Lipidomics is one of the fastest-growing omics disciplines, with applications spanning bioanalytical chemistry, lipid biochemistry, cell biology, biomedical research, and clinical translation. The rapid growth of the field is reflected in the increasing number of research projects that rely on mass spectrometry (MS)-based lipidomics as a core technology for enabling fundamental biological discoveries and generating clinically relevant insights into human disease.
At the same time, lipidomics remains a technically demanding discipline that requires specialized training to ensure accurate, reproducible, and robust data generation and interpretation.
To address these challenges and support advanced training in lipidomics methodologies for both early-career and senior scientists, we are pleased to announce the FEBS Combined Practical and Lecture Course ‘Advanced lipidomics technologies to study lipid biology’ (more details and a link to the course website will be provided over the next months).
Through a combination of lectures, focused tutorials, interactive Q&A sessions, and practical laboratory training, participants will develop a comprehensive understanding of advanced lipidomics technologies and their broad applications in modern lipid research.
The course will take place from 24–28 May 2027 in Dresden (Germany), one of Europe’s leading centres for lipid research, and will be hosted by the Center for Membrane Biology and Lipid Research at Technical University Dresden. The course co-organizers are Prof. Dr. Maria Fedorova (TU Dresden, Germany), Prof. Dr. Valerie O'Donnell (Cardiff University, UK), and Prof. Dr. Rosario Domingues (University of Aveiro, Portugal).
Over five intensive days, participants will learn about current strategies for lipidome analysis, data processing, and integrative data interpretation. The program will cover all major steps of the modern lipidomics workflow, from experimental design and sample preparation to the selection of appropriate MS acquisition strategies, data processing, statistical analysis, and biological interpretation.
The course will also highlight recent methodological advances, including structural lipidomics and mass spectrometry imaging, providing participants with both a strong theoretical foundation and hands-on experience in state-of-the-art lipidomics technologies.
In addition to the co-organizers, the course will include a range of lectures, tutorials, and interactive sessions from the following speakers:
- Sophie Ayciriex, Spatial Multi-Omics Platform, Université Claude Bernard, France
- Justine Bertrand-Michel, MetaboHUB-MetaToul, National Infrastructure of Metabolomics and Fluxomics, France
- Matthew Conroy, Systems Immunity Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, UK
- Friedecký David, Laboratory for Inherited Metabolic Disorders, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Laura Goracci, DAISY Lab (Drug Discovery-Artificial Intelligence-Organic Synthesis), Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Italy
- Xue Li Guan, Head of Metabolomics Platform, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Sven Heiles, Leibniz Institute for Analytical Chemistry, Dortmund and Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany
- Michal Holčapek, University of Pardubice, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Czech Republic
- Ingela Lanekoff, Department of Chemistry for Life Sciences and Center of Excellence for the Chemical Mechanisms of Life, Uppsala University, Sweden
- Evelyn Rampler, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Austria
- Andrej Shevchenko, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Craig Wheelock, Unit of Integrative Metabolomics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, and Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
Several networking events are also planned. A poster session moderated by speakers will allow participants to learn about each other’s work. It will be followed by dedicated time for more detailed discussions and networking based on shared scientific interests. Afterwards, a “Get Together” activity including educational games such as “Lipodrome” and “Know Your Fats!” will help participants break the ice.
Another day participants will attend a dinner at Lohrmanns Brewery, a successful startup originating from the Faculty of Chemistry and Food Science at TU Dresden. A presentation by Professor Thomas Henle, one of the brewery’s founders, will illustrate the journey from classroom experiments in beer brewing to successful business development.
Finally, a Round Table Discussion on diverse career paths will feature speakers from academia, research core facilities, and industry, to provide participants with direct insights into potential career trajectories and opportunities in the field of lipidomics.
We look forward to welcoming researchers from diverse disciplines to Dresden for a week of learning, discussion, and networking at the forefront of lipidomics research.
Please share this post with peers and relevant networks, to help us reach interested participants.
Top image provided by Maria Fedorova.