We are thrilled to announce the 4th FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE Conference, titled ‘Bridging minds: Interdisciplinary research for the future of life sciences’, which will be hosted by CRUK Scotland Institute on 10–12 September 2025, taking place at the James McCune Learning Hub, University of Glasgow (UK). This conference promises to bring together the brightest minds in biosciences to explore innovative interdisciplinary approaches that could reshape the future of life sciences.

About FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE

The FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE conference is an international, interdisciplinary 3-day event entirely organized by and for young researchers –PhD students and postdocs– from the molecular life sciences disciplines, that bring together up to 300 participants from all over the world.

From lectures by experts in biomedical research to pub talks with local citizens, and from useful job fairs to informal chats with renowned scientists, this event has been fully planned and organized by young scientists thinking about the research interests, career needs, and networking preferences of other young scientists. The initiative aims to foster scientific collaboration, promote career development, and enhance outreach activities to bring science closer to society. These conferences provide an inspiring platform where PhD students and postdocs from diverse fields come together to share knowledge and ideas, facilitating interdisciplinary synergy and innovation.

What to expect?

The conference promotes excellence in the molecular life sciences, linking science, career, and communication with the general public. To achieve this, the event comprises three main parts:

• Scientific Symposium: This year’s sessions will explore cutting-edge topics such as tissue engineering, biochemistry, computational biology, click-chemistry, immunotherapy, epigenetics, microbiome research, virology, and technology development. This way, young scientists will have the opportunity to present their work through posters and short talks.
• Career Day: A day full of activities focused on employment opportunities, including workshops, mentoring sessions, and opportunities to connect with industry professionals and academic leaders.
• Outreach Activities: Engaging events designed to bridge the gap between science and society, including public talks and interactive exhibitions aimed at sparking curiosity and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Scientific symposium

The conference will highlight the latest discoveries and cutting-edge research techniques, as well as illustrate the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration among researchers to foster scientific discoveries. Eight renowned keynote speakers from different fields will share their expertise and experience in four sessions across several topics:

• Computational genetics and machine learning session, with Prof. Andrea Ganna (Institute for Molecular Medicine, Finland) and María Rodríguez Martínez (Yale, USA)
  Epidemiology, genetics, machine learning, oncology, immunology, AI

• Neurosciences session, with Prof. John Cryan (Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University College Cork, Ireland) and Prof. Hiroki Asari (EMBL, Italy)
  Brain-gut connection, microbiome research, retina processes, visual information, computational approaches in mice

• Human health and dsease session, with Prof. Dario Alessi (IUBMB president, University of Dundee, UK) and Prof. Hanneke Schuitemaker (Amsterdam University Medical Center and Chief Scientific Officer at Valneva, The Netherlands)
  Vaccine development, Virology, Parkinson’s disease, phosphorylation

• Biological models session, with Prof. Anna Urciuolo (University of Padua, Italy) and Prof. Lauriane Cabon (Institute of Human Biology, Switzerland)
  Neuromuscular engineering, tissue engineering, hiPSC technologies, organoid-based models, immunology, oncology, disease modeling

Moreover, participants will have the opportunity to present their work with posters, flash talks and short talks. In these sessions, all young scientists will find a spot to share their knowledge and research. Keeping in mind the title of the conference, all topics are welcomed so do not hesitate to present your application.

Supporting excellence

FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE conference series began in 2022 as a continuation of the 2017–2020 ENABLE project (European Academy for Biomedical Science), funded by the EU H2020 Research and Innovation Program, which involved four renowned European Research Institutes: IRB Barcelona (Institute for Research in Biomedicine) in Spain; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences in the Netherlands; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research in Denmark; and SEMM (European School of Molecular Medicine) in Italy.

Since 2022 FEBS and IUBMB have funded more than 165 travel grants and together with ENABLE partner institutions the previous editions of FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE were hosted at the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS), Spain, in 2022; the University of Cologne, Germany, in 2023; and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine – Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore), Singapore, in 2024.

Organizing Committees

The conference is organized by a collaborative effort between the Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). Our SOC members come from diverse institutes across Europe, while the LOC is based at the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute (CRUK Scotland Institute). Together, these teams are dedicated to creating and enriching an unforgettable experience for all the participants.

SOC members

• Manuel Lessi (SEMM, Italy) – SOC Chair
• Sara Tamer Mohamed Essameldin Gohar (CRUK Scotland Institute, UK) – SOC Vice-chair
• Laura Martínez Escardó (CRUK Scotland Institute, UK)
• Carlos Asprón Martín (IBiS, Spain)
• Andrea Aguado Marín (IBiS, Spain)
• Federico Lazzarini (SEMM, Italy)
• Milou Stevens (RadboudUMC, The Netherlands)
• Marcos Vidal Manrique (RadboudUMC, The Netherlands)
• Inés García Pérez  (IRB Barcelona, Spain)
• Ana Contreras Pereda (IRB Barcelona, Spain)

LOC members

• Alfredo Montes Gomez (School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow)
• Amna Matly (School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow)
• Amy Lawlor (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Aya Mohamed Abdelkarim Gouma (Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow)
• Britt van Abeelen (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Celine Wittke (Glasgow Caledonian University)
• Dominika Lubawska (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Emily Dearlove (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Farzaneh Alsadat Seyedshahi (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Francesca Fasanella Masci (School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow)
• Laura Galbraith (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Laura Martínez Escardó (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Liam Butler (Glasgow Caledonian University)
• Maria Gutierrez-Mecinas (School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow)
• Nuray Gunduz (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Olga Troitskaya (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Paula Fernandez Palanca (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Sara Tamer Mohamed Essameldin Gohar (CRUK Scotland Institute)
• Ximena Raffo Iraolagoitia (CRUK Scotland Institute) 

About the host and venue

The conference will be hosted by the CRUK Scotland Institute, a leading research center renowned for its contributions to cancer research and life sciences. Located in the vibrant city of Glasgow, the institute is situated within a hub of scientific innovation and cultural heritage. Glasgow, with its rich history, stunning architecture, and welcoming atmosphere, provides the perfect backdrop for this inspiring event. The venue, the James McCune Learning Hub at the University of Glasgow, offers state-of-the-art facilities that will ensure a seamless and immersive conference experience.

We look forward to welcoming you to Glasgow for this exciting opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate in the pursuit of scientific advancement. Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to save the date: 10–12 September 2025!

Photo by Lāsma Artmane on Unsplash