The EMBO Meeting 2010: Over 120 researchers to present

More than 120 leading researchers from across the molecular life sciences will speak at The EMBO Meeting 2010 - the second annual life sciences conference to be organized by the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and held in Barcelona from 4 - 7 September 2010.

Confirmed special lecturers and keynote speakers include:

• Elizabeth Blackburn - Roles of telomeres & telemorase in health & disease
• Richard Losick - Stochasticity & cell fate
• Frans de Waal - Prosocial primates: Empathy, fairness & cooperation
• Cliff Tabin - Development & evolution of vertebrate morphology
• Austin Smith & Michel Ha-ssaguerre - winners of the 2010 Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine

The EMBO Meeting 2010 advances the life sciences through broad programmes reflecting the concepts of modern biological research. It follows on from former ELSO meetings to provide an annual life sciences forum for scientific exchange in Europe.

Luis Serrano (Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona) and Denis Duboule (University of Geneva) are co-organizers of the scientific programme that spans the life science disciplines with keynote addresses and plenary sessions focused on three themes:

• Evolution of animal forms - Detlev Arendt, Alejandro S-nchez Alvarado, Marie-Anne F-lix, Shigeru Kuratani
• Systems biology & functional genomics - Marc Vidal, Edward (Eddy) Rubin, Ron Weiss, Olivier Voinnet
• Signalling in development - Irma Thesleff, Kathryn Anderson, Christof Niehrs, Sarah E Millar

Workshops and daily poster sessions will extend the plenary themes and address additional current topics, ensuring a blend of subjects relevant to present-day molecular biology. Following is a selection of workshops and organizers:

• Dynamics of chromosome organization - Susan Gasser & Wendy Bickmore
• Cellular tomography - Ohad Medalia & Achilleas Frangakis
• Cancer genomics & stem cells - Mar-a Blasco & Mariano Barbacid
• Next generation sequencing: technologies & biological insights - Thomas Lemberger
• Infection & autophagy - Ari Helenius & Sharon Tooze

Special sessions include:

• Science & Society
  How a virus becomes a global scare - pandemics and the public health system
  Albert Osterhaus, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
  Barbara Bannister, Consultant Advisor in Pandemic Flu Planning, London

• Women in Science
  The Sex of the Brain: two solutions to the same problem?
  Richard Haier, University of California, Irvine

Scientists are invited to submit abstracts and register for early-bird discounts. Conference participants will come from Europe and worldwide to meet at the Palau de Congressos convention centre in Barcelona from 4 - 7 September 2010. Sponsored symposia and industry exhibits, career forums and skill development workshops, networking events, prizes and award ceremonies will complement the scientific programme.