"Η περιέργεια ξεκινά με ένα απλό ερώτημα" - Διεθνές βραβείο στον Ιωάννη Λάμπρη

Membrane-bound organelles, together with the cytoskeleton and the molecular motors, are responsible for the transport of intracellular components required for almost all cellular functions and communication across the lifespan of a eukaryotic cell. Emerging research shows that organelle contact sites and cytoskeletal interactions are key regulatory hubs critical for processes like metabolism, signalling, and protein trafficking. On the other side, disruptions in organelle dynamics are increasingly linked to neurodegeneration, cancer, and metabolic disorders. Cutting-edge imaging, molecular biology, and biophysical tools allow for the real-time tracking and manipulation of organelles. This improves our understanding of organelles in physiological and pathological contexts, offering new targets for therapeutic interventions in human diseases. By bringing complementary insights from the molecular machinery of organelles trafficking to its implications in synaptic function, immune signalling, and metabolic regulation, this EMBO Workshop will foster a unique interdisciplinary dialogue. This EMBO Workshop promises to be a landmark in unifying fundamental research on organelles and will bridge new collaborations, integrate knowledge across different disciplines, and drive innovation in therapeutic strategies targeting organelle dysfunction.

The cellular response to DNA damage relies on a network of pathways activated upon genotoxic stress, including cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair, DNA damage tolerance mechanisms, and the activation of innate immune responses. Defects in these processes lead to genomic instability, a fundamental driver of numerous inherited human disorders and age-associated diseases, most notably cancer, where the DNA damage response (DDR) represents an important therapeutic target. This EMBO Workshop will address the diverse sources of genomic instability and the molecular mechanisms that preserve genome integrity, spanning basic research on chromatin organisation to preclinical research using a range of approaches from biochemistry and structural methods to single-cell biology and animal models. It will further explore the links between genome maintenance pathways and human disease, as well as their potential for therapeutic intervention.

Before the genetic information stored in DNA can be used to direct cell growth and metabolism, it has to be transferred into RNA. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that code for proteins and noncoding RNAs are key components in the transmission of genetic information in all life forms – from viruses to complex mammalian organisms.Following the great success of the 2024 edition of this long-standing symposium, we are looking forward to returning in 2026, bringing together leaders in the RNA field, post-docs and students, with the aim of disseminating and discussing the most recent findings. The programme will include topics on transcription, RNA processing and modification, mRNA export and localisation, mRNA surveillance and decay, translation, the activity of non-coding RNAs, the control of mRNA expression, and coupling among these processes.