the community to discuss resources protein research,” says Zsusza, “and a splicing is an important way of controlling for alternative splicing. good place to meet up with many of your gene expression has spawned several large- former EMBL colleagues.” She invites you On-line registration and abstract scale efforts to create bioinformatics to register for the meeting at submission is now open and more resources on alternate transcripts and www.febs-iubmb-2005.com protein isoforms. These include: information can be found at computational methods and tools to www.ebi.ac.uk/Information/events/ atd-sympo delineate and characterise alternate transcript structures; databases of alternate – Paul Matthews Time is the river which carries me away, but I am that river; Dive Club takes Waldpiraten kids on an underwater adventure time is the tiger that devours me, but I am that tiger In July, members of EMBL’s Dive Club the club’s kit room was buzzing with activi- organized their annual “try dive” session for ty as volunteer divers and EMBL drivers – J. L. Borges, Labyrinths, 1970 kids participating in the Waldpiraten camp loaded up the equipment into the Lab’s vans (run by the German Children’s Cancer and headed toward the swimming pool in Register now for the Organization and located across the street Ketsch. 5th EMBL/EMBO Joint Conference: from EMBL-Heidelberg). This event has now become a fixed item, and a clear favourite, in The camp welcomes children from all over the list of activities the children take part in Europe who are recovering from cancer, and “Time and aging, whilst at their summer camp. this year there was a strong Italian contin- Because so many kids wanted to participate gent. This posed a special challenge: we had mechanisms and (24 this year, plus their minders!), we split to translate our pre-dive briefing into up the dives into two sessions of 12 children Italian... (Does anyone know the word for meanings“ each. “compressed air tank” in Italian?) Once we A few days before each dive we met with our solved this little problem our instructors 5-6 November 2004, young, soon-to-be divers over at the camp. took the kids down one by one. Needless to at EMBL-Heidelberg We arranged them in a line, shortest to say, all had great time, even the little tallest, to figure out what sizes of equipment Austrian girl who did not want to dive with they would need. We borrowed masks, fins www.embl.org/aboutus/sciencesociety and wetsuits from members of the club and an Englishman... bless her! were ready to go. On the days of the dives, – Corinna, Pete and the EMBL Dive Club EMBL&cetera Issue 22 - August 2004 people Who’s new? @ EMBL Alison Barker (EBI Administration), Isabelle Behm-Ansmant (Izaurralde), Rochus Börner (Frangakis), Natascha faculty and other appointments Bushati (Cohen), Melanie Courtot Elisa Izaurralde (Gene Expression) has been appointed Senior Scientist. Stefan Fiedler has (Computational Neurobiology), Silke been appointed Staff Scientist at EMBL-Hamburg. Eckert (Cohen), Stefan Fiedler (Hermes), Javier Herrero (Birney), Nico Kümmerer There’s a new face in the DG’s office: Olivera Mandic has joined as a Deputy Personal (Serrano), Per Lilja (Array Express), Assistant, taking over from Manuela Brunner who left at the end of July to pursue a career Jacinta Lodge (Wilmanns), Olivera in photography. We wish Manu well in her new adventures! Mandic (DG Office), Angelika Scholz (Suck), Ilka Singer (EMBLEM), Jens awards, honours Stolte (Genomics Core Facility) &cetera EMBL alumnus and current Director of the MPI for Molecular Genetics in Berlin Martin Vingron, has received the Max Planck Research Prize for 2004, together with Eugene Myers events (University of California, Berkeley, USA). The 750,000 Euro prize was awarded in the field of @EMBL bioinformatics. The purpose of this major distinction, which is given collectively by the 28 August - 1 September, 2004 Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung and the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, is to promote high-cal- EMBL-Heidelberg ibre projects between German and foreign scientists. It should permit the researchers to carry 6th EMBL Transcription Meeting out, deepen and expand international cooperative efforts; it is also intended to call attention 25-29 September, 2004 to specific disciplines in hopes that the community will follow the lead. EMBL-Heidelberg EMBO Workshop on the Cell Biology of Virus what’s new in the kinderhaus? Infection 7 October, 2004, 14.30 EMBL-Heidelberg, Entrepreneur Seminar Series: Rudy Dekeyser, VIB, Belgium A Virtual Institute Creates Real Science and Technology: The VIB Model 14 October, 2004, 16.00 EMBL-Heidelberg Distinguished Visitor Lecture Don Cleveland, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Univ. California San Diego, USA 16-19 October, 2004 EMBL-Heidelberg EMBL/EMBO Functional Genomics Conference Kids from the Blue Group at EMBL’s Kinderhaus tell a lot of stories around the table about II: Exploring the Edges of Omics Grandpa and Grandma, cousins, mums, dads and siblings. The Kindergarten staff used this as a starting point for the “Family Project.” Children visited each other at home, learned 10-13 November, 2004 songs and poems about families and, of course, drew pictures. On the left is the Bork/Wade EMBO Conference on Structures in family; on the right are the Reunis/Roberts-Baldwins. Guess who is who... BiologyEMBL-Heidelberg For more events, see from the photo archives www-db.embl.de/jss/EmblGroupsOrg/t_1

Former Director-General Lennart Philipson (left) lays the foundation stone for EMBL- Heidelberg’s Operon Auditorium in this photo dating back to 1987. This July the Operon turned 17 years old, while Lennart turned 75. Happy birthday, Lennart!

EMBL&cetera is published by EMBL’s Office of Information and Public Affairs, Meyerhofstrasse 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, e-mail: [email protected]. Online version available at http://www.embl.org/aboutus/news/publications/newsletter.html. Editor: Sarah Sherwood; Assistant Editor: Trista Dawson; Editorial Advisor: Russ Hodge. Copy editing: Caroline Hadley. Photographic support: EMBL Photolab; Graphics support: Petra Riedinger. Printed on recycled paper by ColorDruck, Leimen.